Coril Prochnew as Donna Elvira doesn't recognize Leporello (Phil Meyer) in Repertory Opera Co. 's "Don Giovanni"

While L A Opera presents “Don Giovanni” at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with sets of crinkled white paper and a big orchestra and a big-name conductor, out in Pomona, Repertory Opera Company brought to a small, but enthusiastic audience, its version of “Don Giovanni”,the 1787 Mozart opera, to the First Christian Church, Pomona last Saurday.

With talented singers, colorful costumes, decent portable sets and a piano accompanist who kept things moving right along, the opera company closed its current season with a fine showing.  Repertory Opera Company is staffed by professionals whose training is evident.

Using humor, the Company made light of the twisted plot-line which encompasses some dark happenings as Don Giovanni, that is, Don Juan, carries his libidinous ways to more than simple persuasive seduction.
The production’s director (and Artistic Director) LizBeth Lucca cleverly used English dialogue to allow the audience to follow the action in place of recitative, but even then the complicated story took almost 3 hours (with a lengthy intermission) to unwind. With no English translation, the on-stage action was not always clear, but the English filled in well. The Italian, the language of this opera, was not always clear.

Raul Matas headed the cast as the dashing lover, Don Giovanni, who counted his conquests in the thousands; Phil Meyer played the saucy servant, Leporello; Coril Prochnow, Donna Elvira; Andrea Fuentes, Donna Anna; Steve Moritsugu, Don Ottavio; Carol Winston, Zerlina; Franco Rios Castro, Masetto; and Robert Arce, Commendatore.

Meyer, as Leporello, took command of the stage in each of his scenes with a strong bass-baritone voice, and led the comic interpolations, particularly in the aria “Madamina, il catalogo e questo” (“The Catalogue is thus”), as he recounts not only hundreds of women his master, Don Giovanni, seduced in various countries, but eagerly reports that there were thousands of women he came to, uh, know in Spain.

Matas integrated well with Meyer and others in the cast, using his liquid voice well in the song “Deh, vieni alla finestra” (“Come to the window”). Andrea Fuentes as Donna Anna was crisp and direct throughout, but particularly strong in her aria, “Or sai chi l’onore” (“You know now who attempted to rob me of my honor”). Coril Prochnow as Donna Elvira carried the story persuasively, especially in her important aria “Mi tradi quell’alma ingrate” (“That ungrateful soul betrayed me”) using her wonderful soprano voice to lead the way to Don Giovanni’s doom as he is dragged to Hell in the opera’s final scene. Prochnow’s voice warmed and became a fuller voice as the afternoon went along.

Lucca’s direction kept the complicated story under control;  the simple sets from the production’s design, Anne Henderson, were both dramatic and appropriate; costuming by Lorna Vaccari and Sharla Wickman was colorful.

The Company’s Musical Director, Brian Farrell, produced top piano accompaniment, including directing from the piano.
The program credits Chorus Master, Kevin Wiley and Robert Sage for musical support.

No program has been announced for next season; however information is available about the group at www.repertoryoperacompany.org.

By Bill Peters

Conductor Nicholas McGegan and pianist Nareh Arghamanyan are seen in rehearsal with the Pasadena Symphony Thursday evening in preparation for their concert on Satruday at Ambassador Aujditorium. The concert fetures Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20, Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, and Mendelssohn's "Fair Melusina Overture.

Nicholas McGegan, for his droll sense of humor alone, is not to be missed when he conducts the Pasadena Symphony’s next concert at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena.

Asked in an interview by New York NPR station WQXR host, Jeff Spurgeon, how one becomes a conductor, the straight faced McGegan responded, “Wait until someone falls off the podium!”

McGegan, of course, demeans his importance as one of the world’s finest interpreters of early music and his vibrant interpretations of Mendelssohn and Beethoven in particular.

“I Love Mendelssohn, I’ve done all the Beethoven symphonies…a lot of the major Mozarts,” McGegan reports.

