The Camellia Symphony celebrates its 50th year next season, making it the longest continuously performing orchestra in the Sacramento region.  They'll be celebrating with a number of events, of course, but take a moment to check out their web site. As with all arts organizations, the CSO faces numerous financial and other challenges; we should all support this fine organization, as well as the Sacramento Phil, the MAstersingers, B Street Theatre, and the other fine arts organizations we are so blessed to have. Take a few hours, a few dollars, and help keep the arts alive here in Sacramento. On April 21, some of the region's finest singers will join forces with the Camellia Symphony Orch

The Sacramento Opera unveiled the program for its upcoming season after canceling shows last spring and then going on a fundraising drive to make this season possible. The two full operas, “Pagliacci” by Ruggero Leoncavallo and “Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi, will be augmented by a special performance in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to kick off the season Oct. 6. General Manager Rod Gideons said the Opera at the Cathedral show will highlight the top-10 musical numbers performed by the Sacramento Opera since its inception in 1981 as voted on by about 200 opera subscribers. “We’re going to be doing arias, duets, trios, quartets and ensembles,” he said, adding that six singers wil

The Sacramento Opera exceeded its funding goal of collecting $122,000 in individual donations by Thursday night, and the upcoming season is no longer in jeopardy. “It’s a go,” said Rod Gideons, General Director for the opera company. “We did just over $135,000, so we were really, really pleased.” Approximately $39,000 in additional donations is needed to see the season out, but Gideons said he is confident that will be raised, and the company has the course of the season – which stretches into 2012 – to raise those funds. “Most likely, when we send out our subscription renewal forms, that’s when we’ll get that,” he said, adding that those forms will likely go out at the end of the month

The Sacramento Opera managed to collect more than $20,000 in gift pledges from private donors over the weekend, bringing the total funding needed for next season to $14,642. “I’m very hopeful that we’ll collect the rest,” said Sacramento Opera General Director Rod Gideons. “We just put out the word, and people have really been responding.” The board of directors will decide Thursday if enough money has been raised to proceed with the coming season, Gideons said. So far, $117,358 has been pledged. After canceling its last two shows of the season – “The Magic Flute” and “The Postman Always Rings Twice” – the opera is trying to raise enough of the $175,000 it needs in order to ensure the

May 12 is the deadline for the Sacramento Opera to raise the final $37,000 of its $122,000 goal by that date – or there will not be a 2011-2012 opera season. In all, the opera must raise $175,000 of pledges and gifts for the season. The opera recently reorganized, strategically aligning with the Sacramento Philharmonic as both organizations continue to suffer from funding slumps as a result of the recession. A meeting last week with 123 opera subscribers and donors to discuss the reorganization, and Sacramento Opera officials described it as “just the kind of engagement needed” in a press release this week. If the $37,000 is raised, the opera season will include “Opera at the Cathedral

Representatives of the Sacramento Opera unveiled their plan for saving the company in a presentation Thursday night for supporters of the only professional opera in the Sacramento region. Rod Gideons, Sacramento Opera general director, and Michael Nelson, president of the board of directors, shared the stage at Antiquité Maison Privée in Midtown. During the two-hour presentation, they outlined “what’s happened, what’s changed and what’s next” for the Sacramento Opera. “We have no cash reserves, no endowment, and we’ve been entirely dependent on ticket sales up to this point,” Gideons told the audience of more than 60 opera subscribers and supporters. If something doesn’t happen – and ha

Maria Callas died more than 33 years ago yet her recordings still set standards in the opera world. Famous for her temper, rivalries with fellow divas and her longtime affair with Aristotle Onassis, she was hot copy in the press while alive and long after her death. She had a tough life before her triumph as an one of the most revered figures in opera of all time. She lived and studied in Greece through World War II. Callas had her premiere at the La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy, considered to be the most prestigious opera house in the world in December, 1951. Seven years later, she was let go. She died at a young 54 years of age. Maria Callas was the consummate diva. Award-winning

