Laurie Rubin to Appear in Concert, 2/28

Celebrated mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin, a native of Encino and now a full-time resident of New York City, will return home to California on February 28 to perform a program of works by Mozart, Rodrigo, Gershwin, Sondheim, Schwartz, and Sivan, among others. The evening will also feature special guest artists. Set to benefit the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, the concert will be held at Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School of Music, and the curtain goes up at 7:30pm.

Ms. Rubin will present an eclectic program of works, including songs by Joaquin Rodrigo (a Spanish composer who happened to be blind), and a song cycle commissioned for her by Israeli composer Noam Sivan, who will perform with her. In addition, she will be joined by guest artists, clarinetist Jennifer Taira, pianist David Wilkinson, and renowned soprano and actress Kate Reinders. "It is a sincere pleasure to be donating a night of music to this wonderful guide dog school," Ms. Rubin said. "Sharing and performing music with good friends is the most rewarding thing in the world for me, and from my perspective as someone who knows the incredible benefits of a guide dog, there is no worthier cause to be supporting."

Blind since birth, Ms. Rubin received high praise from The New York Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini, who wrote she possesses "compelling artistry," "communicative power," and that her voice displays "earthy, rich and poignant qualities." Recent career highlights include her United Kingdom solo recital debut at Wigmore Hall in London, as well as her solo recital debut at Weill RecitAl Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Rubin has performed concerts of new music with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and has performed numerous roles, including the lead role of Karen in The Rat Land by Gordon Beeferman with New York City Opera, Penelope in Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses, and the title role in Rossini's La Cenerentola. She has recorded a CD with renowned collaborative pianists Graham Johnson and David Wilkinson on the Opera Omnia label.

For more information please visit www.laurie-rubin.com.