At the two-concert performance the Pasadena Symphony now offers, McGegan will lead the orchestra in a program of all his favorites. That is, the opening work is Felix Mendelssohn’s “Fair Melusina Overture” to be followed by young Armenian pianist Nareh Arghamanyan performing Mozart’s delightful and melodic Piano Concerto No. 20. The major work is Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, the “Eroica”.

Nareh Arghamanyan has impressed critics and piano competition judges with her technique and vision. Though in her early twenties, Arghamanyan has landed an exclusive recording contract with Dutch label Penta Tone with one CD there late last year, and more on the horizon. In 2008 she was the first priaze winner of the 2008 Montreal International Music Competition for which she was awarded the $30,000 grand prize.
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D is considered one of Mozart’s best. With the lively McGegan at the podium and young Arghamanyan at the keyboard, we anticipate a lively performance.

With McGegan’s experience with the works of Beethoven, the Symphony No. 3 can be counted on to be a wonderful music experience.

Ticket prices start at $35.

The Ambassador Auditorium is located at 131 Saint John Ave., Pasadena. Information: (626) 793-7172.

From left: Raul Matas, Kyle Patterson, Colin Ramsey, Kristen N. Speck rehearsing the fabulously funny "Don Pasquale" which opens Feb. 4.

February concerts are getting off to a rapid start in the Claremont-Pomona area with several concerts in March, as well.

Repertory Opera Company presents “Don Pasquale”

This weekend the Repertory Opera Company begins a four-performance schedule for Gaetano Donizetti’s fabulously funny opera, “Don Pasquale” at its regular venue, the First Christian Church, Pomona.
“Don Pasquale” will be presented by the Repertory Opera Company beginning at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 with repeat 2 p.m. performances on Feb. 4, Feb. 11 and Feb. 18. An 8:00 p.m. performance will be given on
Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Lead roles will be shared. Arthur Freeman and Colin Ramsey will alternate as Don Pasquale; Keiko Clark and Kristen N. Speck are Norina(s); Matt Dunn and Kyle Patterson, Ernesto(s); Raul Matas and Joey Buhler, Malatesta(s). Music Director and production pianist is Brian Farrell.
Bass-baritone Colin Ramsey, tenor Kyle Patterson, soprano Kristen N. Speck, and Joseph von Buhler, baritone are new to this opera company, but their singing experience is already impressive.
Ramsey is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, New York, in 2011 but has already won roles at Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Santa Barbara and an award winner at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Los Angeles.
Patterson won a spot in the OperaWorks Emerging Artist Program in June, 2011 and currently studies voice privately at Chapman University.
Speck has been impressive in her workshop experience with Pasadena’s Intimate Opera. She has also participated in OperaWorks Advance Artist program. Speck holds a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Azusa Pacific University.
Von Buhler, who regularly tours with Opera A La Carte presenting Gilbert and Sullivan works, holds a master’s degree from the University of Redlands.
Tickets are $30.
The First Christian Church is located at 1751 N. Park Ave., Pomona. Information: ((909) 230-4949.

Music of Messiaen and Crockett at Pomona College

A group of premiere musicians will gather at Bridges Hall of Music on the campus of Pomona College to present the music of Olivier Messiaen and Donald Crockett at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 3.
The music will be performed by Pomona College faculty artists and Southern California professionals Sarah Thornblade, violin; Roger Lebow, cello; Genevieve Feiwen Lee, piano; and Gary Bovyer, clarinet.
Music on the program will include Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” and newer works of Donald Crockett.
Admission is free.
Bridges Hall of Music is located at 150 E. 4th St., Claremont.

“Spirit of Ireland” at Candlelight Pavilion, Claremont

Michael Ryan, guitarist extraordinaire, brings his friends along to the stage of the Candlelight Pavilion Theater at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 for an evening of music, dance and songs of Ireland entitled “Spirit of Ireland”.
Ryan will be joined by Craic Haus Irish band and dancers from the Larson Academy of Irish Dance.
The program promises to be fun-filled with an “evening of mysterious celtic music and lively Irish pub songs.
Tickets are $25. This is a show-only performance.
Candlelight Pavilion Theater is located at 455 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont. Information: (909) 626-3296, Ext. 1.

