Barbara Lowin is Alma Mahler in Outrageous!

Barbara Lowin brings to life one of the most radical, seductive, and perplexing women in the history of Central Europe, Alma Mahler (1879-1964), in this performance with words and music, accompanied by pianist Richard Danley.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor.

In a 75-minute performance, Barbara Lowin plays Alma Mahler in her final years as she holds court in her New York living room, recounting the story of her eventful life in brief monologues, punctuated with songs from the Viennese-Austrian repertoire, including works by composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Friedrich Hollaender and even her own compositions. She reveals truths about passionate love affairs with painters Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka, and children born in and out of wedlock.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

After ten years as a child star in her native Toronto, a Bachelor of Music from the Juilliard School and participation in the Master Classes with the legendary soprano Maria Callas, Barbara Lowin sang opera, operetta, song recitals, orchestra concerts, and made numerous appearances with CBC TV in Canada. She appeared at the New York City opera with Julius Rudel, the New York Philhamonic with Pierre Boulez and has sung for Queen Elizabeth II as well as presidents George W. Bush and Gerald Ford. In Europe she made frequent appearances with the Welsh National Opera and the orchestras of Dusseldorf and Duisburg. Having a particular passion for songs—whether Beethoven/Mozart or Gershwin/Cole Porter—she embraced the art of "cabaret" and has performed her solo shows in many of the intimate clubs in mid-own Manhattan. The inspiration for Outrageous! happened when she frequently included songs by the titanic Austrian composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). While researching his art and his era, she began to learn of the emancipation experienced by women of the time, including Gustav's wife, Alma. Although Mahler scuttled Alma's passion for becoming a composer, following his death, she went on to live a full and rich life of her own which is explored in Outrageous!

A native of Washington DC, Richard Danley graduated from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. After working at some of the most prestigious hotels in Washington he moved to New York City where he promptly became music director for The Festival of Singing Soap Opera Stars. With Kim Zimmer of Guiding Light he was featured in Broadway and Barbershop in `90 and `91 productions at Carnegie Hall. In Geneva Switzerland he was music director for ’91 and ’95 revues of The Best of Broadway for the TELCOM convention. He has appeared on the soap operas Guiding Light and As the World Turns, and he was the founder and conductor of the WestSide Chorale of NYC. Among the notables he has worked with include: Kitty Carlisle Hart, Pat Boone, Julie Wilson, Michael Tilson-Thomas, and Broadway stars Lea Salonga, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Audra McDonald. He is a composer of many works for orchestra and vocal groups. He is a faculty member of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC serving as Director of Accompanists and Musicianship Chairman. His most recent Off-Broadway show was as Musical Director for An Enchanted April – A New Musical, preceded by Spamilton: An American Parody.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Please submit all press inquiries to Connor Goodwin at least 48 hours before the event: email connorgoodwin@nypl.org.

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All programs are subject to change or cancellation. All programs are subject to recording and photography.

The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).