`OH! OPERA!' TO OPEN IN T.O., COMPLETE WITH ARIAS, CHORUSES.Byline: P. CATHERINE SHANKS Community Columnist A season of traditional choral favorites opens tonight, when the Los Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
``This is opera music,'' chorale conductor James Stemen. ``It's got a lot of heart and soul.'' Some 100 voices, fronted by five soloists, will set emotions tingling tin·gle v. tin·gled, tin·gling, tin·gles v.intr. 1. To have a prickling, stinging sensation, as from cold, a sharp slap, or excitement: tingled all over with joy. with their rhythmic rendition of ``The Anvil anvil Iron block on which metal is placed for shaping, originally by hand with a hammer. The blacksmith's anvil is usually of wrought iron (sometimes of cast iron), with a smooth working surface of hardened steel. Chorus'' from Verdi's ``II Trovatore'' and the hauntingly beautiful ``Regina Coeli'' from Mascagni's ``Cavalleria Rusticana Cavalleria rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a short story by Giovanni Verga. .'' Opera buffs also will enjoy favorite solo arias, including the perennial pleaser ``Un bel di'' from Puccini's ``La Boheme.'' Works from operas by Mozart, Bizet, Donizetti, Wagner and others are also part of the program. The performances are scheduled for 3 and 8 p.m. at the Scherr Forum Theater at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a performing arts and administrative center located in Thousand Oaks, California. It was built in 1994 on the former site of "Jungleland" at a cost of $63.8 million. , 2100 Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Blvd. Soloists are sopranos Marilyn Anderson and Tracy Saliefendic, tenors Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos and David Newton and baritone John Ross Nelson. ``This is really enjoyable stuff,'' said Stemen, adding that the program includes selections beyond traditional pieces. ``There are other things for choirs to sing besides the `Verdi Requiem.' '' In addition to the operas, the chorale and its adjunct Los Robles Children's Choir will present a December concert of seasonal carols and tunes. Also in December, in one of several collaborative ventures with other county performing ensembles, Los Robles Chamber Singers and the Ventura Master Chorale Master Singers will perform Handel's ``Messiah.'' The two chamber groups and members of the New West Symphony will re-create a baroque-era version of the well-known oratorio oratorio (ôrətôr`ēō), musical composition employing chorus, orchestra, and soloists and usually, but not necessarily, a setting of a sacred libretto without stage action or scenery. . In the spring, Los Robles Master Chorale will unveil ``Treasures of England.'' English choral music scholar and conductor Sir David Willcocks Sir David Willcocks (born December 30, 1919) is a renowned British choral conductor, organist, and composer. Born in Newquay in Cornwall, he began his musical training as a chorister at Westminster Abbey from 1929 to 1934. is slated to make a guest conductor appearance. Willcocks, who knew composer Ralph Vaughan Williams Noun 1. Ralph Vaughan Williams - English composer influenced by folk tunes and music of the Tudor period (1872-1958) Vaughan Williams and premiered many of his most famous works, will lead soloist Maurita Phillips-Thornburgh, the Conejo Valley Symphony Orchestra, Los Robles Children's Choir and the chorale in a program of English masterworks. The powerful Carl Orff ``Carmina burana'' will close the 1998-99 Los Robles Master Chorale Season in May. A presentation of the New West Symphony, the intense and exciting work will feature the full symphony, Los Robles Master Chorale, Ventura Master Chorale, Los Robles Children's Choir and the Ventura Master Chorale Children's Concert Choir. ``It's a congenial arrangement,'' Stemen said of the collaborative effort with the New West Symphony. ``They need us, and in some sense, we need them to perform the larger works.'' Kerrie Sadler, vice president of the Los Robles Master Chorale, echoed the enthusiasm for the work and the entire concert season. ``To be able to sing and perform together . . . we provide something that's just incredible,'' said Sadler. ``The group effort lets us provide more than we could on our own.'' Sadler added, ``I would encourage people to come out and have an adventure with us.'' Tickets for ``Oh! Opera!'' are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students and children. Call (805) 522-8163. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) The Los Robles Master Chorale led by James Stemen rehearses for the performance of Oh! Opera!. (2--Ran in Simi Edition only) James Stemen conducts the Los Robles Master Chorale during rehearsals at Moorpark College. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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