When most people think of going to the opera, there”™s a good chance they”™ll think of the popular and well-known compositions of Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini or Georges Bizet.
On Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 22 at 4:00 p.m., opera fans – or those who are curious to learn more about the art form without the investment of time or money that often accompanies attending a full production – can hear famous choruses from works by all three composers when the Verdi Chorus presents its annual Fall Concert.
On the program, which will take place at First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, are opera choruses from The Pearl Fishers by Bizet, Verdi”™s Giovanna d”™Arco and Puccini”™s La Boheme, plus operettas by Sigmund Romberg and Victor Herbert.
Soprano Ani Maldjian, tenor Bradley Wisk and baritone Museop Kim will appear as guest artists.
“The Verdi Chorus is the only chorus of its kind – an ensemble that focuses solely on performing works written for the opera chorus – in the Los Angeles area,” says Music Director and Founder Anne Marie Ketchum, a soprano highly regarded not only in the world of opera but contemporary art music and vocal chamber music. “In fact, we”™re named the Verdi Chorus because Verdi is an example of a composer who loved the chorus. He used it a lot and was a master at writing for it.”
At the Fall Concert, audiences will hear excerpts from one of Verdi”™s earlier works Giovanna d”™Arco (Joan of Arc) - a work infrequently performed.
“But it is chock full of gorgeous music,” says Ketchum. “I kept getting distracted by music from the opera that we”™re not going to do, it”™s such a rich work. We”™ll definitely revisit Giovanna d”™Arco at future performances.”
The chorus will also perform the full Second Act Finale from Bizet”™s The Pearl Fishers as well as excerpts from the Second Act of La Boheme by Puccini, with soprano Ani Maldjian playing the role of the flirtatious singer Musetta.
“The chorus has a very strong presence throughout both operas,” Ketchum explains. “The Pearl Fishers is probably Bizet”™s most successful opera aside from Carmen”¦and for good reason, as you”™ll hear when Bradley and Museop perform the famous duet “˜Au fond du Temple Saint”™. It”™s beautiful!”
THE VERDI CHORUS – FALL CONCERT
Saturday, November 21, 2009; 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, 2009; 4 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
1008 11th Street in Santa Monica
Soloists:
Ani Maldjian, soprano
Bradley Wisk, tenor
Museop Kim, baritone
Music Director:
Anne Marie Ketchum
Program:
Excerpts from The Pearl Fishers by Bizet, Verdi”™s Giovanna d”™Arco and Puccini”™s La Boheme plus operettas by Sigmund Romberg and Victor Herbert
Tickets:
$40 – Reserved seating
$30 – General seating
$25 – Seniors
$10 – Students 25 and younger, with student ID
For more information:
Call 310. 684.3024 or visit their official site
Review by Pauline Adamek
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