Singing sweetheart
– Christie Conover brings history to life as she performs music inspired by the women who put the ‘wild’ in the Wild West: gunslinger and star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show Annie
Oakley; notorious outlaw Belle Starr; scandalous beauty Baby Doe Tabor; and frontierswoman, marksman, and lavish drinker Calamity Jane. In a show designed much like the house concerts of the time, Conover spans the musical repertoire from opera to musical theatre to art song – even yodeling.
The hour-long concert consists of traditional favorites from shows, including Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun, as well as western-themed arias and art songs by American composers including Libby Larsen, Douglas Moore, and Henry Mollincone. The music is woven together with a charming narrative in which Christie recounts the stories of these women and how they are connected to the concert’s music as well as to her own life. No stranger to the frontier herself, Christie is also a girl of the Golden West; she currently resides in Colorado, with roots in Billings, Montana. “The inspiration for the creation of the program was at the urging of a dear friend (who happens to have furniture once owned by Baby Doe),” Christie says, “who told me as a western girl, I should be singing about my home. I had the opportunity to create a thematic program for a competition, and after that conversation this seemed like a natural choice.”
At a recent performance, one audience member exclaimed, “Crisp and clear as the mountain air is her voice. Brilliant acting as she sings and shares her emotional beauty with her audience.” Christie’s musical talent has garnered much attention: she currently travels the world singing opera and classical music.
Recently performing the leading role in a production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute as part of a tour for the Komische Oper Berlin, she has also appeared with organizations including the Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera San Jose, the Colorado Symphony, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, and the Helena Symphony, among others. A former Miss Montana, she will return to her hometown in April to perform
Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Billings Symphony Orchestra. She is the winner of many competitions, most recently the National Federation of Music Clubs 2015 Young Artist Competition in Women’s Voice, which she won by presenting this program.
Christie collaborates with pianist Stefan Stern, music director of the Montana Ballet Company. Stefan is the founder and leader of Lester Rocks, a Bozeman-based band which performs his own original satirical music. He also works as a freelance pianist performing a variety of genres.
‘Women of the West’ is currently being toured throughout the United States. Audience goers have raved about Christie’s vocal versatility and ability to provide a powerful, professional level of entertainment, making claims such as, “You’ll think about her long after the show is over,” “Truly a theatrical performance,” and “Magnificent – simply elegant and charming!” There are not many places one can hear an opera singer of this caliber who can also yodel – the show is a one-of-a-kind experience not to be missed!
For more information, contact Christie: Christie@ChristieConover.com
‘Women of the West’ starring Christie Conover with pianist Stefan Stern
April 9, 2016 at 7:30pm
Cikan residence, 31 Hitching Post Road
Tickets: $20 with refreshments served
For reservations, email stefan-stern@hotmail.com or call 579-1983
