Free "Night at the Opera" concert at Marina del Rey on July 24

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    July 14, 2008

 

Contacts:       Virginia Bortin, (310) 305-9574

                        Debbie Talbot,  (310) 305-9548  

 

FREE MARINA DEL REY SUMMER CONCERTS PRESENT

“A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” JULY 24

 

            The eighth annual free Marina del Rey Summer Concert series, presented by Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water, features finalists from the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition in “A Night at the Opera” on Thursday, July 24, at 7 pm., in Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey.  The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony is conducted by its Music Director, Maestro Frank Fetta.  Popular KUSC personality Rich Capparela is series host.

            Wendy Bryn Harmer, soprano; Karen Slack, soprano; Haqumai Sharpe, tenor; and Zeffin Quinn Hollis, baritone, are the featured singers, in arias and ensembles from best-loved operas by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Bizet, Floyd, Cilea, Gershwin, and others. 

            Founded thirty-six years ago by the late Loren L. Zachary and the Competition’s current director, Nedra Zachary, the annual Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition for Young Opera Singers is one of the world’s most prestigious and valuable singing competitions.  Five singers are selected from the New York regional auditions and five singers are chosen at the Los Angeles Regional Auditions.  Ten finalists compete each year at the Grand Finals Concert in Los Angeles, with the orchestra conducted by Maestro Frank Fetta.  Because of its prestige in the music world and its who’s who of previous winners, the competition draws the finest young singers in the nation – many of them already on the rosters of major opera companies.     Previous winners of the Zachary Competition have included Thomas Hampson, Aprile Millo, Ruth Ann Swenson, Deborah Voight, Eduardo Villa, Sondra Radvanovsky, and Earl Patriarco.

            The singers featured on the July 24 program – Wendy Bryn Harmer, soprano; Karen Slack, soprano; Haqumai Sharpe, tenor; and Zeffin Quinn Hollis, baritone – have already sung with many of America’s major opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, New York City Opera, Opera Pacific, and the Dallas Opera.

            Sponsors of the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts are Don Knabe, Los Angeles County Supervisor; The Department of Beaches and Harbors; and The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey.  KUSC classical fm 91.5 is Media Sponsor.

            For further information, call (310) 305-9545 or visit the Beaches and Harbors web site marinadelrey.lacounty.gov.