Pasadena Pops Opens at Descanso June 19
Everything is popping at the Pops. Conductor Rachael Worby is ready to present four exciting concerts on two nights each at Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge. The fun begins Friday, June 19 with a repeat on Saturday, June 20. “A Night in the Tropics” is the theme. Music of Astor Piazzola, Heitor Villa Lobos, Rimsky-Korsakov and others are on the bill.
On the bill are tango dancers Sandor and Parissa, accordionist John Torcello, pianist Hunter Noack and singers José Adan Perez, baritone and soprano Danielle Walker.
Sandor and Parissa are professional dancers, choreographers and coaches. Sandor coached the Gold-Medalist Argentine Tango duet on NBC’s “Superstars of Dance” 2009, Parissa coached the perfect-scoring team that danced the Argeninte Tango on ABC’s “Dancing With Star”. They will dance to Gerardo Matos Rodriguez famous tango, “La Cumparista”.
Accordionist John Torcello, in keeping with the tropics theme is expected to play Astor Piazzolla numbers on his accordion, the chromatic free-bass accordion, developed as a concert-music instrument. The free-bass accordion the Granada Hills resident plays consists of buttons arranged to play single pitched bass notes, as opposed to the better known button-accordion that includes chords.
Vocalists Danielle Walker, soprano, and Jose Adan Perez, baritone are participants in the Domingo-Thornton Young Artists program. This disting
uished program, 
under the 
tutelage of Placido Domingo, guides the careers and training of talented singers. Perez is in this third year and Walker is in her second year. The music line-up gives us no clue to what they will sing, but, although not tropical in nature, “Carmen” comes to mind.
Pianist Hunter Noack is quite young. As far as we can tell, his will enter his Junior year at USC. He studies with Kevin Fitz-Gerald and that means something. Again, what he will play is not announced, but, gosh, I haven’t heard Manuel De Falla’s “Ritual Fire-dance” in years.
Descanso Gardens is extremely pleasant for a picnic concert. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on both Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. Ticket prices range from $20 to $90. Season tickets are also available. (626) 793-7172, ext. 16.
By Bill Peters
Leave a Reply
