Vocal focus from CCMN*
SOUTHERN CA VOCAL EVENTS
Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights
Super Bowl weekend tends to offer small, niggling questions about where our cultural loyalties lie. But really, whether your attention is on the arts, football, or both this weekend, the annual ritual reminds us that in this widely varied world, there really is something for everyone. I won’t try to offer my own predictions, except that it should be a great game. But if you’re otherwise inclined, here are a few choice picks on the musical front:
L.A. MASTER CHORALE tackles Bach’s incredible St. Matthew Passion this weekend, collaborating with MUSICA ANGELICA and wisely offering two performances instead of just their standard Sunday night concert. Catch them Saturday or Sunday at Disney Hall, including JON LEE KEENAN (Evangelist), CHUNG UK LEE (Jesus), and no fewer than 11 additional soloists, for an impressive line-up led by quarterback GRANT GERSHON. (No helmets required, I hope.) Tickets are scarce, even for Sunday, but well worth the effort. (And of course, there are no bad seats at Disney Hall.) Get yours and learn more
Glass slippers are trending, with two versions of “Cinderella” this week: FULLERTON COLLEGE OPERA presents the lesser-known operetta by Pauline Viardot, Cendrillon for three performances Friday through Sunday. Also, on Saturday morning, PACIFIC SYMPHONY charms family audiences with two performances of Cinderella, Opera for Kids! with a cast melding pros with students from Chapman University. Both events are on the calendar.
PacSymph will be plenty busy this weekend, as maestro CARL ST.CLAIR also helms an all-Bernstein program Thursday thru Saturday, with famed soprano DAWN UPSHAW ailing with flu and replaced by fast-rising American soprano CELENA SHAFER, pianist BENJAMIN PASTERNACK, and guest host JAMIE BERNSTEIN. Click here
Other offerings around town include “Tenorpalooza” at Concordia Arts in Irvine; and the live and encore broadcasts of Tales of Hoffman from the Met Live in HD. For the latter, click here
Special Reminder
In case you haven’t heard, it’s been a rough couple of months for the vocal community, most recently with the loss of tenor MALLORY WALKER in December, bass-baritone MICHAEL GALLUP earlier this month, and WARD SWINGLE last week. The memorial service for Michael is this weekend in Newport Beach, and all are welcome. Mallory’s memorial is on Saturday, February 21 – we’ll post a reminder when the time comes. For information on the service for Michael Gallup this Sunday, click here.
Continuing
Thru 2/1 – La Boheme (Puccini), SAN DIEGO OPERA
Thru 2/1 – Thérèse Raquin (Picker), LONG BEACH OPERA
Coming up
The Figaro mania continues with Ghosts of Versailles at LA OPERA, starting Saturday, February 7.
New Review
BRYAN DAHL did a great job of filling us in on the recent ¡Figaro! (90210) premiere, a modern mash-up from LA OPERA as part of their ongoing fest. Click here
Have a wonderful week, whether you’re wearing a jersey or tails, and drinking beer or champagne. As always, thank you for supporting live singing!
