Upcoming performances

Lots of opportunities to hear contemporary and choral music in the first weeks of May!

May Day! May Day!
A New Music Marathon
Saturday, May 1st
1 pm - 1 am
Town Hall

From the Town Hall website:
May Day! May Day! is a 12-hour performer-driven celebration of contemporary music featuring 30 sets by local ensembles and soloists. Performers, and styles, range from Seattle Chamber Players, ODEONQUARTET, Gamelan Pacifica, and The Esoterics to elder statesmen like Stuart Dempster and William O. Smith, and earlier career artists like Byron Au Yong and Garrett Fisher. Music by Seattle composers is encouraged, as are three musically inspirational “themes”: politics, pagan rituals, and calls for help in times of distress. Presented by Town Hall in association with Nonsequitur.

Shawna Avinger and I will be singing with the Fisher Ensemble at 9:36 pm (excerpts from At The Hawk's Well) and The Esoterics at 10:36 pm (the first movement of Eric Banks' choral opera HAPTADAMA). Admission is only 5 bucks for the whole day!

*****
Loft Choir
Handel Creation
Sunday, May 2, 9:30 and 11:15 am
University Unitarian Church

From the UUC website:
MUSIC SUNDAY
The Loft Choir, soloists and orchestra combine forces to present the first part of Haydn’s “The Creation” at both services. (arrive early for a good seat!)

Student Barbara Leigh is a member of this choir, directed by Seattle Pro Musica's Karen Thomas. I heard them sing on Christmas Eve and they're fantastic!

*****
The Esoterics present
HAPTADAMA
Friday, May 7th and Saturday, May 8th
8:00 pm
Olympic Sculpture Park Pavilion

From The Esoterics' website:

Over the course of several months between 2006 and 2008, The Esoterics' Founding Director traveled to Mumbai, India to study the chants and myths of Zoroastrianism, the world's first monotheism. Banks then wove these ancient legends and melodies into a surround-sound a cappella opera called The seven creations. Banks’ opera is based on the Gathas, the original songs of Zarathushtra and arguably the oldest songs in recorded human history, as well as the Bundahishn, the Persian creation story, in which the struggle between good and evil results in the creation of the seven elements we know as the sky, water, earth, plants, animals, humans, and fire. For this composition, performance, and recording of this seven-movement concert-length work, Banks and The Esoterics were honored with an Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind concert at Seattle Art Museum’s PACCAR Pavilion at the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Recital wrap-up

Congratulations to everyone who participated in Saturday's voice department recital! I was impressed by the level of performance and stage presence, especially from those of you who have sung on previous recitals; it's so rewarding to watch your growth as singers and performers. I also know how hard you all worked to polish your pieces and it paid off Saturday night.

For those of you thinking of singing on a recital, I encourage you to talk to your fellow students about their experience. Yes, it can be scary, but it's also exhilarating, cathartic, satisfying...and did I mention FUN? A student recital is one of the best places to start because the audience is full of your fellow students who will support and encourage you. You couldn't ask for a better group to sing for.

The best way to become a better performer/singer/musician is to make music on a regular basis outside of your lesson. Join ensemble class or a choir, take part in coachings and master classes, sing on a recital - not only will you improve your performance and musicianship skills, but you'll be part of a community.

December performances

Tis the season for lots of holiday concerts! Here’s what your fellow students are up to in December, plus a few other fun shows:

Saturday, December 12th, 4 pm
The Gift of Music holiday recital
Music Center Recital Hall
Come hear Lexi Hagans, Achil Jackson and many other Music Center students sing holiday favorites old and new.

Saturday, December 12th, 8 pm
The Esoterics present CHIAROSCURA
St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 18th and Aloha
Hear an unforgettable program of choral music, featuring the rarely-performed Concerto for Mixed Chorus by Alfred Schnittke.

Saturday, December 12th, 7:30 pm
Northwest Chamber Chorus presents Comfort and Joy
Greenlake United Methodist Church
Deon Miyoi is a member of NWCC and their holiday program looks fantastic.

*****
Sunday, December 13th, 6:30 pm
Messiah Sing/Playalong
St. John’s United Church, 55th and Phinney
Warm up those “Hallelujahs” and celebrate the season by participating as a singer or instrumentalist in Music Center’s annual sing and play along of the Christmas portion of Handel’s masterpiece. Please bring a food or cash donation for the FamilyWorks food bank.

Sunday, December 13th, 3 pm
The Esoterics present CHIAROSCURA
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 4139 42nd Ave SW (West Seattle)

*****
Wednesday, December 16th, 7 pm
Ensemble Class Concert
Come see Janessa, Jonathan, Arlene, Barbara, Achil, Donnie and many more Music Center voice students as they present an evening of scenes from opera, musical theater and the choral catalogue. This is a MUST-SEE event!

*****
Saturday, December 19th, 8 pm
Seattle Women’s Chorus presents Making Spirits Bright
Meany Hall, UW Campus
Arlene Havlark and the rest of the amazing SWC singers will knock your socks off at their annual holiday concert.

