Événement

The Verdi Chorus presents Devilish Opera: A Faustian Feast

The VERDI CHORUS is thrilled to kick off its 29th season with a trip to the fiery depths of the underworld led by some of the greatest composers of all time. Devilish Opera: A Faustian Feast will explore the classic tale by Goethe through the musical genius of Hector Berlioz, Arrigo Boito and Charles Gounod.

We are especially excited to announce the Verdi Chorus debut of Rebecca Sjöwall, who will play the fragile Marguerite in her many guises. Ms. Sjöwall is a gifted soprano who just completed a young artists residency with Arizona Opera to great acclaim and is a two time District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the winner of the American Jenny Lind Competition.

Singing her praises as Faust will be tenor Robert MacNeil, who is returning to perform with the Verdi Chorus. Mr MacNeil is a respected performer on both the opera stage and concert platform. He has sung regularly with LA Opera and has been a guest artist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as a host of international companies.

We are especially happy to welcome back Bass-Baritone Dean Elzinga who has performed Méphistophélès in the Gounod opera at the Vienna Volksoper. No stranger to playing the Master of Hades in a variety of roles, Mr. Elzinga's most recent assignment with Edmonton Opera included Stravinsky's own devil,Nick Shadow, in The Rake's Progress, so we are grateful to have engaged such an experienced fiend for your musical pleasure.

Musical Director Anne Marie Ketchum will be alternately whipping the chorus into a hellish frenzy as the denizens of perdition and coaxing the sweet sounds of heavenly angels from our throats. Tickets are very reasonable compared to the great price some of these characters had to pay. Please join us.

The concerts will be performed on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 4:00 pm, at the acoustically beautiful First United Methodist Church 1008 11th St, Santa Monica 90403. A reception will follow each concert with light refreshments and an opportunity to meet with the chorus and soloists.