Culver City Observer -

By Steven Lieberman

Observer Reporter

The Verdi Chorus will present its “Distant Lands” fall concert in honor of Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s retirement after 40 years of service to Southern California.

This is the chorus’ 32nd year of showcasing glorious operatic repertoire and will highlight an exotic program of selections that span the globe.

The program opens with the heartfelt cries of the people of Greece from Mozart's youthful masterpiece Idomeneo. From there the travel continues to the east with selections from Leo Delibes' Lakme including the famous "Flower Duet." Then, on to the dark jungles of Sri Lanka and the music of Georges Bizet from The Pearl Fishers, including one of the most romantic and beautiful duets for tenor and baritone ever written.

The second part of the program opens with the dynamic melodies of Alexander Borodin and the renowned "Polovtsian Dances" from his Russian epic, Prince Igor. The tour continues through Eastern Europe as the Chorus breaks new ground with its first presentation of Antonin Dvorak's classic fairy tale Rusalka sung in Czech. The program ends amid the opulence of the famous restaurant Maxim's of Paris, to the familiar refrains of Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow.

All led by esteemed Artistic Director/Conductor Anne Marie Ketchum and accompanied by the Julliard-trained and accomplished pianist Laraine Ann Madden.

An internationally-renowned quartet of soloists has also been assembled to ensure a truly remarkable event led by the return of fan favorites soprano Shana Blake Hill and baritone Gregorio Gonzalez. Joining them will also be tenor Mathew Edwardsen.

Blake Hill will be welcomed back after recent triumphs in Cincinnati, Seattle and Philadelphia, while Gonzalez returns to the U.S. after performing in Vienna, Amsterdam, and Great Britain. Edwardsen just recently performed as Lt. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with the Union Avenue Opera of St. Louis.

Highly-skilled section leaders from the chorus will also join the soloists on an assortment of songs.

Priority seating is available for $40, general admission is $30, seniors are $25, and students 25 and under with a valid ID are $10. Tickets can be purchased through the link on their website’s homepage at http://www.verdichorus.org.

You can join them at the acoustically-sound First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, 1008 11th Street at 7:30 pm on Saturday, November 22 and 4 pm Sunday, November 23 for what promises to be a magnificent musical event.

A complimentary reception is held immediately following the concert where refreshments are served and the audience can greet the performers.

Free parking is available directly across the street.