Sunday, December 20th, 2 pm
Seattle Women’s Chorus presents Making Spirits Bright
Meany Hall, UW Campus

*****
December 4-21, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 pm
PIECES (The Authors Voice and Salome)
TPS Theatre 4, Seattle Center
Janessa Cummings Penn is currently starring in a one-woman show! The full description is available at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/81566; please note that the production may not be appropriate for children under 17.

Also, congratulations to Barbara Leigh on her November concert with Seattle Bach Choir and to Halle Townes who has been cast as Mrs. Potts in Ingraham High’s production of Beauty and the Beast. I love to see so many students involved in the community arts scene! If you’re not performing but would like to be, talk to me at your next lesson about preparing for auditions.

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of vocal performances 11/6 - 11/8:

Balagan Theatre presents The Full Monty

From MTI:

Seeing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their "Girls' Night Out," unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York come up with a bold way to make some quick cash. In the process they find renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun.

Based on the 1997 film of the same name.


The Full Monty
Balagan Theatre
Friday, November 6th - 8 pm
Saturday, November 7th - 8 pm
Sunday, November 8th - 2 pm
Tickets $12 - 20, available at brownpapertickets.com

*****
Tacoma Opera presents The Daughter of the Regiment

From Tacoma Opera:

Boys meets girl. Boy sings a bunch of high notes. Boy loses girl. Girl sings a bunch of high notes. Boy gets girl. Everyone lives happily ever after.

This comedy about a young woman raised by a French regiment is that simple, that sweet, and that utterly delightful.

The Daughter of the Regiment
Tacoma Opera
Friday, November 6th - 8 pm
Sunday, November 8th - 2 pm
Tickets $12.50 - 62.00, call 253-627-7789

*****
Tacoma Little Theatre presents Lend Me A Tenor
LAST WEEKEND

From TLT:

It’s 1934 Cleveland. Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is expecting Tito Morelli, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as Otello. Through a hilarious series of comic mishaps, two Otellos end up running around in costume with two women chasing them in lingerie. For ages 13 and older.

Lend Me A Tenor
Tacoma Little Theatre
Friday, November 6th - 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 7th - 2 pm (Actor Benefit), 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 8th - 2 pm
Tickets $16 - 24, call 253-272-2281

The Voice Box recommends

Neighborhood festivals combine two of my favorite things: food and music, both prepared and shared with a love for the community that inspired them. Here's what's cookin' this weekend (9/25 - 9/27):


St. Demetrios Greek Festival
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave E
Friday, September 25th, 12 - 9 pm
Saturday, September 26th, 10:30 am - 9 pm
Sunday, September 27th, 12 - 7 pm

Souvlaki, spanikopita, gyros, moussaka...are you hungry yet? Admission is free but bring plenty of cash for all the food you'll want to eat. After you grab your first plate, have a seat and enjoy the traditional Greek music and dancing.

*****

Wallingford Wurst Festival
St. Benedict School, 48th and Wallingford
Friday, September 25th, 4 - 10 pm
Saturday, September 26th, 11 am - 10 pm

Mmm...bratwurst and sauerkraut. Or grilled salmon and fried sweet corn if you prefer (but why would you when there's bratwurst to be had?). Also, lots of great local music including Portage Bay Big Band and Klez Katz!

*****

Music Back on Jackson Street
Flo Ware Park, 28th and Jackson
Sunday, September 27th, 12 - 5 pm

What a perfect way to spend a Sunday: a free concert in the park with a special musical tribute to John Coltrane. Plus there will be barbecue and a dunk-a-cop booth - love it.

Recital wrap-up 9/20/09

Whenever I watch my students perform, I try to listen with a neutral ear so I can give honest feedback if it's requested. Still, every once in a while I can't help but wonder if my reaction will be more like the mom in Bride and Prejudice during the "Cobra Dance":



Okay, I'm probably not quite that bad! But I definitely feel a sense of pride for my students and the work that they've put into their performances. Last night that feeling was especially warranted as Achil Jackson gave an impressive solo voice and composition recital. For the 45-minute program, she prepared 14 songs, including one solo and three ensemble pieces of her own composition. Jeremiah Oliver accompanied as Achil sang her way through a variety of musical genres and styles, with songs themed around the sun, moon and stars. Fellow students Arlene Havlark and Barbara Leigh lent their voices to the recital for the duet and trios that Achil had composed, and the three blended beautifully on the final two a cappella pieces.

Congratulations to Achil on an outstanding achievement, and thanks to everyone who participated and attended!

(And yes, this post was an awesome excuse to share that clip.)

TVBR: Another op'nin, another show

Lots to choose from this weekend in the local musical theatre department...let's get started!

The Secret Garden
Driftwood Players
Wade James Theatre, Edmonds
September 11 - October 4

I may be slightly biased since I'm in this show, but it's lovely. Beautiful songs, two amazing children, a tragic love story with an uplifting finale...they're all here. We opened last weekend and the show runs through October 4th. Contact me or become a fan of the show on Facebook to get the friends and family discount code!

