Vocal focus from CCMN*
SOUTHERN CA VOCAL EVENTS
Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s
Weekly Highlights
Summer is waning… with a new season taking its place!
September is a sort of golden hour for opera, as companies are gearing up and diving in, while choral organizations are just getting started. In the next few weeks, we’ll see season launches from LA OPERA, LA MET, CENTER STAGE OPERA, PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT, REDLANDS OPERA THEATRE… (You get the idea.)
Let’s start with the fiery flamenco of ADAM DEL MONTE, a SoCal staple whose talent and style will leave you breathless. He’s playing a special benefit concert to launch the new season for CENTER STAGE OPERA on Sat 9/6, and this guitarist’s connection to opera is actually stronger than might be immediately obvious — his wife, the lovely MERCEDES MUSSOTTO, is CSO’s chorus master, and will be performing with him on this program. Location and ticket info
There seems to be a big penchant for Verdi this month, including **two** productions of La Traviata: LA OPERA’s version, set in the 1920s, starts 9/13, and another camellia from CSO starts 9/21. Consider going to both, as they’ll be very different takes.
A fave Puccini opera comes from PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT, with their “moving production” of Tosca in Pasadena. The action takes place in three different areas at St. James’ Church, and both cast and audience will move from sanctuary to theater to courtyard to perform and enjoy the show. This crowdfunded and long-awaited run starts 9/19, and stars the double-cast DARIA SOMERS (Sept 19, 21 & 27) and SAIRA FRANK (Sept 20, 26 & 28) in the title role. The rest of the cast is equally exciting, but we’d show up just to see the usually adorable PATRICK BLACKWELL as the thoroughly evil Scarpia. Can’t wait, and don’t you wait to get tickets — selling out is becoming the norm for this little maverick of a company. Get details and tickets
Things are still relatively quiet, but be sure to check out the calendar for more on this Friday’s recital by husband-and-wife opera stars AILYN PEREZ and STEPHEN COSTELLO in San Diego; and the REDLANDS OPERA THEATRE gala on the 20th. We’ll add more as the information comes in, as always.
Speaking of which, there’s just one more summer gap for Next 7, as it’s published every other week into mid-September. (We’ll be back to weekly with the next issue on 9/18.) Be sure to send your concert notices and send them early, so we can include you.
Have a gorgeous season, y’all, and thank you for supporting live singing!
