Fall 2022
A Verdi Puccini Fest
Sat, Nov 12 7:30 PM Sun, Nov 13 4:00 PM
Fall 2022 - A Verdi Puccini Fest
Jamie Chamberlin Granner, Soprano
Nathan Granner, Tenor
Ben Lowe, Baritone

The Verdi Chorus’ 39th season culminates with  A Verdi Puccini Fest, for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on November 12 and 13.  Led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, the Verdi Chorus is the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus. This program, which Ketchum says  includes “some of the most exciting moments from two of the greatest operatic composers who ever lived,” will feature selections from four Verdi operas – I Lombardi, Don Carlo, Rigoletto, and La traviata, and sequences from Puccini’s Turandot, La bohème, Suor Angelica, Tosca, La fanciulla del West, and La rondine.

Conductor Anne Marie Ketchum says, “Both Verdi and Puccini were masters of writing operatic music that was extremely theatrical. Verdi is known for melody, and Puccini is known for dramatically writing for the orchestra with his striking use of colors and rhythm in a rich theatrical style. They are truly deserving of being referred to as two of the greatest opera composers that ever lived.  In terms of the opera chorus, Verdi wrote for the chorus as an actual character and force in what the leading characters were saying and doing, and Puccini wrote musical tones and hues for the chorus to illustrate more deeply the story being told.”

Fall 2022
Concert Program
I LOMBARDI
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
"O signore dal tetto natio"
The Chorus
Visione
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Mr. Granner and the Chorus
DON CARLO
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
"Carlo il sommo Imperatore"
Mauricio A. Palma II and the Men of the Chorus
"Dio che nell' alma infondere"
Mr. Granner and Mr. Lowe
"Spuntato ecco il di"
The Chorus
RIGOLETTO
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
"La donna e mobile"
Mr. Granner
"Povero Rigoletto!"
Mr. Lowe, Jamie Sanderson, Esteban Rivas, Danielle Duckett and the Men of the Chorus
"Cortigiani, vil razza dannata"
Mr. Lowe
LA TRAVIATA
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
"Libiamo ne' lieti calici"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Mr. Granner and the Chorus
"Sempre libera degg'io"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner
"Noi siamo zingarelle" and "Di Madride noi siam mattadori"
The Women's Chorus, Rachel Labovitch and David Peterson
Act III Finale "Ne appellaste? Che volete?"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Mr. Granner, Mr. Lowe, Ariana Stultz, Elias Berezin, Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Rivas, T. Jared Hughes and the Chorus
INTERMISSION
TURANDOT
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
"Gira la cote"
The Chorus and Mr. Granner
LA BOHÈME
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
"O soave fanciulla"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Mr. Granner, Cesar Ballardo, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Hughes
"En un coupe?"
Mr. Granner and Mr. Lowe
SUOR ANGELICA
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
"Senza mamma" and "Sorella, o buona sorella"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Amelia DeCoster and the women of the Chorus
TOSCA
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
"Tre sbirri...Una carrozza"
Mr. Lowe and the Chorus
"E lucevan le stelle"
Mr. Granner
FANCIULLA DEL WEST
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
"Che faranno i vecchi miel"
Mr. Lowe and the Men of the Chorus
LA RONDINE
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Act I Scene 1 "Amore! O cielo! lo struggo!" and "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Joseph Gárate, Dina Murphy, Megan McDonald, Alexandra Bass, Mr. Palma II and the Chorus
"Nella dolce carezza"
Tiffany Ho, Mr. Gárate and the Chorus
"Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso"
Ms. Chamberlin Granner, Mr. Granner, Mr. Lowe, Ms. Ho, Mr. Gárate and the Chorus
Verdi Chorus

About The Verdi Chorus

The Verdi Chorus first started performing in 1983 at the old Verdi Ristorante di Musica in Santa Monica under the direction of soprano and former Pasadena City College opera program director Anne Marie Ketchum De La Vega, our Artistic Director.

The Verdi Chorus presents two concert weekends (performances on Saturday and Sunday) each year as well as other collaborative events, and brings the beauty of grand opera choruses to community audiences. It offers performance opportunities to both aspiring and established singers.

 

WE ARE

THE JUDGMENT OF EGYPTIAN PRIESTS

THE VOICE OF REVELERS ON A CHRISTMAS EVE IN PARIS

THE OUTCRY OF SLAVES IN BONDAGE

THE SONG OF ALL THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN

THE WEEPING OF EXILES IN CIVIL WAR

THE SOUND THE SUN MAKES AT DAWN

THE CURSES, THE RAGE

THE MADNESS, THE GLORY

WE ARE THE VOICE OF BEETHOVEN

AND STRAUSS AND PUCCINI AND WAGNER

WE ARE THE MUSIC OF THE HUMAN HEART IN LOVE

WE ARE THE VERDI CHORUS

  • Aurelio De La Vega

     

    The Verdi Chorus mourns the loss of Aurelio De La Vega, longtime board member and husband of Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.

    It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Aurelio De La Vega on February 12, 2022. Maestro De La Vega served as Musicologist on the Verdi Chorus board for over two decades, and those who were fortunate to have known him will miss his intelligence, vast musical knowledge, sensitivity and ready wit.

    Born in Havana Cuba in 1925, Maestro De La Vega was a world-class composer and a key figure in Los Angeles music circles. His catalog includes orchestral, chamber, vocal, piano and electronic works and his commissions were sought the world over. Throughout his long life, he garnered numerous recognitions, including the Kennedy Center Friedheim Award which he received twice (1978, 1984); the Cintas Foundation William B. Warren Lifetime Achievement Award; the Carlos V Hispanic Imperial Order, of which he was made a member; and four nominations for a Latin Grammy -- three times for Best Classical Contemporary Composition and once for Best Classical Album.

    Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of the Electronic Music Studio, Maestro De La Vega taught composition for 34 years at California State University Northridge, and was regarded as "larger than life" by legions of students and colleagues. In 1971 he was named Outstanding Professor of the entire Cal State University system.

    In his later years he received well-deserved homages and accolades. A 40-minute documentary film entitled Rebel with a Cause, narrated by Cuban-born actor Andy Garcia, was produced by Camilo Vila, and one year ago, to honor his 95th birthday, two books were published on his life and work: Aurelio de la Vega: Impresiones desde la distancia by Manuel Gayol Mecias and Enrico Mario Santi's The Other Time: Aurelio de la Vega and Music.

    Maestro De La Vega's contributions to the music world will live on, carried forward by countless students, musicians, singers, fellow composers and those who discover his music in generations to come.

    For more information about his life and work and to view the documentary, please visit aureliodelavega.com.

     

     

  • The Verdi Board at work
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