Editor note: In a previous edition, in the picture, the caption incorrectly listed Kristen Patterson, rather than Kristen N. Speck who appears in the photo.

Lindsay Deutsch

The California Philharmonic Orchestra concludes its 2011 Festival on the Green at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden Saturday, Aug. 20, and its Sunday afternoon repeat concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Aug. 21.
Maestro Victor Vener will lead the orchestra in an eclectic program of Broadway tunes, movie soundtracks, and classical music.
“I always mix things up,” the ever enthusiastic Vener said. In this context, he means the diverse programming the orchestra is known for.
Under the title “That’s Entertainment”, the orchestra will plays tunes from “My Fair Lady”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, and “Man of La Mancha”.
Guest soloist will be violinist Lindsay Deutsch. Deutsch first appeared with Cal Phil in 2004 as a winner of the CalPhil Foundation Young Artist Performance Award winner. Her muscular and lyrical tone was praised at that concert, recognizing early-on her talents as a violin performer. Strad Magazine selected Deutsch as a pick as an “Up-and-Coming Musician” in the April 2007 issue. At this concert, she will perform George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” as arranged for violin and orchestra; and Jules Massenet’s “Meditation” from his opera “Thais”.
This concert will be the last concert by the California Philharmonic Orchestra at The Arboretum. The orchestra has announced that their presentations will continue across the street at Santa Anita Park.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $98 at the outdoor Arboretum; and $43 to $100 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Walt Disney Concert Hall is at 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Information: (626) 300-8200.

Sitka, Alaska Music Festival offers beautiful music in a beautiful setting.

From Beethoven to Bartok, from composer Aaron Copland to cellist Zuill Bailey, finding classical music along the highways and byways of America can be a stultifying affair. Still, some of our most scenic areas are hosting fabulous professional musicians willing to put up with the difficulties of performing in outdoor venues or small-town high school auditoriums, and even cafés.

Here are a few to consider:

Sitka Alaska Music Festival: June 3 through  June 24

You can only fly into Sitka, Alaska, and there are no discounted flights, but the town is quiet in a laid-back kind of way.  Concerts are held in an auditorium with a glass wall looking over the harbor.  Bald Eagles often fly by during the chamber concerts.  Concerts include local venues with titles like Bach’s lunch; Music and Martinis, and a fund-raiser aboard a tourist boat.  Cellist Zuill Bailey, Artistic Director designate is superb.  Concert tickets: $20, seniors, $15.  www.sitkamusicfestival.org.

Colorado College Summer Music Festival: June 8 through June 24

Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, Co., and this small liberal arts college puts on one of the best summer festivals at its new Packard Hall. (Yes, named after David Packard of Hewlett-Packard notoriety, and an alumnus.) Music Director, violinist Scott Yoo directs the Festival Orchestra in a relatively standard program, but chamber breakouts offer wider musical choices.  Concerts are held Tuesday through Friday.  Concert tickets: $25 at www.ticketswest.com.

Aspen Music Festival: June 29 through Aug. 21

One of the largest music festivals combined with programs for fledgling music students, this is the premiere Western music festival is held in the Colorado  mountain town and noted ski resort of Aspen, Co.,—and is probably the costliest.  But star guest artists and faculty make it special, not to mention the beautiful scenery of the Rocky Mountains.  Daily programs in sites around the town, some free, make this special.  Concert tickets: $10 to $82.

Breckenridge Music Festival: July 8 through Aug. 14

Breckenridge, Co., is another beautiful in-the-Rockies site for music.  The entire festival encompasses a wide range of types of music, but there are plenty of opportunities to hear some fine chamber music as well.  Concert tickets: $25 to $35.  www.breckenridegmusicfestival.com

Allan Pollack has led the Mendocino Festival Orchestra for 15 years.

