Buzz...buzz....
Those aren't bees. The buzz that's been flying all over Southern California of late seems to be connected with THE INDUSTRY, a new and very adventurous opera company whose first production, '
Crescent City' is causing quite a stir. The show premieres tonight (Thursday) in Atwater Village, billed as a '
hyperopera' and in collaboration with no fewer than six respected and challenging visual artists to create a world of their own. Even the seating is beyond imagination, designed to serve a variety of needs and create different experiences: You can sit around the perimeter of the "city", get a birds-eye view from the skybox, settle into a custom-made bean bag chair in the middle of the action (in intimate proximity of one of our Listers, countertenor TIMUR BEKBOSUNOV's, path as 'Deadly Belle'), or wander the perimeter on the Pedestrian Pathway, allowing you to see the show from a variety of angles. This delightfully ballsy company has already garnered praise and financial support from a diverse group of fans, and is making headlines as well as waves. Also featured are GWENDOLYN BROWN, CEDRIC BERRY, JONATHAN MACK, ASHLEY FAATOALIA, MARIA ELENA ALTANY, JI YOUNG YANG, and LILLIAN SENGPIEHL. Performances continue through May 27, but get your tickets early -- many (and hopefully all) shows will sell out. Get information and tickets
here.
More opera is taking over the Southland this week, too, with many productions bringing a fresh look to classic pieces: PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT's 'Cosi' ignites Civil War-era Georgia at the new Porticoes Theatre in Pasadena. With only four performances from May 12-20, get your seats now by clicking
here.
REPERTORY OPERA's '
Don Giovanni' opened on the 5th in Pomona, and LA OPERA's '
La Boheme' starts Saturday. (Search Twitter.com with the hashtag
#LAOBoheme for details on Wednesday's dress rehearsal!) VINEYARD TOURING OPERA continues their traveling run of '
Tosca' through Sunday, and PACIFIC LYRIC ASSOCIATION brings a steamy '
Carmen' to Oceanside. Finally, MAHMA combines
operatic tales with its sister genres of theatre and silent film, with a very unique show in Malibu on Saturday and Sunday. Take a deep, "diaphragmatic" breath and check the calendar for details on all of these luscious options.
We must also give
sincere kudos to those celebrating big birthdays: ST JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH marked the 100th anniversary of its iconic building and acclaimed organ this year, and this Sunday they offer their annual '
Concert of Remembrance', starting at 4:30pm. A concert from organist TODD WILSON will follow at 6pm. On Saturday, the TOWNE SINGERS celebrate '
25 Years of Choral Excellence' at Glendale's Alex Theatre, and VOX FEMINA passes their
15th milestone. Thanks to all of these organizations and ensembles for providing us with beautiful music for so many years. Keep up the wonderful work!
I hope to see you making the rounds through these fascinating events. But whatever you do this week, thank you for supporting live singing!