Read the review from The Enterprise here.

*****

The Producers
Seattle Musical Theatre
Building 47, Magnuson Park
September 18 - October 4

One of my favorite things about SMT is that they provide study guides for their shows. These guides move beyond mere entertainment and encourage audience members to think about the larger societal issues that are being examined through the lens of musical theatre. The trivia, history and suggested activities for further study are sure to enhance your enjoyment of this hilarious musical satire.

*****
Chasing Nicolette
Village Theatre
Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, Issaquah
September 17 - October 25


Village Theatre has done a great job preparing the audience for this new musical, providing a production preview guide (available as a Word document, visit the show page for access) that contains the plot synopsis and content. You can also find a few song samples on the show page.

*****

Spotlight Night: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and White Christmas
5th Avenue Theatre
1308 5th Avenue, Downtown Seattle
September 20th - 3:00 pm

Spotlight Night events, free to the public, are an informative look behind the scenes of musical theatre productions and a great way to get a taste of upcoming performances (oh, and did I mention they're FREE?). This Sunday's performance will showcase Joseph, which opens October 10th, and the holiday favorite White Christmas which opens November 28th.

The Voice Box recommends-Bumbershoot edition

This is the first time in 4 years that I won't be attending all 3 days of Bumbershoot, due to tech week rehearsals. Am I bitter? Only a little...but it will be totally worth it when opening weekend hits and I know what I'm doing.

Here's where I'll be Saturday and where I would be Sunday and Monday. If you can only go one day I think Sunday looks the best. Hey Marseilles, Cold War Kids, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, U.S.E. and The Helio Sequence? That's a perfect day right there.

More info at www.bumbershoot.org.

Saturday, September 5th
11:00 am - The Seattle/Moscow Poster Show (NW Rooms)
12:00 pm - F Is For Food (Literary Arts)
1:30 pm - The Goldberg Variations (Performing Arts),
The Not-Its (NW Court)
2:30 pm - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (Broad Street)
3:30 pm - Best of SIFF Award Winners (1 Reel Film Festival)
4:30 pm - Flatstock (Fisher Pavilion)
6:30 pm - The Whore Moans (Sky Church)
7:45 pm - The Old 97s (Mainstage), UH HUH HER (Broad Street)
9:30 pm - Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground (Sky Church),
The Long Winters (Broad Street)

Sunday, September 6th
11:00 am - Snack Bar (NW Rooms)
12:45 pm - Hey Marseilles (Broad Street)
1:00 pm - Cold War Kids (Mainstage),
Central Services Board of Education (NW Court)
1:30 pm - The Dusty 45s (Mural Amphitheatre)
2:45 pm - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Mainstage),
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (Broad Street)
4:15 pm - U.S.E. (Broad Street)
5:00 pm - Sera Cahoone (Mural Amphitheatre)
5:45 pm - Common Market (Fisher Green)
7:00 pm - Aussie vs. Kiwi (1 Reel Film Festival)
7:15 pm - Michael Franti and Spearhead (Mainstage)
9:30 pm - The Helio Sequence (Broad Street)

Monday, September 7th
11:00 am - Kerfuffle (NW Rooms)
12:15 pm - Dept. of Energy (Sky Church)
12:45 pm - Visqueen (Broad Street)
1:30 pm - Recess Monkey (NW Court),
The Minus 5 (Mural Amphitheatre)
1:45 pm - Point Juncture, WA (Sky Church)
2:30 pm - Say Hi (Broad Street)
4:00 pm - The New Mastersounds (Fisher Green)
5:00 pm - Champagne Champagne (Sky Church)
5:30 pm - Made In Seattle (1 Reel Film Festival)
6:45 pm - The Cave Singers (Mural Amphitheatre)
7:30 pm - Vieux Farka Touré (Fisher Green)
7:45 pm - Franz Ferdinand (Mainstage)
9:30 pm - Metric (Broad Street)

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of August 28-30:

Das Barbecü

From the ACT website:

Seattle Opera originally commissioned this comic adaptation of Wagner's Ring Cycle in 1991. This year, The Ring returns – and so, lest we take it too seriously, does Das Barbecü. It's a lightning-paced musical that grafts Teutonic myth onto Texas twang. Big hair, big hats, and wonderful music – including an infectious ode to guacamole and a tender ditty entitled "Hog Tie Your Man" – make this show a blast for opera buffs and anybody who just loves a good time.

"The delicious fun of Das Barbecü is the deadpan way it superimposes the weirdest ancient Germanic lore onto a batch of down-home, straight-shootin' folk." —The Seattle Times

Friday, August 28th - 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 28th - 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 30th - 2:00 pm
The Falls Theatre at ACT

*****

The Wedding Sangers

From the ACT website:

Join country-tonk favorites Purty Mouth for The Weddin' Sangers, a Das Barbecü companion show that celebrates in song the dysfunction and redemption lurking at the heart of the modern American wedding.

