The Ten Broeck Mansion, home of the Albany County Historical Association (ACHA), has announced “Romantics to Ragtime: A Celebration of Song, Poetry and Art,” a concert set for Saturday, February 15th from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. The concert, exploring the culture of the 1820s-1920s, features the music of Stephen Foster, Amy Beach and Scott Joplin, and Spirituals.
John O’Neill, a poet, will share classic love poems by George Lord Byron, Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Langston Hughes, and others. The program includes an exploration of artwork in the Ten Broeck Mansion’s collections from the same time period, kicking off the Ten Broeck Mansion’s exploration of portraiture and art in 2020.
The concert features Mimi O’Neill, director and piano. Singers include Sarah Greene, Maria Olmstead, Nicholas Paraggio, Annecy Toussaint, Michaela Gelber, and Maya Stein.
Mimi O’Neill has enjoyed a long career in opera, classical song, oratorio, jazz, and world music in the United States and Europe. She has maintained her vocal studio in Albany’s historic Ten Broeck Triangle for 30 years, training students for college music study and careers in opera and classical performance. The ensemble is active in the Capital Region as soloists and choristers. Nicholas Paraggio is a music educator and teaches K-12 music. Sarah Greene, Maria Olmstead and Annecy Toussiant perform as soloists in their churches and in recital. Michaela Gelber and Maya Stein perform music in their high school settings. John O’Neill has degrees in Comparative Religion (University of Washington) and Humanistic Studies (University at Albany – SUNY). He has published poetry and essays, including the books First Light (2013) and For a Moment There is Nowhere Else (2017).
The Ten Broeck Mansion was built in 1798 by Abraham and Elizabeth Ten Broeck. The ACHA was founded in 1942. The mission of the ACHA is to preserve, present, promote, and interpret the stories of the rich and diverse history and culture of Albany County. Its nearly four-acre museum site includes the Mansion, gardens, and exhibit and gallery space at King’s Place.
The concert is $5 for adults and free for ages 10-21 and ACHA members. Advance tickets are recommended due to limited seating. Refreshments will be served. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit the ACHA website. Ten Broeck Mansion is located at 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany.
Photo of Ten Broeck Mansion provided.
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