Rani(Roni)Calderon
CONDUCTOR & PIANIST
Celebrating David Shapiro’s 70th Birthday
Hosted by conductor and pianist Rani Calderon
Joined by Ben Shapiro, violin, and Abigail Roth, soprano
Concert Program
Johannes Brahms
Rhapsody in B minor, Op. 79 No. 1
Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2
Ballade, Op. 118 No. 3
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78
Ben Shapiro, Violin | Rani Calderon, Piano
American Songs
By Carlisle Floyd, Lee Hoiby, Lucy Simon, and Richard Hundley
Abigail Roth, Soprano | Rani Calderon, Piano
Rani (Roni) Calderon is an Israeli conductor, pianist, and composer with an international career in both opera and symphonic repertoire. He studied piano with Pnina Salzman, a pupil of Alfred Cortot, the symphonic repertoire with Maestro Mendi Rodan and Noam Sheriff in Tel-Aviv and the various operatic styles with Maestro Burno Rigacci in Florence, Mme Janine Reiss in Paris and Mr. Richard Trimborn in München, all direct torch bearers of the great Romantic European tradition. He conducts the symphonic and operatic repertoire all over the world and has been Music Director of the Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile, the Opéra national de Lorraine in Nancy, France and the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva. Among his compositions are a big-scale opera "Notre-Dame de Paris", based on Victor Hugo's novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and various song cycles to texts by the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. He speaks fluently nine languages.
Ben Shapiro. Although widely known as an American conservative political commentator, media host, and attorney, Ben Shapiro has also gained notable respect as a violinist, admired for his passion, discipline, and deep connection to music. His musical journey began at a young age, where the violin quickly became a source of inspiration and creative expression. Throughout his life, music has remained a grounding force, offering a balance to his professional endeavors and allowing him to connect with audiences on a deeply human level.
Abby Roth. Praised by Opera News for her “dramatic intensity and flawless singing,” Abby Roth received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California, where she was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to pursue her operatic career. Abby then graduated with her Masters from the revered Manhattan School of Music, where she performed starring roles in three productions, two of which were recorded with Albany Records (available on Spotify under her maiden name, Abigail Shapiro). She has performed roles around the country, including Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito) with the Aspen Music Festival and Monica (The Medium) with Opera Maine.