Monday, December 20 at 7:30p.m.
For the past 26 years, acclaimed American soprano Lauren Flanigan and her longtime friend and collaborator Maestro Kamal Khan have been producing “Comfort Ye” – an annual operatic concert to raise food, coats, and awareness specifically related to hunger, homeless, and the underserved residents of Manhattan.
As a precaution against rising Covid cases in New York City, this year’s concert will be a streamed on Facebook Live at 7:30p.m. from St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church, which houses West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) one of the largest food pantries in New York City.
Those “attending” are invited to donate food to a virtual food drive through Give Healthy. All donations will be delivered to WSCAH food pantry after the concert.
Artists are not announced for the event each year. As Lauren says, “It’s a trust exercise. You promise to bring me a bag of food and a blanket and I will provide you with three thrilling hours of operatic entertainment.” Past performers have included Eric Owens, Pretty Yende, Nadine Sierra, Janai Bruger, Dwayne Croft, Fabio Armiliato, Veronica Villaroel, Michael Chioldi, Angela Meade, Raul Melo, Mark Delavan, Amy Burton and John Musto, Anthony Laciura, Luthando Qave, Harolyn Blackwell, Andrea Gruber, William Bolcom and Joan Morris, and Miss Flanigan.