The UC Davis Symphony Orchestra and Department of Theare & Dance put on a great opera at the Mondavi Center on Friday, “Bela Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle.” The opera was translated into English by Peter Bartok. The opera stars Gregory Stapp as Duke Bluebeard and Jessica Medoff as Judith. The opera is fully staged and performed in one act. It opens with a completely dark stage and slowly opens to a bard (played by Barry Hubbard) standing under a spotlight, giving the audience an introduction. When the bard leaves the light dims and the stage is enveloped in darkness, foreshadowing the rest of play. As Judith and Bluebeard enter the castle, Judith is hesitant and wants to stay in the sunligh

The Sacramento Opera is reaching out to the community for ideas after canceling its 2010-11 season following flagging ticket sales. “We would love to have people give up their dollars, thoughts and ideas on how to keep live theater in Sacramento,” said Sacramento Opera General Director Rod Gideons. Gideons promised that the opera isn’t going anywhere, saying it’s been around for 30 years and has no intention of calling it quits, but it’s currently not feasible to operate. “We need to streamline our business model,” Gideons said. “We need to reach out to a younger audience and build our operating capital in order to do business.” Without a brick-and-mortar structure or a line of credit,

It was fitting that a fundraising event for the Sacramento Opera was held at the Hot Italian located at 16th and Q Streets. The Sacramento Opera will begin its 30th Anniversary Season in Sacramento continuing the Opera movement begun in Italy during the 16th century. The event hosted by Hot Italian was free and open to the public. It was held to raise funds for the Sacramento Opera. This eventIt included a live auction and raffle prizes. A live opera performance by 4 operatic singers was the highlight of the evening. Donations were taken at the door and tickets were given to those that donated and a raffle was held later to thank them for the donations. The biggest prize however was watch

If your mind wanders at the mention of opera, Baroque composers, or reading subtitles, perhaps something as universally frustrating as love can hold your attention. Incorporating all of the above, and more, the Sacramento Opera will bring Handel’s “Orlando” to the Community Center Theater for two performances this month. “Even if it’s your first opera, you’ll get it,” countertenor Randall Scotting said. Scotting will be playing the title role, Orlando. “‘Orlando’ is great for people who don’t know Baroque opera,” he said, “It’s not too hard for the audience to come along with the story.” The opera follows the roller coaster ride of emotions experienced by the battle-worn soldier, Orland

The phenomenon of shadowcasting can best be described as live theater with the aid of a film being played in the background. However, unlike traditional theater, audience members are encouraged to interact with the actors and become involved with the production by calling out jokes, jeers and encouragement. The rule of thumb is generally the more boisterous the audience, the better the production. Although the most popular film to shadowcast to date is probably “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” another film, “Repo! The Genetic Opera,” is quickly gaining notoriety. Saturday night, Sacramento’s own “Repo!” shadowcast, Amber’s Sweets, put on its third performance this year. There were many

Imagine you're relaxing with a glass of wine, overlooking Tuscan-like vineyards and grassy foothills. Italian arias about intense romances are being sung to you and an intimate crowd of about 200. That's the kind of opera experience the Sacramento Opera wants to provide with the second annual Opera in the Vineyards, happening Sunday night at David Girard Vineyards in Placerville. The informal theme of the show is "Love Italian Style," said the opera's general manager, Rod Gideons. It features soprano Carrie Hennessey, mezzo soprano Julie Anne Miller, tenor Darron Flagg and piano accompanist John Cozza. Concert pianist Jennifer Reason, who was married at the vineyard, will open the show.

