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42 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2024 The Four Seasons Opera Club is now six months old. We are currently meeting in the RCN the second Saturday of each month at 10 am. The Club was started in the belief that there would be a large pent- up demand for fine arts appreciation in our demographic. There is even a goal to extend coverage into ballet, as well. So far, the response has been enthusiastic but smaller than expected. So, this is a pitch to encourage you to attend a meeting and begin a journey to learn about opera. Opera has an entry barrier. Reasons normally given are: 1. Expense 2. Not in English 3. Requirement to dress up 4. Feels like homework 5. All written by dead, white guys Counterpoints: 1. Free attendance to HOA members and their guests. 2. We show versions with English sub-titles. 3. No dress code. If it's good enough for The Lodge, it's good enough for the Club. 4. The English libretto will be emailed, but no requirement to read it. 5. Mostly true, but we will eventually get to "L'Amour de Loin" by Kaija Saariaho and "Fire Shut up in my Bones" by Terence Blanchard. A bonus reason to approach opera is the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD simulcasts to local movie theaters. For $25 you get the best seat in the house at a live broadcast of a matinee performance from one of the world's finest opera companies. This month's Club showing, e Coronation of Poppea, may be too challenging for novices, so feel free to consider an upcoming showing instead. Here is the plan for the rest of the year. July: La Traviata by Guiseppe Verdi. The notable scene is the Brinsisi, a drinking party with a drinking song, "Libbiamo" ("Let's Drink!). August: aïs by Jules Massenet. The signature passage is the Meditation. This is a sublime violin solo signifying the religious conversion of Thaïs. September: La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini. There are three, back-to-back-to-back signature arias, "Si mi chiamano Mimi," "Che gelida manina," and "O soave fianculla." October: Nabucco by Guiseppe Verdi. The signature piece is a choral number, "Va, pensiero." This music is the theme song of the risorgimento which resulted in the creation of the nation of Italy. November: Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven has a great quartet and another signature chorus, "Prisoners Chorus." The sub-title of Beethoven's only opera is "Leonore, or the Triumph of Marital Love." December: Parsifal by Richard Wagner. Wagner's final opera is the story of the Arthurian knight Percival. ~ Harvey Toyama, yukito@yukito.net, (951) 524-3765 Opera Club Handbell Choir Did you ever sing about the Old Folks at Home? Are you getting close to being in one? Come have some fun with us on June 6 for our Americana & Folk Tunes Handbell concert. We will meet in The Lodge Ballroom. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. Donations are always appreciated, but not required. We're always looking for more ringers who can substitute. For more info, contact Kathie Sundstrom at (303) 930-6850 or kathryn.buck@ comcast.net. ~ Kathie Sundstrom Classical Music Club We are classical music lovers with an interest in sharing our love of, knowledge about, and interest in classical music. We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm in The Lodge Theater. We listen to and watch musical selections on the big screen. Each month we focus on a particular work or several selections of one composer. We also discuss current musical performances in the area. We welcome new members. Contact Steve Benoff at steve.benoff@ verizon.net or (310) 413-4896. ~ Steve Benoff Terence Blanchard on the Met stage e Old Folks at Home