Every Friday and Saturday, directly after Das Barbecü, The Weddin' Sangers will give you an hour of music and laughs from Purty Mouth and special guests.

Each weekend will feature a new theme, inspired by the shenanigans in Das Barbecü. Purty Mouth has been performing in Seattle for most of a decade; their unique take on country and pop music is dialed in from a universe where Brokeback Mountain sits comfortably alongside John Wayne.

Saturday, August 29th - 10:30 pm
The Bullitt Theatre at ACT

*****

The Ring not your thing? Head over to The Triple Door and check out the lovely pop/jazz harmonies of Les Nubians.

From their MySpace page:

Grammy Nominated international recording artists Les Nubians have intrigued audiences for almost a decade with their inventive and glamorous Afropean style. This distinctive sound embodies the timeless vibrations of Miriam Makeba, Ella Fitzgerald, Doudou N'diaye Rose, Fela Kuti, Edith Piaf, The Fugees, and Soul II Soul.

Recognized for their colorful auras, Les Nubians' vogue is a fusion of Funkin' Fashion and Modern Amazon. Adoring fans pay tribute to the French/Cameroonian sister duo for their continuous flow of jazzy nuances, hard hitting drum ‘n' bass lines, harmonious melodies, conscious proclamations and humanitarian endeavors.

Friday, August 28th - 7:30 pm, 10:30 pm
The Triple Door

The Voice Box recommends - Americana edition

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of July 10-12:

Moe and Aimee Bon Voyage Party
with The Starlings

Moe and Aimee played for our wedding reception cocktail hour as the amazing duo MoZo. Moe recently released her solo album, Blues Filter Through, and Aimee's band The Starlings are releasing their limited-edition EP tonight! I may be biased, but their music makes me really happy. Come out and support these two super cool gals (and of course their talented bandmates!).

Friday, July 10th - 9:00 pm
Conor Byrne Pub

*****

The Tallboys CD release party
with Slimpickins

From The Tallboys' website:

Based in Seattle, Washington, The Tallboys are a four piece old time string band well-versed in traditional fiddle tunes and mountain songs. They stay honest to their traditional inspirations, yet charge up their sound with a raw edge of gritty enthusiasm conjured from their years of street performing. The Tallboys consistently deliver exciting stage performances and hard-driving dance tunes.

We've listened to two members of The Tallboys nearly every Sunday for the past few years at the Ballard Farmers Market, and they're fantastic. Should be an excellent show.

Friday, July 10th - doors at 8:30 pm, show at 9:30 pm
Tractor Tavern

*****
No Depression Music Festival

From the No Depression website:

It's our great pleasure to announce the lineup for the first ever No Depression Festival, featuring Gillian Welch, Iron & Wine, Patterson Hood & the Screwtopians, Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, a Seattle roots-music all-star revue, and Zee Avi (see all scheduled set times).

8:45 - 9:45 Gillian Welch
7:25 - 8:25 Iron & Wine
6:05 - 7:05 Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians
5:00 - 5:45 Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter
4:00 - 4:45 Justin Townes Earle
3:00 - 3:45 Jessica Lea Mayfield
2:00 - 2:45 No Depression All Star Revue (featuring Star Anna, Sera Cahoone, Ian Moore, Zoe Muth, Mark Pickerel, Kristen Ward & members of the Maldives and North Twin backed by Jeff Fielder, Ty Bailie, Eric Eagle and Rebecca Young)
1:00 - 1:45 Zee Avi

Saturday, July 11th
Marymoor Park

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of June 26-28:

mewithoutyou with
The Dear Hunter and
Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

Go - you'll be glad you did.

Friday, June 26th - doors at 7 pm
all ages show
Neumos

*****
Timeout to Rock!
Seattle's First Annual Children's Music Festival
featuring:

Recess Monkey
Caspar Babypants (Chris Ballew of The Presidents)
The Not It's!
Board of Education

From the poster: "A day of kid friendly music with proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Association." More info at the excellent Zooglobble blog.

Saturday June 27th - 11:00 am
The Vera Project

*****
Toy Box Trio

From Toy Box Trio's MySpace page:

The Toy-Box Trio was founded in early 2007 by classical composer Harlan Glotzer while studying at Cornish College of the Arts. During Harlan's studies, he experimented with bringing different ensembles together. The Toy-Box Trio was born out of a search for an unlikely–yet musically functional–ensemble that would cause listeners to experience through-composed music in an entirely different way. The pairing of concertina, toy piano, and violoncello is reminiscent of the classical piano trio–a staple in chamber repertoire–but able to extend into the 21st century by creating a sonic landscape evocative of dusty old music boxes and haunted carnivals. The Toy-Box Trio is committed to approaching time worn ideas and concepts from unexpected, untraditional, and rarely used angles, as well as providing a light and fanciful sonic atmosphere.

