The Center for Adult Learning & Living at the Osher Marin JCC presents the Opera Celebration 2011 with Olga Makarina, celebrated soprano from The Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center, New York City. Ms. Makarina will perform some of Joan Sutherland's most famous arias. She will be joined by mezzo-soprano Dina El for some special duets. Hosted by James Sokol, popular Bay Area opera instructor, the multimedia program will also include video performance clips and stories paying tribute to Sutherland, the legendary soprano affectionately nicknamed "La Stupenda!" ("The stupendous one!").
WHEN: SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2011 – 1:30pm Doors Open for Coffee & Dessert, 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Celebration Presentation, 4:30pm – 6:00pm, Private Star Reception (for "Diva" & "Stupenda" Ticket Patrons) 6:30pm Exclusive Star Dinner at Frantoio in Mill Valley (for "Stupenda" Ticket Patrons)
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WHERE: Hoytt Theater, The Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 94903
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
WHO: All Ages, Tickets are $50 to $500 at www.marinjcc.org or 415-444-8000
About Olga Makarina
Born in Archangel, Russia, Metropolitan Opera soprano Olga Makarina, made her first New York appearances at New York City Opera as Lucia di Lammermoor and has performed there as Gilda in Rigoletto, Konstanze in Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio and Olympia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. Other roles in Ms Makarina's repertoire include Ilia in Idomeneo (Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival), Violetta in La Traviata (Kirov Opera) and Eudoxie in La Juive (Opera Orchestra of New York). Ms Makarina has also appeared as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos with the Minnesota Orchestra and in Orff's Carmina Burana as well.
Olga Makarina appeared twice at the Bard Festival's Franz Liszt Commemoration in an opera gala singing scenes from Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable and Les Huguenots as well as the final scene of Norma and then as soloist in the Grand Messe of Franz Liszt. In the fall of 2006, she took on the demanding role of Elettra in Mozart's Idomeneo at the Metropolitan Opera with James Levine conducting. She sang the role of Gilda in both the Met in the Parks and during the house season and Elvira in I puritani. At Opera Pacific she was Adina in the Jonathan Miller production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. In November 2007 she sang Bellini's Norma in a new production at the National Theater Prague, the title role in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at the Slovak National Opera in Bratislava, Adina in Palm Beach, Lucia in Warsaw and performed in recital with Yefim Bronfman. She sings Marfa in Rimsky-Korsakov's The Tsar's Bride with Olga Borodina with Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall in October 2008 and returns to the Metropolitan covering Gilda, Manon, Thais and Lucia in the 2008-09 season and sings Leonora in Trovatore in Warsaw.
About Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano well-known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s. One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's Alcina. She possessed a voice of beauty and power, combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, pinpoint staccatos, a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register. Her friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century", while Montserrat Caballé described the Australian's voice as being like "heaven." Her highest note was a high F-sharp in altissimo.
About the Osher Marin JCC
The Osher Marin JCC is the community center of Marin County. Epitomizing the essence of Marin, with a range of authentic cultural experiences enjoyed by many generations, the Osher Marin JCC offers award-winning facilities, abundant physical and educational activities and world-class programming relevant to our entire community today. Since the Osher Marin JCC's founding in 1947, the center has become recognizable for its rich history of Jewish traditions and values with an unparalleled all-inclusive community spirit. For more information about the Osher Marin JCC, please visit http://www.marinjcc.org.