Mendocino Music Festival

: July 9 through  July 23

If mountaineering isn’t your style, perhaps a trip to Northern California’s small town, Mendocino, will suit your traveling instincts.  This music festival offers big band, orchestra, chamber, dance, blues, jazz, bluegrass and more offering daily concerts.  Classical music is offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the festival.  Concert Tickets: Festival Orchestra $10 to $42; piano series $22; others, $17.  www.mendocino.com.

Salida Aspen Concerts: July 9 through Aug. 12

The small towns of Salida, Co., and Buena Vista, Co., are located in some of the most scenic parts of Colorado.  The concerts here are varied, but classical music is offered from musicians performing at Aspen.  The Jupiter Quartet will perform one of the Beethoven quartets on Aug. 6.  Concert Tickets: $15. www.salidaaspenconcerts.org.

Music in the Mountains: July 19 through July 31  

Durango, Co., on Colorado’s Western slope presents its concerts in this beautiful part of Colorado.  This music festival is celebrating its 25th year.  On July 22, a fun chamber group playing contrived instruments, Stringfever, can be heard.  Concerts are held in a festival tent generally Wednesday through Sunday.  Concert tickets: $29 to $39.  Purchase tickets at the box office, 707 1/2 Main Ave., Durango.

Festival Mozaic: July 14 through July 24

San Louis Opisbo, Ca., on the Central Coast of California, has put on its music festival for 40 years—much of the time known as the Mozart Festival.  But with a new Executive Director hired this year and Scott Yoo as Music Director (and some friends from the Colorado College Summer Music Festival) in his sixth year, the programming is far from ho-hum; same for venues that includes the Mission San Louis Opisbo Tolosa, Chapel Hill and the Vina Robles Winery in Paso Robles.  Five series make up the festival including Notable Encounters, Chamber Series Concerts, the Fringe Series, and Evenings with the Orchestra.  Concert Tickets: $33 to $52.  www.festivalmosaic.com.   

Moab Music Festival: Sept. 1 through Sept. 9

At the gateway to Arches National Monument, Moab, Ut., combines beautiful scenery of its red rock, the Colorado River, and top musicians to offer singularly unique music and travel experience.  One concert is presented in town at Moab’s Old City Park free, some at Red Cliffs Adventure Lodge next to the Colorado River, and at a resort ranch.  But the festival is best known for its Grotto concerts.  Grotto concerts take place deep up the canyon following a 45 minute boat ride (after a 30 minute ride to the boat launch site) then provide lawn chairs, wine and hors d’oeuvres while a chamber ensemble fills the canyon with the music of Bach, Fauré, Ralph Vaughn Williams and the like.  Take a deep breath—Grotto Concerts are priced at $300 as a benefit for the festival with $175 tax deductible.  Other concert tickets are $25 to $50.  www.moabmusicfest.org. 
 Opera: Through July and August

Santa Fe Opera gala season opening this year.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe Opera is probably the best known, best-loved summer music performance offering an all-opera program in a beautiful outdoor venue.  Operas include Gounod’s “Faust”, and Puccini’s “La Boheme”.  Also, this year marks the debut of Los Angeles Master Chorale conductor Grant Gershon.  Gershon will conduct Antonio Vivaldi’s “Griselda” in a new production direction by Peter Sellers with singers David Daniels, tenor; Meredith Arwady, contralto singing the role of Griselda.  Performances of this opera are scheduled for July 16, 20, and 29; August 4, 9, and 19.  Opera tickets start at $35.  www.santafeopera.org.

By Bill Peters

Calico Winds, still awesome.

” ‘Calico Winds’ personnel mirror its name: five distinctly differing personalities who blend musically together with an ease that is awesome.” Who wrote that? Well, I did in a music review that appeared in Beacon Media publications in 2004. It is still true. Calico Winds can be heard this coming week-end, June 4, at 8:00 p.m. at Boston Court in Pasadena.
This program will be highlighted by numbers they perform on their CD “All in One”, music that stretches from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Little Fugue” in G-minor to Frank Zappa’s “Very Fast Wind Quintet”.
The personnel that creates the special magic for which they are known includes Eileen Holt-Helwig, David Kossoff, Kathryn Nevin, Theresa Treuenfels, and Rachel Berry.
Helwig is a flutist; Kossoff, oboe (and English horn); Nevin, clarinet; Treuenfels, bassoon; and Berry, French horn.
Tickets are $25; students and seniors, $25.
Boston Court is at 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. Information: (626) 683-6883.