Saturday, June 27th - 8:00 pm
Trabant Coffee and Chai

*****
The Esoterics present
CONSTANTINESCU
Paul Constantinescu Centennial

From The Esoterics' website:

Virtually unknown to audiences in America, Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963) was one of Romania’s most cherished composers. A master of orchestral and vocal genres, Constantinescu was foremost among his generation of artists; as he infused the demands of Western counterpoint into the eccentricities of his native folk art, he breathed a new nationalism into Romanian classical music. Constantinescu’s fascinating blend of sacred, poetic, and folk influences shines through in each of his choral works.

For this concert, The Esoterics will be joined by Romanian conductor Gabriel Dumitrescu and pianist Kevin Johnson, to perform all of Constantinescu’s compositions for chamber choir – including his setting of the orthodox liturgy, ten folksong settings, and four madrigals.

Saturday, June 27th - 8:00 pm
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
4139 42nd Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Sunday 28 Jun 3:00 pm
St Joseph's Catholic Church
732 18th Avenue E
Seattle, WA 98112

Upcoming Performances

Lots of opportunities to hear your fellow students (and teachers) perform this month:

Thoroughly Modern Millie

From the Ingraham High website:

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a Tony Award-winning musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. Based on the 1967 film of the same name, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love – a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take to delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China.

Featuring fellow student Celia Buckingham as Millie, not to mention impressive sets, lots of fun musical numbers and some excellent tap dancing.

Friday, June 5th - 7 pm
Saturday, June 6th - 7 pm
Sunday, June 7th - 2 pm

Ingraham High School
1819 135th Street
Seattle, WA 98133

*****
Duet Recital featuring Shawna Avinger and Kristen Ramer Liang

UPDATE: This recital has been postponed to Saturday, August 8th, same time and place.

Come see your two favorite voice teachers sing classic Mozart duets, Schumann lieder, and a slew of musical theater numbers. We'll be joined by the talented Jeremiah Oliver at the piano.

Saturday, June 13th - 7:30 pm
Music Center of the Northwest
901 N 96th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

*****
Northwest Chamber Chorus presents
The American Spirit:
Songs of Faith in the Americas

From the NWCC website:

Sacred music has arrived in America from many different directions and places, and has developed from influences just as diverse. This is not a program of music of Christianity, but a celebration of the diversity of spirituality in America in the 21st century. We’ll trace the musical paths that have led us to where we are today. South American music will include Kasar Mie la Gaji (Earth is Tired) on a sub-Saharan African text set by Venezuelan composer Alberto Grau, Salmo 150 by Brazil's Ernani Aguiar, and Hanacpachap, arranged by Oscar Escalada and believed to be the first piece of music published in the New World. North America will be well-represented as well, with Magic Songs by trail-blazing Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, Shaker Songs arranged by Kevin Siegfried, and Deep River arranged by Swedish composer Anders Paulsson for choir and soprano saxophone and featuring saxophonist Michael Brockman.

Saturday, June 13th - 7:30 pm
Green Lake United Methodist Church
6415 1st Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115

Sunday, June 14th - 3:00 pm
Plymouth Congregational Church
1218 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

*****
Adult Student Recital

Two voice studios combine with Vicki Boeckman's recorder students for a fantastic all-adult student recital. Featuring a set of Britten duets, a quartet, beautiful art songs and a little Broadway and jazz for good measure.

Sunday, June 21st - 6:30 pm

Music Center of the Northwest
901 N 96th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

*****
The Esoterics present
CONSTANTINESCU
Paul Constantinescu Centennial

From The Esoterics' website:

Virtually unknown to audiences in America, Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963) was one of Romania’s most cherished composers. A master of orchestral and vocal genres, Constantinescu was foremost among his generation of artists; as he infused the demands of Western counterpoint into the eccentricities of his native folk art, he breathed a new nationalism into Romanian classical music. Constantinescu’s fascinating blend of sacred, poetic, and folk influences shines through in each of his choral works.

For this concert, The Esoterics will be joined by Romanian conductor Gabriel Dumitrescu and pianist Kevin Johnson, to perform all of Constantinescu’s compositions for chamber choir – including his setting of the orthodox liturgy, ten folksong settings, and four madrigals.

Saturday, June 20th - 7:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th Street SW
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Sunday, June 21st - 3:00 pm
Christ Episcopal Church
310 N K Street
Tacoma, WA 98403

Saturday, June 27th - 8:00 pm
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
4139 42nd Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Sunday 28 Jun 3:00 pm
St Joseph's Catholic Church
732 18th Avenue E
Seattle, WA 98112

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 4/17 - 4/19:

Seattle Children's Theater presents Goodnight, Moon

From the SCT website:

“Enchanting…Feat of inspired genius.” – Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Little Bunny’s imagination is a wondrous place when he must say his goodnights. A place where toys come to life and pictures are filled with real, talking, breathing people. After all the pandemonium of getting ready for bed, Little Bunny finally closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

Eve Alvord Theatre
Friday, April 17 - 7:00 pm
(runs through June 7)

*****

ArtsWest presents Gutenberg! The Musical!

