Marina del Rey Summer Symphony
The 10th anniversary season of the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony is back in beautiful Burton Chace Park. The four Thursday evening concerts by the orchestra and conductor Frank Fetta are free and they start at 7 PM. Once again I'll be the host for the series. Bring a blanket, a warm jacket, the kids and your ears.
Here's a PDF of the season brochure.
The first program - A Night at the Opera - welcomes back a group of remarkably talented singers from the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition. The program includes everything from Verdi and Puccini to a bit of Wagner's Ring (for those still in withdrawal).
I've been told that this year program notes will not be available at the venue itself. Instead, you can download the notes. Here they are:
July 8 – Finalists from Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition present a program of opera arias and ensembles with the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony
July 22 – The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony with soloist 19-year-old pianist Claire Huangci
August 5 – A symphonic program featuring music of The Beatles and George Gershwin
August 19 – The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony with soloist 22-year-old violinist Hahn-Bin
This summer's Burton Chase series once again also includes four Saturday night pops programs, running July 17 through August 28th -
July 17 – Florence La Rue and The 5th Dimension
July 31 – James Darren and his ensemble
August 14 – Oscar Castro-Neves and his musicians in a program of Bossa Nova
August 28 – Shirley Jones
Looking forward to seeing you in the Marina!
Stage Rush
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Last night I got to be the Master of Ceremonies at the 14th Annual Grammy Salute to Classical Music. The invitation-only event at the intimate Broad Stage in Santa Monica was a concert/tribute honoring the one-and-only Placido Domingo. As is usually the case with this affair, the place was jammed with a Who’s Who of classical music as well as dignitaries from other disciplines. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was there. As was Grammy-winning superstar guitarist Angel Romero, and at least one other Grammy winner - Hawaiian music specialist Tia Carrere (who you likely know better as the hard rockin’ lead female character of Cassandra in the Wayne’s World films). That kind of crowd. Can you say “intimidating?”
Four dazzling singers (one of them, all of 18 - geesh) sang arias, accompanied by a two-dozen piece ensemble drawn from the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, directed by Grant Gershon. Over the course of the evening my role was to introduce the singers and, between arias, give the audience a multi-part overview of Domingo’s career. At the conclusion of the program the Grammy’s President Neil Portnow presented Placido with the President’s Merit Award.
Throughout it all Domingo and his family sat in the front row, dead center. Imagine being a young singer performing on stage and seeing Placido Domingo staring up at you from 8 feet away in Row 1. In fact, it wasn’t that much different for me (except for the ‘young’ part). There I am at a lectern talking about the career of this living legend sitting just a few feet away. Let me tell you something: when you crack a joke in front of a crowd of 500 people and one of those people is Placido - the man of the hour - you’re gauging your success or failure by the reaction you get from only one person.
Having said that, I had a blast. Not only was the audience in a good mood, so was the honoree. No wonder. The four singers were stellar and the orchestra, in spite of being chamber-sized, sounded terrific. I got a chance to toss off a few quips and they did not land with a thud, thank goodness. Toward the very end, the script had me recounting Domingo’s stage stats, including the fact that his repertory “…spans more than 130 roles - never before achieved by any other tenor in the history of opera.” It was then that I paused, looked directly at Placido, pointed my finger at him and added “I’m looking forward to your Norma.” Sure there was some laughter from the crowd. But the wisecrack elicited a big, doubled over guffaw from Domingo himself, loud enough so that everyone heard it. At that point I felt like James Cameron checking the weekend’s box office receipts.
The award ceremony took place and Domingo spoke - eloquently, humbly, movingly, tearfully. He then graciously invited the night’s singers to come back for a final group bow. He then left the stage and sat back down. I strolled back to the lectern and bade the crowd “Good night.” And then, another of those “Don’t you dare ever forget this, Rich” moments. When you give a pre-concert lecture or host an awards event, there are usually one or two people who rush to the edge of the stage to tell you something, if only “Nice job” or “Now I can connect a face with the voice.” And it’s always pleasant to hear. Last night I finished my “Good night” and one attendee immediately leapt out of his seat and rushed over to shake my hand. You guessed it. I frankly have no idea what he said, but I know it was favorable because he was smiling broadly. I did have the presence of mind to ask him “So you were okay with the Norma silliness?” He replied “Oh yes indeed! Now I think I do want to try singing ‘Casta Diva!’”
Alas, it was over in an instant and I doubt more than a couple of people saw it happen. But here’s an offer: If you did witness that hearty handshake, and if you happen to have taken a snap shot of it, I will do your laundry, wash your car and cut your lawn for a year for a copy, no matter how grainy.
~ Rich Capparela