The Opera Buffs, celebrating their 42nd season supporting young, emerging opera singers in Southern California, held their opening season recital and reception at the acoustically-sound Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music on Sunday.
Six special opera singers were invited to perform with accompaniment by music director Brent McMunn on piano. They were in good hands with McMunn since he is the Conductor of Opera at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. He always twinkles the ivories so beautifully.
Thanks to Opera Buffs, these six singers, among many others, are past grant recipients having been provided financial support for their artistic endeavors, as well as opportunities for professional mentorship and live performance within the Los Angeles community.
The Opera Buffs fill a niche generally not served by opera companies, competitions and music schools. Their motto is “we believe that of all the musical instruments, the human voice is the most sublime, and that helping the exceptionally talented artist reach the operatic stage is a mission worthy of our utmost effort and full dedication.” Here are just a few of the opera singers who benefited from their support and are now big-time – Angel Blue, Charles Castronovo, Greg Fedderly, Deborah Voight, Rodell Rosel, and Joshua Guerrero. Guerrero performed a solo recital at The Wallis in Beverly Hills this past June 7.
The opening season recital program was arranged so that each singer was given an opportunity to sing two solo pieces. There was also one duet and an ensemble finale song to close out the performance..
The invited performers showcasing their amazing talents were tenor (Lwazi Hlati), two sopranos (Gabrielle Turgeon, Hannah Rice), one mezzo-sopranos (Brianna Raygoza), one baritone (Adrian Melendrez), and one bass (Michael Mensah.)
Mensah also performed at the Opera Buffs season finale this past June at Colburn School’s Zipper Hall.
Turgeon will return for her second time to Los Angeles Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist program this season where she will appear as Meretaten in Philip Glass’s Akhnaten and First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, both conducted by the distinguished James Conlon who is retiring at the end of this season.
One of the bright spots, of many at the recital, was Turgeon’s rendition of “Goodby World” by Lee Hoiby. Her voice was transcendent and ethereal.
Another highlight was Mensah singing “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,” arranged by Harry T. Burleigh and “I’m a lonely man, Susannah” from Susannah by Carlisle Floyd. He has a rich, full-toned, deep bass voice and is currently studying under Derrick Lawrence at the USC Thornton School of Music Graduate Program.
Kudos also go out to Hlati and Raygozal. Hlati, who possesses an impressive golden tenor voice that resonated throughout the hall, sang very capably “Recondita armoniaa”” from Tosca by Puccini and “Dein its main ganzes Herz” from Das Land des Lachelns by Lehar. This Lehar song is one of Hlati’s signature pieces. And Raygoza, only 21 years of age, and a USC vocal student, shined while singing “The Sealman” by Rebecca Clarke.
All of the other solo pieces and duet were wonderfully sung, appropriately ending the program with the entire ensemble singing “The Promise of Living” from The Tenderland by Copland. A gorgeous melody that showcases the individual voices and as a whole.
After the program, the audience members were given an opportunity to have a meet and greet with the singers at the post-concert reception.
A great way to conclude the festivities.