From the ArtsWest Playhouse website:

“Uproarious and hysterically funny!” - Associated Press

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! is a loving spoof in which two aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new project: A big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg (not Steve Guttenberg from the cinema classic Short Circuit).

"I don't recall the last time I left a theater with a face that ached from laughing way too much." - Paul Constant, The Stranger

With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them a Broadway contract – fulfilling their sky-high, if simple-minded, dreams.

ArtsWest Playhouse
Friday, April 17th - 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 18th - 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 19th - 3:00 pm

*****

Northwest Puppet Center presents Don Quixote
Baroque Marionette Opera

From the NWPC website:

Each year, Northwest Puppet Center presents an elaborate baroque marionette opera. Hand-carved figures take the stage with chamber orchestra and singers on either side of the proscenium.

The Carter Family Marionettes are joined by an ensemble of outstanding musicians and singers for this unique production of Don Quixote.

George Philipp Telemann's Don Quixote Suite is a well known instrumental delight. Rarely seen, however, is his one act operetta, in which the chivalrous Don and the earthy Sancho Panza attend and disrupt a shepherd's wedding. These two works are combined by Carter Family Marionettes and Maestra di Musica, Margriet Tindemanns. Sancho Panza's aria to his donkey and the attack on the windmills are among the treats to be dished up by hand-carved marionettes and our beloved musical collaborators. This is our 10th live opera, with nearly a decade of these unique and challenging presentations at the Northwest Puppet Center. Please join us for a night at the opera with this quixotic delectation!

Northwest Puppet Center
Friday, April 17th - 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 18th - 2:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 19th - 2:00 pm

Come on along and listen to...

The Lullaby of Broadway! I've had that song stuck in my head ever since I first saw the poster for the Seattle Women's Chorus concert series. Good thing I love that song, although now I have a total urge to rent Gold Diggers of 1935 just so I can watch the amazing, slightly creepy Busby Berkely number that goes along with it. Thank goodness for YouTube - I've posted the sequence below.

Seattle Times has a nice article today about the upcoming SWC concerts at Meany Hall - student Arlene Havlark is a member of the chorus and is featured in a quartet. The Broadway theme promises lots of great music as well as fodder for some classic SWC comedy. With selections from 45 different musicals, you're bound to hear one of your musical theatre favorites. I highly recommend you check it out; we'll be going Friday and I'm really looking forward to the show!

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 4/10 - 4/12:

Seattle Women's Chorus presents Lullaby of Broadway

From the SWC website:

"This harmonious musical staging celebrates the women of Broadway: Mama Rose, Auntie Mame, Annie Oakley, Mrs. Lovett, Evita, Elphaba, and Tracy Turnblad to name a few. Seattle Women's Chorus will pay tribute to these great characters, as well as shining the spotlight on some of the many great musical numbers for women, about women, and written by women."

Meany Theater (UW Campus)
Friday, April 10 - 8 pm
Saturday, April 11 - 2 pm

*****
Hapa

from the Hapa website:

"Like the Hawaiian Islands themselves, HAPA's Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of infuences ranging from ancient genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fisherman, Spanish cowboys, and the inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. Add to this a dose of American acoustic folk/rock, and you have what has been described as the 'most exciting and beautiful contemporary Hawaiian music the world knows!'… (Maui Times)."

The Triple Door
Saturday, April 11 - 5:30 pm, 8:30 pm

*****
The Thermals record release party

from their recent SXSW review in the NYT:

"...everything jumped up a notch with the Thermals, a Portland trio that demonstrated that elemental three-piece rock, accompanied by proper conviction, can approach majesty, or at least bliss under a metal roof. An incantatory “Now We Can See” included chanting from the bassist Kathy Foster, whose vigorous playing and a bouncing rock-fro were performance art in the best sense of the term. There will be a lot of lead singers in Austin this week who will do their best to plunge fully into the matters at hand, but few will match Hutch Harris, whose joyous possession let Austin know that some of the bands here play music because they almost have to. The exalt bounced off the roof and into the ears of an increasingly into-it crowd."

Neumos
Sunday, April 11 - doors at 8 pm

Vocal performances this weekend

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 4/3 - 4/5:

Gallery Concerts presents
Mr. Haydn Comes to London

From the Gallery Concerts website:

Join The Classical Consort as they journey to Haydn’s London to commemorate the Haydn-Year (200th anniversary of his death). Explore the impact of England’s musical haunts on the songs, sonatas, and chamber music of Europe’s most genial composer. A colorful 1820 Broadwood pianoforte—the same model owned by Jane Austen—will be the featured guest at this celebration.

The Classical Consort: Karen Elizabeth Urlie, soprano, Tekla Cunningham, violin, Meg Brennand, cello, and Tamara Friedman, English fortepiano

Queen Anne Christian Church
Saturday, April 4 - 8 pm
Sunday, April 5 - 2 pm

*****

Cornish College of the Arts presents
Suor Angelica

From the Cornish events website:

Giacomo Puccini's one-act lyric opera for women, Suor Angelica, is a masterpiece of dramatic storytelling. Set in an Italian convent on a beautiful spring evening, the action centers on Sister Angelica who receives a visit from her wealthy aunt after seven years of isolation. The visit unleashes an unstoppable chain of events both fatal and miraculous.

