Vocal focus from CCMN*
SOUTHERN CA VOCAL EVENTS
Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights
“Jefe, what is a plethora?”*
The answer is simple: Check the calendar. There’s so much going on this week that it boggles the mind. But here’s a rough sketch:
Operas abound, with GAVIN BRYARS’ Marilyn Forever bringing Ms. Monroe to life at LONG BEACH OPERA. The role is played by DANIELLE MARCELLE BOND and JAMIE CHAMBERLIN, both fine singers and compelling performers. To learn more and reserve your seats, click here
This week also marks the return of newish company OPERA ANIMATA, with Gluck’s intoxicating Orfeo ed Euridice in Monrovia; the beginning of the end at LA OPERA, as The Marriage of Figaro starts the last run of their mainstage season; and even a new chamber opera in Redlands, as UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS stages the premiere of The Birthmark by mezzo/composer RUSTON ROPAC. Of course, don’t forget the continuations of Nixon in China (San Diego), Puccini’s Il Tabarro (Pomona) and Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe (Ventura), completing the palette of operatic hues.
Choral music is equally varied and enthralling, with HORIZON CHAMBER CHOIR appearing at the 41st Annual Long Beach Bach Festival on Saturday to perform J.S. and J.C., plus a little Claudio (Monteverdi). The WAGNER ENSEMBLE serves up their spring concert on Sunday afternoon by pairing Big Daddy Bach with Haydn; and WESTWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH presents Schubert’s sublime Mass in G on Sunday evening. Ah, to be everywhere at once…
There are plenty of mashups, as well, if shaking it up is more to your taste: LA CHORAL LAB offers Missa Urbis Angelorum, their second concert which celebrates new choral music by local composers; SOUTH BAY CHILDREN’S CHOIR** blends choral and chamber textures with “Something Old, Something New” on Sunday afternoon, featuring the Juilliard-trained and rapidly rising ALLANT TRIO, who are based in New York but have SoCal roots. And PASADENA MASTER CHORALE stacks Pärt, Tavener and Górecki for a sampling of three modern choral greats.
In the OC, MEISTERSINGERS will explore Einojuhani Rautavaara’s profound All-Night Vigil with two performances featuring basso profundo JAMES HAYDEN in the work’s California premiere. Learn more
And finally, delve into the psychological aspects of musicmaking with an unusual mix of piano performance and scientific lecture and discussion, as RICHARD KOGAN, MD presents “The Mind and Music of Gershwin” in Santa Monica on Saturday evening. This is not a vocal performance, but we singers owe George a lot — it might be a chance to gain new insight into the mind that gave us so much music that stands tall to this day. Click here
Continuing
Thru 3/21 — Il Tabarro and more Puccini, REPERTORY OPERA COMPANY
Thru 3/22 — Nixon in China, SAN DIEGO OPERA
Thru 3/22 — Barber of Seville, LA OPERA
Thru 3/29 — Iolanthe, VENTURA COUNTY GILBERT & SULLIVAN REPERTORY COMPANY
Thru 4/25 — Figaro Unbound (Various events), LA OPERA (& partner orgs) Click here
The events seem to be replicating of their own accord — see the calendar for more event listings, and take (or send) a friend. As always, thank you for supporting live singing!
Lauri D. Goldenhersh
lauri@laurislist.com
* See Alfonso Arau’s greatest(?) role, then please forgive me the pop culture aside…
** Disclosure: I do some publicity work for SBCC, however this is a genuine expression of interest in this particular concert.
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*This post echoed from Lauri’s 3/12/15 column in the Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter. The original is a text-based email newsletter, and images, links and details may differ here.
