UPDATED: Sadly, the Vatican decided to cancel the entire tour for the Sistine Chapel Choir just weeks after this post. No real explanation was given. Chorus Angelorum, however, will continue on their own. Stay tuned for details on their activities this fall.
Southern California Vocal Events from Jim Eninger’s
Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter from the South Bay
“Three Wishes” — LAURI D GOLDENHERSH’s Weekly Highlights
There are wonderful things to hear this weekend: be sure to look for more Schumann from the LA PHIL (Das Paradies is a rare treasure!); a collaboration from LOS ANGELES BAROQUE and JOUYSSANCE (ditto Jephte); and a variety of regional opera and season finale choral concerts, all packed into the next couple of weeks.
But I’d like to look a little further ahead, and see what the summer has in store for us. If you haven’t lined up your festival tickets yet, take a look at these select options:
First, let’s start with the summer’s biggest surprise: on Monday, July 23, the SISTINE CHAPEL CHOIR (yeah, the folks that sing for the Pope) are doing the first-ever!!! US tour in their 1500-year history. Fifteen centuries, and they’re finally crossing the Atlantic to pay North America a visit. With concerts in multiple cities that collaborate with local choirs along the way, LA’s event is the piece de resistance and the finale for the tour. Combined with a performance by CHORUS ANGELORUM and led by STEVEN OTTOMANYI, the local chorus will fill the first half of the program with music indigenous to Los Angeles, including works that go back several hundred years. You’ll hear something old made new, and almost guaranteed to hear something that’s new to you. It all goes down at DTLA’s Microsoft Theater, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is not to be missed. Get your seats
Second, take a good look at a little festival on the southerly coast. The BAROQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL CORONA DEL MAR happens early enough in the summer that it is too often missed, but here’s your nudge: put a big yellow highlight on June 17-24, and be sure to check out their website to see what’s up for their 38th Annual Season. Pay special attention to their season finale on June 24, with Handel’s ‘Orlando’ presented in concert style with sopranos AMANDA KEENAN and JOSEFIEN STOPPELENBURG, alto ROBIN BIER; countertenor CLIFTON MASSEY and bass GRAHAM BIER, joining the Festival Orchestra and maestra ELIZABETH BLUMENSTOCK. Come early for all of the events, as the fest provides brass atmosphere on the patio before each event, and a “wine and waters reception” following. Click here
Third, this is more a challenge than a wish: This list, of course, wouldn’t be right without mention of the HOLLYWOOD BOWL, but let’s assume you’ve been properly reminded to mark your calendars and start dusting off the picnic basket. What about the other summer series that hold gems to spare? Don’t forget the OJAI FESTIVAL, the REDLANDS BOWL, and CALPHIL, who will do their usual fun concerts at Disney Hall; as well as the various local series that can refresh your classical soul with jazz, pop, classic rock, world music or just about anything you can come up with. Summer is the time to upend your idea of what good music is, explore genres and composers and instruments and venues and ideas and colors and concepts that you’ve either neglected or never dipped a toe into. Don’t forget to branch out!
In case you’re wondering, unSUNg (the List’s summer series) is taking a much-needed break this summer, but never fear: we’ll be back. More details will be available early in 2019.
We’ll have more for you next week, but in the meantime, keep an eye on the calendar, and find a tune of your very own!
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*This post is echoed from the weekly vocal events column in the Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter, serving nearly several thousand music fans all over Southern California. The original is a text-based email newsletter, so images, links and details may differ in this enhanced version.