by Natalie Mann, LIster Reviewer Opera Under the Stars has a long tradition at the Redlands Bowl, which is the longest continuously running summer festival in the US. The program on Friday, August 11 was an auspicious evening, as the master of ceremonies Nathan Gonzales announced it was the Bowl’s2,222nd performance. The warm evening brought … Read more
An enthusiastic crowd came to Walt Disney Concert Hall on Thursday night, with two purposes: to attend a benefit concert for North Korean refugees, and to support performing friends and family. While it was clear that the audience may have started as two groups, by the end of the evening the purposes had combined, showing … Read more
Being a performer comes with a certain amount of uncertainty for the future, and without independent wealth, extremely careful financial planning and a serious portion of luck, many artists can find themselves needing a leg up. For union members, the AGMA Relief Fund is a lifeline that can make an enormous difference, and some of … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* Southern CA Vocal Events Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights It’s time for the “Bunny Race”, when presenters and artists are frantically cramming events onto the calendar so they can get them in before Easter. The good news is doppio: we have much to choose from, and after each event, we can celebrate … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* Southern CA Vocal Events Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights The season is coming! The season is coming! Nothing like diving right in, as this weekend marks the start of a very busy year for classical vocal types. As opera companies’ engines start humming, we tweeted yesterday from the dress rehearsal of … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* Southern CA Vocal Events Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights Choral music brings out the big guns this weekend, as the Southland’s two largest pro choruses perform a total of five of my very favorite composers: LA MASTER CHORALE offers two performances of music by Eric Whitacre and Arvo Pärt at Disney … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* SOUTHERN CA VOCAL EVENTS Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights Let the holiday season begin! It’s a little early, but Happy Thanksgiving! Since the List and I will be out of the office a chunk of next week, let’s take a look at the vocal events happening through the next two: … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* SOUTHERN CA VOCAL EVENTS Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights Starting with the start-up… Fledgling opera company ORPHEE ARTS arrived on the scene earlier this year, and their first full production is here: Donizetti’s ever-popular L’Elisir d’amore is spreading the magic in Westwood, with two performances on Saturday and Sunday. Get … Read more
The master’s early opera, back to life in Santa Monica His legend is alive and well: ruthless, indomitable, mysterious. Attila the Hun is a name that still evokes powerful imagery and fearsome tales, fifteen-and-a-half centuries after his death. Verdi’s opera paints this indelible character as brave and ambitious, yet quite human. Baritone Patrick Blackwell takes … Read more
Community review by Arthur Freeman Pacific Opera Project’s new production of Puccini’s Tosca, running through Sept 28 at St. James’ Church in Pasadena, is billed as “a moving production”, which is meant both literally and in terms of emotional impact. The production’s most unusual element involves the audience moving from location to location as the … Read more
