carol's kitchen

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

OPERA IN VALLEJO



I attended the opera in Vallejo on Sunday.  The Verismo Opera Company performed Verdi’s La Forza del Destino in our recently opened Bay Area Stage Theatre on Broadway, across the street from my favorite ice-cream parlor/bakery, Paleteria & Pasteleria La Michoacana.
It couldn’t have been more convenient; the drive took all of seven minutes; I found a spot in the reserved parking alley next door, and walked just a few steps to the theatre, which keeps improving each time I go.  They’ve now installed a graded seating area, which makes the theatre experience better than ever.
Inside, I was greeted by smiling, happy faces, and paid $15 for a seat which I found easily in the second row center.  By show time, the house was nearly full.  There was a small chamber orchestra of six excellent players, and the conductor, Michael Moran, who did a great job.  We had a screen that told us what was being sung, in English.  Costumes were gorgeous.  The stage had a few simple props, dominated by a large crucifix in the center that made me feel that serious punishment was coming.  

Some of the singing was sublime with voices you might hear in the Met.  Jennifer Torossian-Studley as Donna Leonora, Josh Bongers as Don Alvaro, Steve Zimmerman as Don Carlo, and Susan Thieme as Preziosilla gave outstanding performances. In fact, everyone in the cast was fine; they remembered the words, knew where to move, and hit all the notes; they performed the challenging, melodramatic opera skillfully, with all their hearts & souls.  

From the first powerful chords I was into it.  Verdi’s score is so deeply emotional, the story so profoundly heart-breaking, only a stone would not be moved.  I cried during one of Leonora’s arias, sung by Jennifer Der Torossian-Studley.   

OK, it’s not the Met, but it’s what we got, and it’s really good; a treasure in our city.  The Verismo Opera Company brings great art and beauty to Vallejo, and I recommend it as a wonderful way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon.  

Don’t forget the treats across the street.

***

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

THE VALLEJO SYMPHONY


I hesitate to talk about The Vallejo Symphony for fear there’ll be no seats available at the next performance.  Yet I must declare the Vallejo Symphony is the jewel in the crown of all our city’s treasures.  How a far-flung backwater burg like ours managed to pull this off is beyond me, and tells me there’s more to Vallejo than what meets the eye. 

In my opinion The Vallejo Symphony Orchestra can stand proudly among the best in the world.  On October 30th,  our new musical director/conductor, Marc Taddei, performed magnificently, as did the brilliant orchestra under his baton. 

For the opening performance of the season, Mr. Taddei’s first on the podium for us, he brought in pianist Sara Davis Buechner, whose electrifying rendition of the Prokiev Piano Concerto #3 was so powerful she could have whipped all the forces of evil in the world.  She bounced and pounced all over the keyboard like a madwoman, yet in perfect control and mastery of her art.  It was pure power & emotion.  Not only did Ms. Buechner leap out of her seat while she played, we in the audience were propelled out of ours’ as well, unable to contain ourselves during her explosive performance. 

We also heard superb performances of Haydn’s Symphony No. 6, and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5, as the salutation to Vallejo from Mr. Taddei, in an unforgettable afternoon of great, thrilling music.

I was an usher during the reign of David Ramadanoff, the previous conductor, because I had a friend who had a friend connected to that also wonderful conductor.  Many Sunday matinee performances, not only did I enjoy taking tickets, handing out programs, & chatting up fellow music-lovers, I got to sit in on the concert for free.  How I’d love that job back again. 

One more thing:  We need to give our magnificent Vallejo Symphony a proper concert hall.