Hershey Felder as George Gershwin in "George Gershwin Alone" opens April 14 at the Pasadena Playhouse and runs through May 8.

Is there anyone around who cannot identify a tune by George Gershwin? I doubt it. One of the reasons is Gershwin’s unique way with a tune—at once simple and hummable, but likely to take a jagged twist into a corps of diminished chords that add color and variety. These songs, along with comments by performer/actor/singer/playwright Hershey Felder make up what should be a tuneful and interesting evening about the life of George Gershwin in Felder’s one-man show “George Gershwin Alone”. “George Gershwin Alone” opens tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 12 at the Pasadena Playhouse at 8:00 p.m.
Felder says he spent over five years researching Gershwin’s life, including family members, biographers, and friends to construct the show. It has worked since Felder has been performing this show (he has had other composer’s lives in similar styles) for going on 10 years. In fact, there have been more than 2,750 worldwide performances.
There is no doubt that Gershwin was instrumental in bringing American jazz into American theater and introduced the jazz idiom strongly in his 1927 work “Rhapsody in Blue”. But it would be a travesty to other composers such as Irving Berlin (“Alexander’s Ragtime Band”) to provide a singular mantle to him. Still, his book of songs is long and memorable, often with the aid of his brother, Ira’s, lyrics. But they stand alone. In fact, Gershwin was a leading advocate of his own music. He was noted for attending a party and, without prompting, sit at the piano playing nothing but his own songs. What that may have sounded like is mostly unknown, although there are piano rolls performed by Gershwin. Many pianists have attempted to play his songs, composer/pianist William Bolcom among them, but each sounds totally different.
Felder is not just some lounge pianist. He is well-trained classically, much of this training at McGill University in Canada. He should be well suited to tell the fascinating tale of the kid from Brooklyn who rose to become the pre-eminent composer of American songs, leaving behind dozens and dozens of hit tunes in Broadway shows and Hollywood musicals, classical compositions and an opera.
Tickets are $29 to $100. The show runs from April 12 through May 8.
The Pasadena Playhouse is at 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Information: (626) 356-7529.

Cellist John Walz will perform a Christmas work by Vivaldi with Enlightenment Chamber Music.

Works by Antonio Vivaldi will be performed by Enlightenment Chamber Music that will include a Christmas concerto and the Italian master’s music composed for violin, guitar and cello at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 at Neighborhood Church, Pasadena. The concert, “Essential Vivaldi for the Holidays!” is free.
“Il Riposo – per il Santissimo Natale” (Rest – for a Holy Christmas”) is Vivaldi’s muted, restful, piece written for an unknown feast day. Christmas concertos and cantatas were written during the Middle Ages and beyond for special feast days and Vivaldi in the 16th-century continued the practice, although ethnomusicologists tell us his “Il Riposo…” probably was not written for Christmas services but may have been performed at the Christmas season. The work will be performed as part of Enlightenment Chamber Music’s program with the group’s Music Director, Marina Manukian as soloist.
Vivaldi’s Cello Concerto in E-minor will be heard with the ensemble’s cellist, John Walz. This concerto, one of Vivaldi’s most popular cello sonatas, will be performed using an arrangement by Paul Bazelaire that Walz recorded in his CD album “A Tribute to Pierre Fornier” on Yarlung Records. Fornier was a celebrated French cellist that influenced Walz’ decision to become a cellist.
“When I was 12 years-old my mother bought me a recording [of the Vivaldi cello concerto]. I was excited because I was learning the Vivaldi concerto at the time,” Walz says in liner notes of the album. Walz eventually heard Fornier “live” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The program will include three Sinfonias; “La Pastorella”; Concerto for Violin; Guitar Concerto; and Double concerto for violin and violoncello.
In addition to Manukian and Walz, other performers with Enlightenment Chamber Music are Sarkis Gyurgchyan and Neil Samples, violins; Charles Hebenstreit, viola; David Young, double bass; Bruce Teter, recorder; Curtis Berak, hurdy gurdy; Jordan Charnofsky, guitar; and Mark Robson, keyboard.
Neighborhood Church is located at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena. A reception will follow the concert. Information: (818) 566-1056.

