As time is short this week, we are unable to provide links to individual listings, but all is waiting for you on the Calendar. 

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Hybrid serenade

Ensemble champions local talent and new compositional breeds, tempered by tradition    

In our 21st-century world, Angelenos are further than ever from the farm, and words like "graft" and "hybrid" may evoke images of cigar-wielding politicos and Toyotas rather than something in the horticultural realm.  But given Pacific Serenade's long history of nurturing and cultivating home-grown music, a program titled to suggest mixing and melding seems right at home.  There is indeed something of the musical geneticist about Mark Carlson, the founder and artistic director who has led this intrepid organization through 26 years, hundreds of performances, and more than 100 commissions.  PacSer's concerts honor the past and embody the now, pairing tradition and newnesss with integrity and grace rather than the irony (or worse, blatant marketing) too often found in lesser organizations.  The result is consistently high quality concerts, a devoted fan base, and a steady stream of meaty premieres. 

The three concerts that start this weekend begin with the foreboding tones of Schubert's 'Death and the Maiden', performed by the string quartet comprised of Roger Wilkie (violin), Miwako Watanabe (violin), David Walther (viola) and David Speltz (cello).  They'll be joined by bass-baritone Michael Dean for selections from Hugo Wolf, followed by a new set of four songs by guitarist/composer Justin Morell.  For more information about the songs and their source texts, written by Lucretius (died c. 50 BC), click here to visit the composer's blog.

 

  

Pacific Serenades
presents

Grafts & Hybrids  

Three performances, three locations:

Saturday, May 19th, 2012 - 4:00

The Home of Kimberly Rose & Michael Shannon in La Cañada 

Sunday, May 20th, 2012 - 4:00
The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 - 8:00
The UCLA Faculty Center

 

  

Order tickets online 

  

 Event Listing       Website

Do this week's offerings start off with la multiplicité d'opéra?  Mais oui! Showcasing Menotti and Monteverdi, student opera gets its last licks in at UC Irvine and UCLA, with local raves already buzzing for both. 'Crescent City' continues with THE INDUSTRY in Atwater Village (did you see Swed's unusual and enthusiastic review in the LA Times?). 'Don Giovanni' is offered two ways, LONG BEACH OPERA's production of Golijov's 'Ainadamar' runs the first of only two performances, and this weekend is your last chance to catch PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT's 'Cosi fan tutte', which is set in the Civil War's South.  If you prefer the smorgasbord, don't miss the LOREN L. ZACHARY COMPETITION finals on Saturday afternoon, where up-and-comers will vie for glory with arias and dreams.

But it's not all about the stage.  On Friday night, a delightful treat of a little early music is provided by NATUR EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE.  Several members of this multi-tasking group play instruments as well as sing,  drawing on their passion for the past and extensive knowledge of obscure repertoire to create an evocative, time-bending program in a beautiful space.  Hear them at St. James in the City, between Koreatown and Hancock Park, on Friday night.  Get details by clicking here.

On the other end of the time spectrum, PACIFIC SERENADES offers some new, juicy repertoire with three concerts on Saturday and Sunday, entitled 'Grafts and Hybrids': In addition to Schubert's heartbreaking 'Death and the Maiden', an exceptionally fine string quartet will be joined by bass-bari MICHAEL DEAN to perform selected songs by Romantic master Hugo Wolf, leading to the world premiere of a new cycle by JUSTIN MORELL.  The quartet includes violinists ROGER WILKIE and MIWAKO WATANABE, violist DAVID WALTHER and cellist DAVID SPELTZ, and the concerts are in three different locations, which may make it easier for some to find their way there.  For information and tickets, click here.

As always, but this week in particular, there are many, many more options on the calendar.  Walk your mouse through the sea of options, and thank you for supporting live singing!