FYI: Opera offers beloved music, brilliant voices

FYI: Opera, a unique program offered free to the community by the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council for over a quarter century, will again provide a tantalizing menu of songs and singers on Tuesday, April 3, 7:30 p.m., at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road.

David Bamberger, Opera Artistic Director at Cleveland Institute of Music, organizer and narrator of the program, said several selections from Bizet’s "Carmen," including the famous “Habañera”, and the drinking song “Libiamo” from Verdi’s "La Traviata" will be included as well as an aria from Mozart’s "Cosi Fan Tutte."

In addition to these opera favorites, Bamberger announced that in honor of the upcoming centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, “the delightful 'What a Movie!' from Bernstein’s opera 'Trouble In Tahiti' will be performed.” Four talented singers will perform this outstanding program, and John Simmons, CIM’s coach-accompanist, will be at the piano.

The singers who will bring this music to life on April 3 are: Emily S. Brown, who sang the roles of Glauce in CIM’s "Medea" and the Mother in CIM’s recent production of "Hansel and Gretel"; Kaylee Norris and London Long-Wheeler who also sang roles in CIM’s "Hansel and Gretel"; and Benjamin Liu, who portrayed Jason in CIM’s "Medea".

FYI: Opera reflects the WWAC mission to provide the community with an enhanced and broadened cultural life that promotes awareness, education and involvement in the arts.

Louise Seeholzer

Publicist for Westlake-Westshore Arts Council

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Volume 10, Issue 6, Posted 10:13 AM, 03.20.2018