LAKEPORT — Now that the Lake County Symphony has found a new home at Lakeport”s Soper-Reese Community Theatre, conductor John Parkinson is exploring approaches for the orchestra that have never been possible before, some of which will be introduced at the annual Mother”s Day concert, taking place at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Among these are the ability to add additional vocal music and dance to the repertoire, now feasible because of the theater”s lighting and sound system. As a result, the program, entitled “Spanish Masterpieces,” will feature such novelties as arias from the opera “Carmen,” as well as a Flamenco dance to the music of Manuel de Falla”s “La Vida Breve.”
Along with the centerpiece opera will be selections from such well-known Latin composers as Ernesto Lecuona, whose “Malaguena” has become a world favorite; Enrique Granados, whose “Goyescas” blends the music of Spain with the art of Francisco Goya; and Jaime Teixidor, one of Spain”s most prolific composers.
Although Latin in theme, “Carmen” was written by a Frenchman, Georges Bizet, and therefore both vocal performers will sing their lyrics in that language. Soprano Shelly Mascari started her singing career at age 17 with a nationally-released album. She continued to record professionally and has lent her vocal talents to numerous events including movie trailers and special theatrical events. Now a resident of Lake County, she continues her musical interests while also acting as director of the County Child Care Planning Council and as director of worship arts for Hidden Valley Community College. She has been developing and leading inspirational workshops for nearly 10 years and is also creator of “Steps to Leadership,” a leadership development program. Her aria will be Carmen”s “Habanera,” in act I.
Baritone Carl Sterwart will sing the introduction of Escamillo, the toreador or bull-fighter, from Act II of “Carmen.” Titled “Chanson du Toreador,” it toasts the glory of the bullfight and the admiration of the audience. Stewart, now also a Lake County resident, has performed leading roles in “Carmen” before, as well as “La Traviata,” “The Most Happy Fella,” “Man of La Mancha” and many others. He has also performed on numerous movie soundtracks. He is skilled, too, in many backstage capacities. He is currently the principal of Highlands campus, an alternative school in Clearlake and also serves as main songwriter, lead singer and guitarist in the original Blue Collar acoustic band and is a member of the rock band Without a Net.
Dancer Kathleen Langermann hails from Sonoma County and started her career as a professional ice skater, which led to further studies in the various forms of dance. She was soon drawn to Flamenco, with training primarily from Santa Rosa”s Flamenco Arts School and La Fibi Flamenco in Petaluma. She has also studied independently with Jose Galvan of Seville, Spain.
Langermann has performed as a Flamenco professional for seven years and recently performed a Spanish dance to Albeniz”s “Asturias” at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley. The dance that she will perform from deFalla”s music is in the neo-classical style and she will also be playing castanets with the dance.
Clear Lake Performing Arts is grateful to Elena Marlowe and Robin Brown of the Flamenco Arts Company in Santa Rosa for its assistance in booking Langermann and its helpful Spanish dance hints.
Also a popular feature of the concert is a performance by the CLPA Youth orchestra, under the direction of Susan Condit. They will be playing “M to the Third Power,” a lively minor meter mix with unusual rhythms, and “Amadeus,” with familiar themes of Mozart”s Symphony No. 25 from the movie by the same name.
The Mother”s Day program is presented by CLPA in conjunction with Mendocino College Lake Center. Tickets may be obtained on-line at www.soperreesetheatre.com, at Catfish Books in Lakeport and at Lower Lake Coffee Company, as well as at the theater box office, open from noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays.
Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for CLPA members. Premium reserved seating is also available for a surcharge. Advance ticket purchase is recommended by CLPA since the Mothers Day concerts are usually a sellout.
A full-dress rehearsal, including song and dance numbers, takes place at 11 a.m., to which all people younger than 18 are admitted free, with adults charged $5.
Parkinson said the theater venue will provide many new entertainment options for Lake County music lovers and the Symphony. “We now have the ability to present programs we could only dream about up ”til now,” he added.
Conn Murray is president of Clear Lake Performing Arts.