Just how passionate can love be? Russian opera depicts love as a crucial and deadly matter when it comes to affairs of the heart. The Sacramento Opera’s “A Russian Affair” showed audience members two dramatic tales of intrigue, seduction, unrequited love and murder Friday night. All of these characteristics are the elements of the classic novels “Eugene Onegin” and “The Queen Of Spades,” written by Russian author and poet Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. Actor Andrei Cordrescu made his debut performance narrating as Pushkin. The narrations by Pushkin connect the scenes and duets from the two operas. Sacramento Opera Music Director and Conductor Timm Rolek is responsible for the operas’ co

The Sacramento Opera presented Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata to a full house Friday night at the Community Center Theater. From the opening number, the audience was captivated by lead Karen Slack (soprano), who played Violetta Valery, and Alexander Boyer (tenor), who played Alfredo Germont. Conducted by Timm Rolek, the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the cast in the two-and-a-half-hour performance. Slack and Boyer's voices complemented each other, bringing the dramatic storyline to life. La Traviata follows Valery, a courtesan, and Germont, a respectable young man, as they fall in love and later feel the pain of being torn apart by Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont, played

The Sacramento Opera will present the famous, heart-wrenching opera La Traviata at the Sacramento Community Center Theater Friday. The popular opera was written in the mid-1800s by Giuseppe Verdi, who based his tale off the widely successful novel, La Dame Aux Camélias, by Alexandre Dumas. Though Dumas's book is written as a tragedy, adaptations of the novel, such as with La Traviata and recent films "Camille" and "Pretty Women," have been retold as a love story. La Traviata is a romantic play set in the 19th century following the relationship of well-born gentlemen Alfredo Germont, played by Tenor Alexander Boyer, who is in love with a beautiful courtesan named Violetta Valéry, played

The Crest theatre brought back memories for one pair of Sacramentans Tuesday Night. Dick and Joanne Cossairt, both 76, were among hundreds on hand to celebrate the Crest's 60th anniversary with the screening of "That Midnight Kiss." "The new Crest marquee looks the same as when we were kids," Joanne Cossairt said. "They did an amazing job." The evening began around 6 p.m. with many in line at the concessions table for the 60th-anniversary special: ten packs of Smarties candy which were popular in the 1940s, soda and popcorn for $3. Then at 7 p.m., Crest manager Sid Heberger took to the stage to make a presentation. She thanked those who were there at the original screening and a young

Delve into the romance of the Viennese operetta with tenor Hannes Busch, soprano Rufina Anatolevan-James and pianist Schinnerer Deffner. This Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m., enjoy a luxurious hour of 13 operettas by timeless composers Emmerich Kálmán, Franz Lehár, Johann Strauss Jr. and Carl Zeller. The Classical Concert is presented by the Crocker Art Museum. Due to construction for the Museum’s expansion, the concerts now take place on the Sacramento State campus in Capistrano Hall. A renowned opera and concert singer, Busch was educated at the Opera Studio of Hannover, Germany, where he was later engaged as a soloist for operettas. He has also been a recipient of the prestigious Puccin

One local arts organization not in need of financial aid is The Sacramento Opera. In the 2008-2009 season it not only ended the year in the black, but the organization eliminated all its debt, exceeded its budget goal and grew its ticket sales by nearly 38 percent. After disappointing ticket sales in 2008, the opera was fortunate to have extra income contributed from private donors such as the Mildred Reis Estate and other corporate sponsors such as Raley's and Marriott. The organization also paid back a city loan incurred in 1992. Attendance for the season's four feature shows totaled 17,414, while the community programs saw an all-time high in participation with 6,152 audience members

Thanks to Bugs and Elmer Fudd, the music of Richard Wagner, Gaetano Donizetti and Gioachino Rossini is familiar to young audiences today. Who can forget Bugs Bunny donning maestro’s tailcoat to conduct an overstuffed opera tenor through an absurdity of vocal pyrotechnics? On January 10, the Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento Opera will present a delightful musical performance exploring how Warner Bros. cartoons introduced classical music to generations. Discover the origins of opera, its relation to the visual art world, its diffusion to other countries and how it came to appear in Warner Bros. cartoons and other pop culture outlets. Enjoy viewing such masterpieces as What’s Opera, Do