PONCHO Concert Hall at Kerry Hall
Friday, April 3 - 8 pm
Saturday, April 4 - 8 pm

*****
Seattle Opera Young Artist Program presents
A Midsummer Night's Dream
LAST WEEKEND

from the Seattle Opera website:

What happens at night when the lights go out? Delicious and dark, entertaining and erotic, A Midsummer Night's Dream is an intoxicating blend of mortals, mechanicals and faeries, all thrown together in one place at one time. Benjamin Britten’s setting of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy has everything from gorgeous shimmering string melodies to a hilarious parody of bel-canto opera. Set in an English boarding school, the Seattle Opera Young Artists production explores the notion that you don’t need a phoenix-feather wand in order to make magic. We will perform the opera in English in the intimate Meydenbauer Theater. This is a chance to get up close to the magic of A Midsummer Night's Dream in a way that is not possible in more conventional opera houses. Come and enjoy our young and energetic cast as they realize that the course of true love never does run smooth!

Meydenbauer Center
Friday, April 3 -7:30 pm
Saturday, April 4 - 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 5 - 2 pm

*****
Moisture Festival
LAST WEEKEND
Friday, April 3 - 7:30, 10:30 pm
Saturday, April 4 - 3:00, 7:30, and 10:30 pm
Sunday, April 5 - 3:00 and 7:30 pm
Hale's Ales Brewpub and Palladium

Vocal performances this weekend

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 3/27-3/29:

Seattle Opera Young Artist Program presents
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(opening weekend, runs through April 5)

from the Seattle Opera website:

What happens at night when the lights go out? Delicious and dark, entertaining and erotic, A Midsummer Night's Dream is an intoxicating blend of mortals, mechanicals and faeries, all thrown together in one place at one time. Benjamin Britten’s setting of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy has everything from gorgeous shimmering string melodies to a hilarious parody of bel-canto opera. Set in an English boarding school, the Seattle Opera Young Artists production explores the notion that you don’t need a phoenix-feather wand in order to make magic. We will perform the opera in English in the intimate Meydenbauer Theater. This is a chance to get up close to the magic of A Midsummer Night's Dream in a way that is not possible in more conventional opera houses. Come and enjoy our young and energetic cast as they realize that the course of true love never does run smooth!

Meydenbauer Center
Friday, March 27 -7:30 pm
Saturday, March 28 - 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 29 - 2 pm

*****

Hello, Dolly!
LAST WEEKEND

from the 5th Avenue Theater website:

"Hello, Dolly! Well hello, Dolly! It's so nice to have you back where you belong."

One of America’s most beloved musicals is back on The 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 27 years. When the irrepressible matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi is hired to arrange a marriage for the miserly half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, she finds him the perfect mate – herself! But first she must win the heart of her unsuspecting “husband to be” before he gets hitched to somebody else. Brimming with joyful tunes from “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” and “It Only Takes a Moment” to the irresistible title song, Hello, Dolly! is a delectable treat for musical theater lovers of all ages.

5th Avenue Theater
Friday, March 27 - 8 pm
Saturday, March 28 - 2 pm, 8 pm
Sunday, March 29 - 1:30 pm

*****

U.S.E.
Velella Velella
Strength

from the U.S.E. website:

If nothing else, pop music should be joyous. Nobody knows that better than Seattle, Washington's premier party rock super group, United State of Electronica aka U.S.E.

Since 2002, U.S.E has forced critical and populous audiences alike into fits of euphoric dancing with their life-affirming, rock-based interpretation of electronica. Whether dominating frenzied clubs with Ted Leo, Junior Senior and Death Cab For Cutie, or globally storming clubs and festivals in Tokyo and Osaka, U.S.E proffers the kind of four-on-the-floor beats and unbridled enthusiasm that put likeminded revelers Andrew W.K., Prince, Underworld and Daft Punk on the map. U.S.E has hit upon a raw pop concoction all their own.

Crocodile Cafe
Saturday, March 28 - 9 pm

*****

Seattle Men's Chorus presents Singing...in the Rain

from the SMC website:

Lights, Action, Music!

Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds joins Seattle Men's Chorus in a salute to the golden age of Hollywood musicals. The classic movie musicals of the 1940s and 1950s are feted in this toe-tapping and tuneful extravaganza that will include songs of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and others.

