by Jonathan Keplinger Redlands Opera Theatre’s recent production of Charles Gounod’s immortal masterpiece, Faust, was presented in Kimberly Hall of the First Congregational Church of Redlands, with standard minor cuts to slightly shorten its great length, and with a single intermission after the third act. It was clear that Redlands Opera Theater, though a small … Read more
Chorale Bel Canto and Redlands Opera Theatre hit the stage with an unusual program from eras past Mythical beasts 101: What do a horse with a horn, a snake-haired witch and a human-faced lion with a scorpion’s tail have in common? Why, composer Gian-Carlo Menotti, of course! Catch a selection of classic opera choruses … Read more
by Jenna Friedman, guest reviewer Independent Opera Company, an exciting local company that started in the spring of 2012, put on a wonderful production of Enrique Granados’s Goyescas and accompanying opera scenes on Saturday, February 28th. Galina Barskaya, the company’s talented music director, chose a program that focused on the theme of love and served as … Read more
The Chamber Opera Players of Los Angeles, founded by E. Scott Levin and Ariel Pisturino, specializes in presenting quirky chamber operas which can be performed in under an hour, using small casts and piano accompaniment in an intimate space. On November 7 and 8, they showcased two works: George N. Gianopoulos’s The Last Silent Voice – a world … Read more
Saturday night’s performance of Mozart’s legendary Requiem was well attended, and thoroughly enjoyable. Presented by ArteMusica, founded in 2011, making them one of the newer kids on a very busy SoCal concert block. The masterwork was performed with choir, orchestra and soloists, all led by Maestro Ermanno Zotti, to a very enthusiastic crowd who arrived … Read more
The Redlands Opera Theatre closed their 2013-2014 season with a charming program entitled “The Bard Meets Opera.” The selections of music were inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. Some of the pieces were directly taken from his writings (Othello, Macbeth) while others were an adaptation and updating of the plots (Kiss Me, Kate!, West Side Story.) By … Read more
Being an impresario for a local opera company can sometimes make for a more exciting life than those of the characters being portrayed onstage… In a recent production of The Tales of Hoffman by the Independent Opera Company, it was discovered at a late date that Hoffman himself would be unavailable for the last scheduled … Read more
The Redlands Opera Theatre event, entitled “Mozart Vignettes and Arias,” was a truly enjoyable experience on Sunday, February 23. Held in the sanctuary of the Redlands First United Methodist Church, the space features brick walls and high ceilings, yet attendees were still fairly close to the musicians, allowing the audience to feel the music on an … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VOCAL EVENTS Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights Bring in the new and different! There are fewer concerts this weekend (probably a result of the national obsession with the Super Bowl — who are you rooting for?), but the options are plenty unique this week: Friday evening marks the first … Read more
Redlands Opera Theatre brought a wonderfully spooky production to the stage on October 25 and 26. The program included unusual fare for their audience, double-billing a one-man play about Edgar Allen Poe, entitled Lord Help My Poor Soul, alongside Gian Carlo Menotti’s two-act opera, The Medium. Artistic director Tiana Dye and music director Christa Stevens … Read more
