Sacramento Opera Performs at Hot Italian

2010-11-14T07:36:49Z

It was fitting that a fundraising event for the Sacramento Opera was held at the Hot Italian located at 16th and Q Streets. The Sacramento Opera will begin its 30th Anniversary Season in Sacramento continuing the Opera movement begun in Italy during the 16th century. The event hosted by Hot Italian was free and open to the public. It was held to raise funds for the Sacramento Opera. This eventIt included a live auction and raffle prizes.

A live opera performance by 4 operatic singers was the highlight of the evening. Donations were taken at the door and tickets were given to those that donated and a raffle was held later to thank them for the donations. The biggest prize however was watching and listening to the magnificent voices of the Sacramento Opera singers who performed.

Sacramento Opera General Director Rod Gideons introduced me to Sue Miller who has been a Sacramento Opera Board member since 1999. We talked about the upcoming Sacramento Opera season. Two to three performances for each opera are scheduled for this year. Orlando, Magic Flute and The Postman Always Rings Twice are scheduled for this year. Several of the main cast members from Orlando performed at The Hot Italian.

Sue was busy all night making sure things went smoothly. She went on to say that the prizes for the raffle and live auction were donated by community individuals that enjoy opera. “It’s always nice that Hot Italian is so supportive of the arts”, Sue said as we talked about the site for this fundraiser. “These operas are held at the Sacramento Community Center”, said Sue and indicated that there are usually around 3 opera performances a year with different matinee times for each. She is also a volunteer at different venues.

All the talk about Hot Italian pizza being the best was confirmed by yours truly. Complimentary pizza was available to those that attended the event. Pizza was taken from its trays as soon as it was put down on the table. The slices I was fortunate to taste were delicious.

Other volunteers walked around talking about the operatic season and selling tickets. Lilia Sanchez was one of the volunteers who talked me into purchasing some. She has been a volunteer in the Opera Guild for about a year now. She went on talk about her volunteering efforts and those of others who give of their time. Several of the raffle prizes were handmade crafts that were donated by volunteers. Lilia and other volunteers helped this event raise funds and their worksmanship showed their dedication.

Adam Saake, as always, was on hand to help promote this event held at Hot Italian. Vy Nguyen was also on hand and was very helpful in spotting shooting opportunities. In a friendly contest they’re both bidding to be Mayor of Hot Italian.

(Adam Saake, Vy Nguyen)

Several cast members of Orlando were on hand to perform for those in attendance. Soprano Antoni Mendezona (Dorinda) started off the evening with an aria. Images of heaven came to mind as she sang. I think that if or when I go to heaven an opera singer will welcome me in, that has been in my mind since childhood. Antoni’s voice was just beautiful as she carried each note. Everyone stood and enjoyed her performance and showed their appreciation as she ended her set.

(Antoni Mendezona)

Diana Tash who will perform the role of Medoro in the Orlando opera followed. Someone mentioned that she started off as a soprano but switched to mezzo around eight years ago. Orlando will be an enjoyable experience, once the first show begins next Friday, November 19, 2010, if Diana’s singing is any indication.

(Diana Tash)

Performing, as the magician Zoroastro, in Orlando is Dean Elzinga who took the spotlight after Diana Tash’s performance. Dean is a bass-baritone singer and his voice came across quite elegantly. His performance made the evening’s Experience the O come to life.

(Dean Elzinga)

Finishing off the operatic performance was soprano Celine Ricci. She will be in the role of Angelica and is making her Sacramento Opera debut with Orlando. Her voice was just sensational as she performed during the evening. People often forget that Operas can be fun and funny. Celine’s performance incorporated both aspects and sang with gusto as she mingled with the audience during her performance. This was a nice ending to the performances and was enjoyed by all.

(Celine Ricci)

Children in the audience enjoyed this performance as much as adults. Some of the children in attendance were dressed in their Sunday best and were treated to a great performance.

The libretto for Orlando will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. All performances are conducted at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 1301 L Street. The Sacramento Opera also has various education and outreach programs scheduled. Aficionados can also log on to their website and sign up for their newsletter.

Photos (David Alvarez):

1 - Vy Nguyen, Rod Gideons 2 - Sue Miller (in the middle) 3 - Lilia Sanchez (on the right)

4 to 8 - Volunteers and Cast Members

9 to 11 - Opera Loving Children

12 to 15 - More Opera Loving Members

16 to 19 - Raffle and Live Auction Winners

20 - Celine Ricci

Sacramento Opera presents "Orlando"

2010-11-12T00:06:50Z

If your mind wanders at the mention of opera, Baroque composers, or reading subtitles, perhaps something as universally frustrating as love can hold your attention. Incorporating all of the above, and more, the Sacramento Opera will bring Handel’s “Orlando” to the Community Center Theater for two performances this month.

“Even if it’s your first opera, you’ll get it,” countertenor Randall Scotting said. Scotting will be playing the title role, Orlando.

“‘Orlando’ is great for people who don’t know Baroque opera,” he said, “It’s not too hard for the audience to come along with the story.”

The opera follows the roller coaster ride of emotions experienced by the battle-worn soldier, Orlando. Though victorious through the Crusades, Scotting said Orlando finds himself inexperienced when it comes to love.

“This idea of love is too much for him to handle, and (it) drives him insane,” he said.

Provoking this insanity is the manipulating seductress Angelica, played by soprano Céline Ricci.

“Orlando is crazy about her,” Ricci said. In the story, however, Angelica falls in love with someone else.

In case a love triangle isn’t delightfully confusing enough already, a fourth lover is thrown into the mix by way of the obsessive shepherdess Dorinda, played by soprano Antoni Mendezona.

“In the end, she accepts her fate that she isn’t loved back,” Antoni Mendezona said of Dorinda.

According to Mendezona, the opera has many magical elements to it, but remains accessible to the audience because the feelings the characters experience are so universally real.

“It’s very real for me amidst the magic,” Mendezona said.

Introducing this magic to the stage is the sorcerer Zoroastro, played by bass-baritone Dean Elzinga. Mostly concerned with protecting Orlando, Zoroastro acts as a kind of guardian angel/magician hybrid.

“I protect people from the worst consequences of their actions,” Elzinga said.

While wrapping his mind around Zoroastro’s role and “Orlando” as an opera, Elzinga admitted that there’s a lot to play with in this piece.

“The more you dig into it, the more mythical, psychological depth there is to it,” he said.

To illustrate this depth, Scotting recalled a scene where Orlando is driven into the deepest parts of hell because of his confusion with love. Orlando feels spurned by love because of the flirty Angelica’s halfhearted seduction.

Ricci confessed that she enjoyed playing such a manipulative character and described Angelica as being “lost in her own games.” She said that even though Angelica displays a very superficial side, there is depth to her character that is revealed throughout the opera.

“It’s a magical opera,” Ricci said, “It reveals that if people want to change, they can.”

Performances will be held on Friday, November 19, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 21, at 2 p.m. Ticket information can be found here.

Photo two: Randall Scotting (Orlando)

Photo three: Céline Ricci (Angelica)

Photo four: Antoni Mendezona (Dorinda)

Photo five: Dean Elzinga (Zoroastro)

Photo six: Diana Tash (Medoro)

All photos courtesy of Rod Gideons, Sacramento Opera Company

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Sacramento Opera Performs at Hot Italian

Sacramento Opera presents "Orlando"