2pm -- Pasadena

Domingo/Thornton Young Artists 

25 Recitals for 25 Years 

2pm -- Beverly Hills   

Auria Trio

2:30pm -- Claremont

Verdi's Requiem    

3pm -- Santa Monica 

Musica Angelica with Ellen Hargis 

Cantates Françaises 

3pm -- La Mirada
  Jeanne Robison, soprano 

3pm -- Downtown LA

Dilljan Chamber Music

4pm -- Santa Monica 

Cantori Domino 

St. John Passion  

4:30pm -- Fullerton

Music for Holy Week

5pm -- Fullerton

Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring 

5:30pm -- Costa Mesa

Pacific Chorale

Daughter of Light

7pm -- Rancho Palos Verdes

Messiah Sing-Along

7pm -- Malibu

Sacred Vespers II 

7:30pm -- Point Loma

Bach Collegium San Diego

St. John Passion 

4pm -- Palm Desert     

Bach Collegium San Diego
St. John Passion     

6pm -- San Fernando  

Los Angeles Opera
German Opera Tales 

The most operatic

of Requiems

Our buddy, Joe Green:

With or without Anthony Tomassini, there is no doubt that Giuseppi Verdi is one of the finest opera composers in Western music history.  His sense of dramatic passion is more than effectively set in ardent, sweeping themes and heart-rending arias.  His sense of humor is witty and only rarely trite,  and the artist's commitment to creating a truly soul-searching experience for the audience is plain throughout most of his works.  Verdi was truly great, in spite of his misses and foibles.  But no other Requiem in the mainstream repertoire mourns the dead with the sheer force of Verdi's masterpiece.  With devilishly difficult solo parts and a choral treatment that is assumed to require a massive choral ensemble, many leave this work to be relegated to the programming cycles of large performing organizations.  But in fact, it can be deeply affecting and equally moving when performed by slightly smaller groups.

This weekend, combined forces from Pomona College and CSU Long Beach will tackle this monumental work, led by intrepid conductor Eric Lindholm and featuring soloists Lucy Shelton (a Pomona alum), Leslie Inman, Sal Malaki and Scott Graff.   

All four of hese glorious voices belong to artists closely associated with new music, but have also proven themselves beautifully in the Romantic realm.  Lindholm,  conductor of the Pomona College Orchestra, will also take on the Pomona College Choir (led by Donna M. DiGrazia) and the Long Beach Chamber Choir (helmed by Jonathan Talberg).  It's a precious opportunity to hear top-notch soloists, and the backing of these strong, capable student forces may surprise you.  Need one more reason to go?  Really?  Well, admission is free... 

Verdi's Requiem 

Bridges Hall of Music 

150 E. 4th Street, Claremont   

Sunday, April 17, 8pm 

Free admission 

Music at Pomona    Map 

Southern California Vocal Events

  LAURI D. GOLDENHERSH's Weekly Highlights

Are ya ready?

We're heading into the final stretch of the season -- it's only ten days to Easter, and just eight more weekends until the summer heats up and the calendar cools down.  So, there will be plenty of activity, and no excuse to stay home.  If you're not singing somewhere yourself this weekend, get out there and find something to hear!

TONIGHT (Thursday), get thee to Malibu for 'A Serenade to Spring' at MAHMA: the Montgomery Arts House for Music and Architecture.  This ambitious program includes works by Schubert, Vaughan Williams, but also features MARIA NEWMAN's 'Jabberwocky', performed by tenor fave GEORGE STERNE and pianist WENDY PROBER, as well as Newman's 'Song of the Sea' and the world premiere of BEVAN MANSONS's 'The Race for the Apple Pie' for violin and viola. Get there if you possibly can, and get more info by clicking:

CSU Fullerton launches their student production of BENJAMIN BRITTEN's 'Albert Herring', the comic opera that proved the composer's versatility as a successful opera composer.  With four performances, Thursday through Sunday, and priced at

Several recitals for piano and voice look enticing, including the one by soprano VICTORIA ROBERTSON on Thursday, ANNE HARLEY on Friday, a visit from artists from the Metropolitan Opera in New York on Saturday, and Biola University's JEANNE ROBISON on Sunday.  Don't forget ELLEN HARGIS' appearances with MUSICA ANGELICA on Saturday and Sunday, performing a very appealing program entitled 'Cantates Françaises'.

Continuing:  Last weekend's first performances of PUCCINI's 'Gianni Schicchi' and 'Suor Angelica' continue through Sunday in South Pas, and 'Songs for a New World' presses on in Pasadena.  Both are generating good reports. 

Browse the Calendar (linked below) for the big picture and more details on individual events.  As always, thank you for supporting live singing!
 

See you soon,

Lauri D. Goldenhersh

lauri@laurislist.com  

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This weekly column has been cross-posted from the Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter, the indispensable email periodical serving more than 5000 readers in Southern California.

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