The Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live!
Save The Date!
On Friday, May 1, 2026, VHRP LIVE! presents an orchestral concert
featuring rare Victor Herbert gems (1886-1924)
THE FORGOTTEN VICTOR HERBERT: No Singing Allowed!
Join Maestro Steven Byess and the 47-piece New Victor Herbert Orchestra for a very special evening in the exquisite National landmark, Église St-Jean-Baptiste, 184 E 76th St. in New York City. The atmosphere and acoustics will be amazing, and Victor Herbert will prove to be one of the most sublime romantic composers of his time.
Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! Concludes 10 Seasons with this Orchestral Concert
Beginning in July of 2014 VHRP LIVE! introduced NYC audiences to ten seasons of amazing Herbert theatrical productions and concerts starting with the wonderful full orchestral performance of Victor Herbert’s grand opera NATOMA. In May 2026, VHRP LIVE! will conclude this 10-season run with this gem of a concert featuring 9 classical works composed by Victor Herbert which the vast majority of classical lovers have probably never heard live or otherwise.
Tickets will be available HERE as of February 1, 2026
THE PROGRAM
The New Victor Herbert Orchestra conducted by Steven Byess
at Église St-Jean-Baptiste, 184 E 76th St, NYC at 7:30 PM
American Fantasia (1893)
Columbus Suite – Vision of Columbus (1893)
Serenade Movement from Op 3 for Suite for Cello and Orchestra (1883)
Irish Rhapsody (1892)
~ INTERMISSION ~
Royal Sec (1885)
Natoma Segment: Prelude to Act III (1909)
PanAmericana (1901)
Suite of Serenades (Aeolia Hall Concert) (1924)
Oriental Suite
Cuban Suite
Spanish Suite
Chinese Suite
Auditorium Festival March (1901)
Steven Byess, Music Director of Orchestra Nova Northwest, the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, is a dynamic, passionate conductor, labeled “masterful and brilliant,” the “epitome of instrumental elegance.” The former Associate Music Director of Ohio Light Opera for 21 years, Byess has conducted over 80 works, resulting in 21 commercial recordings.
As a passionate advocate of education and the arts, Steven wrote and co-directed PBS’ Count On It!, designed to connect music and math for K-3. Since 2012, he has reached 90,000+ children as a conductor for Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute’s Link Up orchestra education concerts.
VHRP LIVE! is honored to have Steven Byess join us for this celebration of Victor Herbert.
A world wide Herbert scholar, stage director and librettist, Alyce Mott is the founder/Artistic Director of the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! (VHRP LIVE!), a NYC based theatrical company dedicated solely to the works of Irish American composer Victor Herbert (1859-1924). In July 2014, Mott and the New Victor Herbert Orchestra (NVHO) produced the first complete reading of Herbert’s 1911 grand opera NATOMA in 100 years. She became a Herbert librettist in 1993 for the Little Orchestra Society of New York (LOS) with a new BABES IN TOYLAND (1903). She became a Herbert director with the LOS production of THE FORTUNE TELLER in 1998 and a Herbert music publisher (on-line digital original performance materials) in 2008 with the founding of VHSource, LLC. She enjoyed a 29 year working relationship, including a fifteen year Herbert collaboration, with the brilliant LOS conductor for 32 years, the late Dino Anagnost. With the 2014 VHRP LIVE! production of CYRANO, she officially moved into the realm of theatrical producer.
Prior to the above, Mott spent 19 years as stage director of the Lincoln Center opera AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS by Gian Carol Menotti, produced by LOS; served as Artistic Administrator for LOS for 7 seasons (154 events produced); and enjoyed 30 years in NYC developmental theatre. To date, Mott has written and/or reworked 24 Herbert librettos, 6 themed concerts and directed 28 VHRP LIVE! Productions and 31 productions for LOS at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher and Alice Tully Halls. AEA, DGA, SAG/AFTRA, SDC.
VHRP LIVE opened our Tenth Season with the wonderful Babes In Toyland. This extravaganza is the single most often performed work composed by Victor Herbert. The libretto has as many versions as it has performances each year, averaging at least 10-12 scheduled performances across the country each year. VHRP LIVE! again welcomed the New Victor Herbert Orchestra in the St Jeans orchestra pit. Roughly 700 audience members enjoyed three performances of this most famous of Herbert’s theatrical creations.
Babes In Toyland
with the New Victor Herbert Orchestra
Victor Herbert’s 1903 extravaganza
Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 7:00pm
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 7:00pm
Thursday, February 22, 2024 7:00pm
3 Performances
The Theater at St. Jeans,
150 E 76th Street and Lexington Ave., NYC
Fortunately we are very thankful for the reviews of this joyful work and the reactions of all those who saw our creation.
Voce de Meche said the following:
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
TOYS FOR GROWNUPS
While Forbes on Film and Footlights gave this review:
