Todd Wilander News

The Verdi Chorus, the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, continues to celebrate its 40th Anniversary season by presenting its first full-length opera, Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana for one performance only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on January 20, 2024, followed by a wine and dessert reception. I decided to speak with Audrey Babcock about taking on the challenging role of Santuzza as well as her history of performing opera around the world.

The Verdi Chorus' 40th Anniversary season continues with its first opera, Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana for one performance only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on January 20, 2024.  

Angels Vocal Art (AVA) will present Puccini's classic, TOSCA in a Gala Performance at the Manoukian Performing Arts Center in Pasadena. Reception to follow.

The Verdi Chorus' 39th season culminates with VERDISSIMO! Plus! for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on April 29 and 30.  

The Verdi Chorus kicks off its 39th season with their Spring Concert, Hélas mon Coeur, dedicated to the memory of Verdi Chorus patriarch Maestro Aurelio De La Vega, for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on May 14 and 15. 

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.

Celebrating its 39th Season, The Verdi Chorus, announced today auditions will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica for The Verdi Chorus Spring 2022 Concerts.

A letter has been released from Verdi Chorus Board President Franklin Strauss and Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.

Susie Mosher took a night off and Jim Caruso took over at The Lineup and the hits just keep on coming.

The Verdi Chorus will kick off its 37th season with their Spring Concert, Opera Gets Real, for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on April 18 and 19.

Amore Opera concludes its 2018-19 season at the Riverside Theatre at Riverside Church (91 Claremont Ave, New York, NY 10027) with a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, sung in its original Italian; and with a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, performed entirely by children.

How does a busy soprano balance career, family, motherhood, and art? If that soprano is Julie Makerov, it's all about scheduling and planning ahead of time. Makerov, who will be appearing as one of four soloists with LA's Verdi Chorus this weekend at First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, says that's the key to managing all of her commitments.

Southern California's Verdi Chorus will cap off their 35th anniversary season with their Fall 2018 concert PASSIONE! OPERA! The two performances at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 will feature four guest artists: soprano Julie Makerov, mezzo soprano Janelle DeStefano, tenor Todd Wilander and baritone Gabriel Manro. I had the chance to quiz two-time Grammy Award-winning baritone Gabriel Manro on his love for singing, the technical aspects of singing opera vs. musical theatre and his recent onstage proposal.

The Verdi Chorus 35th anniversary season culminates with its Fall 2018 concert Passione! Opera! for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum. As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, this program, which marks the end of a landmark year for the company, will feature selections from three Verdi operas - Aida, Don Carlo, and the famed chorus "Va, pensiero," from Nabucco, as well as operatic sequences from Boito's Mefistofele, Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, Catalani's La Wally and Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.

The Verdi Chorus 35th anniversary season culminates with its Fall 2018 concert Passione! Opera! for two performances only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum.   As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, this program, which marks the end of a landmark year for the company, will feature selections from three Verdi operas - Aida, Don Carlo, and the famed chorus 'Va, pensiero,' from Nabucco, as well as operatic sequences from Boito's Mefistofele, Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah, Catalani's La Wally and Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.

“If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets.” The poetry of Henry David Thoreau and the music of Moshe Knoll and Michael Ching, Verdi, Mascagni and Cavalli soared Monday April 3rd from the JCC Manhattan' New York classical music series 'PREformances with Allison Charney.'

"If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets." The poetry of Henry David Thoreau and the music of Moshe Knoll and Michael Ching, Verdi, Mascagni and Cavalli soared Monday April 3rd from the JCC Manhattan' New York classical music series 'PREformances with Allison Charney.'

The ARK Trio returns to the classical concert series "PREformances with Allison Charney" on Monday April 3rd where they first "preformed" in anticipation of their NYC inaugural concert "Love Resounding" earlier this year. The ARK Trio's commitment to contemporary classical works evidenced by their presentation of six world premieres, was praised by Broadway World who noted "In a city where even the most revered classical music institutions offer new works in relatively small doses, this intrepid program, 'Love Resounding' was noteworthy entirely because it presented a complete program of new classical works."

On Monday April 3rd, at 12:30 PM, the New York classical music series "PREformances with Allison Charney" will present Metropolitan Opera stars' tenor Todd Wilander and countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum in a scintillating concert of arias and duets from masterworks by Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi.  The program will also feature contemporary classical compositions for voice, cello and piano by Michael Ching and Moshe Knoll, performed by musicians of the ARK Trio, soprano Allison Charney, cellist Kajsa William-Olsson and pianist Reiko Uchida. Also featured will be PREformances collaborative pianist Craig Ketter. The concert takes place at the JCC Manhattan, home to the intimate 150 seat Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Auditorium and the Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas.

Ardea Arts announces BOUNCE The Basketball Opera, their latest project in development. Showcase performances will take place at Paerdegat Park in East Flatbush, Brooklyn Saturday-Monday June 25-27, 2016 at 6pm. BOUNCE is a free, non-ticketed event, open to the public. For more information, visit www.ardeaarts.com/bounce/.