Wednesday Concert in the Park Series Winds Down with Classical Music

By Tricia Chambers

Music-lovers were treated to a double whammy last Wednesday when the Mission City Opera and the Santa Clara Chorale took to the stage for the final Wednesday performance of the Concert in the Park series.

Directed by Sharon Kaye, 15 members of MCO opened the show and offered programs with the accompaniment of pianist Samuel Cisneros.

Ask Kaye if she has a favorite performance venue and she will say that it’s not the great outdoors.

“The sound could go everywhere,” she said looking to the sky, “we have no control.”

Trust me on this: I could’ve heard a pin drop but what I did not hear was one complaint. What I saw was a rapt audience that escaped their trance only to send up a “bravo” at the end of each piece.

And I have witnesses, San Jose residents Lee and Rose Meyers who’ve turned out for the series since they learned of them on the Internet.

The couple enjoyed an al fresco supper over a checkered tablecloth. “This is a wonderful family thing,” said Rose.

MCO opened with “Ricevete” from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and continued with selections from The Magic Flute and La Boheme.

Santa Clara’s own Raina Simons offered a stellar performance in a Porgy and Bess duet with powerful Baritone, Martin Belle.

Kaye, a Mezzo Soprano, gave a stellar performance of “Vissi d’arte” from Tosca.

Michelle Miller acted as stage manager for the performance, assisted by Sam Sanders.

Founded in 1996 by Kaye, the purpose of the nonprofit MCO is to offer professionally performed operatic works at affordable prices.

In the Fall, MCO will offer Amahl and the Night Visitors.

Not to be outdone was the Santa Clara Chorale which gave accapella performances of an American Patriotic favorites and spirituals that rolled along like a river.

SCC member Ivy Dutton stepped up to act as conductor while the group transitions in a new conductor to replace the out going Thomas Colohan.

Since it’s inception in 1963, SCC’s purpose has been to allow members to grow musically and perform regularly. A few summers ago, the organization performed in Prague. Auditions are held through out the year.

Next week, Peter Cor and the Jazzy Devils will kick off the first Sunday Concert in the Park at 2:30 p.m.

For more information, about MCCO visit http://www.missioncityopera.org or call 408.749.7607. To learn more about SCC, visit http://scc.og.