With special guest Debbie Reynolds

McCaw Hall
Saturday, March 28 - 8 pm
Sunday, March 29 - 2 pm

Vocal performances this weekend

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 3/21-3/22:

Northwest Chamber Chorus presents Dance!
Saturday, March 21st at 7:30 pm
Green Lake United Methodist Church

Sunday, March 22nd at 3:00 pm
Plymouth Congregational Church

*****
Pacific Operaworks presents Return of Ulysses
LAST NIGHT
Saturday, March 21st at 7:30 pm
Moore Theater, downtown Seattle

*****

Pacific Northwest Ballet: The Broadway Festival
LAST WEEKEND
Saturday, March 21st at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 22nd at 1:00 pm
PNB at The Phelps Center

*****

Moisture Festival
Saturday, March 21st at 3:00, 7:30, and 10:30 pm
Sunday, March 22nd at 3:00 and 7:30 pm
Hale's Ales Brewpub and Palladium

Upcoming student performances

Lots of opportunities for seeing your fellow students perform this spring:

Northwest Chamber Chorus presents Dance!
Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Green Lake United Methodist Church, Seattle

Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Plymouth Congregational Church, downtown Seattle

from the NWCC website:

"You can guess some of the music on this program. We’ll feature music about dance and dancing, music that makes you want to dance, and music that is written in dance forms and styles. Highlights will include selections from Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes and Aaron Copland's classic, Stomp Your Foot. The Swedish folk song Domaredansen and the American Shaker song Ye Followers of the Lamb will be included. We'll take you on the wild ride that is Daemon Irrepit Callidus by Romanian composer György Orbàn, depicting the devil dancing in the firelight, setting forth 'trickery amidst praise, song and dance.' Tango will be represented by pieces from Argentina’s master of the tango, Astor Piazzolla, and arranged by the dean of Argentine choral arrangers, Oscar Escalada. Be prepared to tap your foot when you join us for Dance!"

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Seattle Women's Chorus presents Lullaby of Broadway

Meany Theater (UW Campus)
Friday, April 10 - 8 pm
Saturday, April 11 - 2 pm

From the SWC website:

"This harmonious musical staging celebrates the women of Broadway: Mama Rose, Auntie Mame, Annie Oakley, Mrs. Lovett, Evita, Elphaba, and Tracy Turnblad to name a few. Seattle Women's Chorus will pay tribute to these great characters, as well as shining the spotlight on some of the many great musical numbers for women, about women, and written by women."

Out of town performances:
04/04: Bremerton, WA
Admiral Theatre - 7:00 PM
515 Pacific Ave. — Bremerton, WA
(360) 373-6743
www.admiraltheatre.org
Tickets: $25 Main Floor; $20 Loge; $12 Balcony

04/19: Olympia, WA
St. John's Episcopal - 3:00 PM
114 20th Ave. SE — Olympia, WA
www.stjohnsoly.org
This is a non-ticketed performance — seating is first come, first served. Admission is FREE,
donations encouraged

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University Unitarian Church Loft Choir presents selections from Elijah
Sunday, May 9 - University Unitarian Church, Seattle
Two services, 9:30 am and 11:15 am

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Northwest Chorale presents Bach's Mass in B minor
Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 - time and location TBD

Jane Eyre at Seattle Musical Theatre

You've only got one weekend left to see Jane Eyre at Seattle Musical Theatre! This adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë novel, with book by John Caird and music/lyrics by Paul Gordon is musically and emotionally compelling; I have to admit it greatly exceeded my expectations and provided a thoroughly captivating experience. Why did it exceed my expectations? Well, I love musicals and I love Jane Eyre, but I wasn't sure how I felt about such a beloved novel being delivered in musical form. When I think about it, though, Jane Eyre is particularly well-suited for the task: the novel contains your basic "girl rises from tragic background, meets boy, survives further drama and receives happy ending with aforementioned boy" story, which has been the basis for many successful musicals, plays and a few operas (although in the operas the girl and her boy usually survive their drama only to die at the end). Fortunately we all know that a happy ending awaits Jane, and so I was able to watch the drama unfold without the anxiety of wondering what would happen to her and her beloved Edward.

We went to see Jane Eyre last Saturday night and were enchanted by the production. I was amazed at what a large, lovely sound the band produced, and their musicality dramatically enhanced the action onstage. I frequently forgot that there were only 5 instrumentalists because their sound was so full and lush. Olivia Spokoiny stood out as Jane's childhood friend, Helen Burns, and Jenny Shotwell was great fun as the obnoxious fiancee Blanche Ingram; for me, however, it was Danielle Barnum that carried the show along with James Padilla, who sang a passionate Edward Rochester. Barnum did a wonderful job with the deceptively plain lines of Jane (which I think fit the character perfectly), occasionally bursting forth from Jane's calm decorum to show the fiery emotion underneath. Keaton Whittaker convincingly portrayed the origins of that emotion as the young Jane, and she and Barnum had a natural rapport - an important detail in a production that requires the child and adult Jane to repeatedly share the stage.

SMT has provided a study guide for those unfamiliar with the novel, detailing the plot synopsis, major characters and their relation to one another, a timeline of Charlotte Brontë's life, and several other extension ideas to help audience members delve further into the story of Jane Eyre. It's rare and refreshing to see a company go to this extent to enhance their audience's enjoyment of a production. If you're looking for something to do this weekend, get yourself out to Magnuson Park and settle in for an evening of great theater.

Read the Seattle Times' review of Jane Eyre here.