lt;b style="background: url(http://www.verdichorus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gold-4A1.jpg); background-size: cover; font-weight: 500; font-size: medium; color: #006633; display: block; padding: 20px; line-height:1.2em; text-align:justify;"gt;On Saturday November 22nd at 7:30pm and Sunday November 23rd at 4:00pm,lt;bgt;The Verdi Chorus lt;/bgt;will begin its 32nd year of showcasing magnificent operatic repertoire by highlighting an exotic program of selections that span the globe, in honor of… Show more Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's retirement after over 40 years of service to Southern California! The theme for the Concert, lt;b style="color: #970000; font-weight: bold;"gt;"lt;b style="text-decoration:underline;"gt;DISTANT LANDSlt;/bgt;"lt;/bgt;, is the conception of lt;bgt;Anne Marie Ketchumlt;/bgt;, founding Artistic Director of the Chorus, who has put together a fascinating mix of great operatic standards and lyric pleasures not often visited. lt;brgt;lt;brgt;The program opens with the heartfelt cries of the people of Greece from Mozart's youthful masterpiece lt;igt;lt;bgt;Idomeneolt;/bgt;lt;/igt;. From there the travel continues to the east with selections from Leo Delibes'lt;igt;lt;bgt; Lakmélt;/bgt;lt;/igt; including the famous "Flower Duet." Then, on to the dark jungles of Sri Lanka and the music of Georges Bizet from lt;igt;lt;bgt;The Pearl Fisherslt;/bgt;lt;/igt;, including one of the most romantic and beautiful duets for tenor and baritone ever written!lt;brgt;lt;brgt;The second part of the program opens with the dynamic melodies of Alexander Borodin and the renowned "Polovtsian Dances" from his Russian epic, lt;igt;lt;bgt;Prince Igorlt;/bgt;lt;/igt;. The tour continues through Eastern Europe as the Chorus breaks new ground with its first presentation of Antonin Dvorak's classic fairy tale lt;igt;lt;bgt;Rusalkalt;/bgt;lt;/igt; sung in Czech. The program ends amid the opulence of the famous restaurant Maxim's of Paris, to the familiar refrains of Franz Lehar's lt;igt;lt;bgt;The Merry Widowlt;/bgt;lt;/igt;.lt;brgt;lt;brgt;A very fine trio of guest artists has been engaged for this special occasion. Audience favorite soprano lt;bgt;Shana Blake Hilllt;/bgt; will be welcomed back after recent triumphs in Cincinnati, Seattle and Philadelphia. Well known tenor lt;bgt;Mathew Edwardsen lt;/bgt;is back after recent performances as Lt. Pinkerton in lt;igt;Madama Butterflylt;/igt; with the esteemed Union Avenue Opera of St. Louis. Finally, critically acclaimed lt;bgt;Gregorio Gonzálezlt;/bgt; returns to the U.S. after performing in Vienna, Amsterdam, and Great Britain.lt;brgt;
The Verdi Chorus performs in the acoustically magnificent First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, 1008 11th Street, (two blocks north of Wilshire). Free parking is available in the structure across from the Church. A complimentary reception is held immediately following the concert where refreshments are served and the audience can greet the performers. General Admission tickets may be purchased for $30. Seniors are $25 and Priority Seating is available for $40. Students 25 and under will be admitted for $10. For more information please visit the Verdi Chorus website atlt;bgt; lt;a style="color: #970000;" href="http://www.verdichorus.org" target="_blank"gt;www.verdichorus.org.lt;/agt;lt;/bgt;lt;/bgt;
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