Southwest Chamber Music concludes this year's summer season at The Huntington in San Marino Aug. 21 and 22.--photo courtesy Southwest Chamber Music

One of the most unique ensembles in Southern California performs at one of the area’s truly beautiful sites: Southwest Chamber Music at The Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanical Gardens in San Marino.
This weekend, Saturday, Aug. 21 and Sunday, Aug. 22 is the last opportunity to enjoy the spectacular summer setting of the Loggia of the art gallery and hear the twice-winning Grammy chamber group.
Following its traditional programming, Southwest Chamber Music will perform the music of Franz Schubert, Mozart and Johannes Brahms but also include a contemporary piece by Alexandra du Bois , the 29 year-old composer who was one of the composers-in-residence for the “Ascending Dragon Music Festival” with Vietnam.
Music to be heard on both the Saturday and Sunday program will be Schubert’s “Notturno in E-flat”, Mozart’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, Brahms’ “Trio” and du Bois’ “L’apothéose d’un rêve” (“Apotheosis of a Dream”). Du Bois’ compositions have come to the attention of top musicians around the world. “L’apothéose…” was composed for the farewell tour of the Beaux Arts Trio and received its world premiere at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in 2006. Concerts this summer have carried the nickname “Concerts for Arabella [Huntington]” and featured contemporary women composers. Du Bois’ works have been programmed by Southwest Chamber Music five times in the last two years to audience approval.

Kirk Smith sings with Standard Men and The Singing Ladies at the Sierra Madre Playhouse Sunday, July 25

A musical revue is booked into the Sierra Madre Playhouse for a one-night performance by a group called Standard Men. The Standard Men will appear with The Singing Ladies to reprise some of Broadway’s biggest hits. The music begins at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, July 25.
Standard Men has been around awhile presenting its revues of Broadway, jazz, and pop standards produced by singer/actor Kirk Arnold-Smith. Smith will be onstage with regulars David McGee, and Lance Merrill with Diana Briscoe joined by Elyse Cook and Alison Kalmus.
The list of showstopping songs the group will perform includes some of the best of Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and more.
Kirk Smith has a long resume in producing, directing and acting including the recent chamber opera by Jonathan Price, “The Queen and the Dragon”. He has appeared in the Sierra Madre Playhouse’ “A Christmas Carol Story”. Diana Briscoe is a soprano whose opera roles with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera have received critical approval. The Palisadian Post said Briscoe’s vocal ability was “up to the demands of the character role”[of Musetta] in La Boheme. She is known for both her well-trained soprano voice and her comic timing.

Alison Kalmus

Alison Kalmus is a respected member of the local theater scene, with accolades for her excellent vocal interpretations and as founder/artistic director of the Sierra Madre Youth Acting Workings and the Southern California Lyric Theater.

Elyse Cook

Elyse Cook is a lyric soprano who has performed leading roles with Southern California Lyric Theater, Opera Pasadena, Intimate Opera Company and others. She is a voice teacher accepting private students.

 Lance Merrill is a multi-talented musician. Merrill, who serves as accompanist for the Towne Singers, will provide accompaniment for this production.

Tickets are offered at $15 for pre-sale and $20 at the door.
The production is produced by Carolyn Sissel Smith and Kirk Smith for Social Arts in association with Sierra Madre Playhouse. The Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. For information, please call (626) 355- 4318.

By Bill Peters