Grand Move Into Grand Opera

The Light Opera Company of Salisbury took a big gamble this year in presenting a Mozart opera instead of the customary Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.

    While the production of  “The Marriage of Figaro†last weekend at Hotchkiss had some flaws, it offered the chance to hear da Ponte’s witty libretto in English for a change, and the singers took good advantage of the opportunity, elongating syllables and occasionally slipping into a more contemporary Broadway-style voice for comic effect. Diction was almost uniformly clear and crisp, and soloists and the smallish LOCOS chorus seemed to be having a good time.

   Standouts in the cast were Toby Newman, whose flailing, gawky antics as Cherubino were in stark contrast to her soaring soprano, and Charles Sanford as the crafty, distrusting Count. Brooke Schooley, a local resident and a relative newcomer to opera, made a strong impression as Susanna, with florid runs, wonderful acting and great diction. Shea Mavros as the Countess was dignified, capable and difficult to understand. Figaro was nicely played by Dennis Blackwell, and Candice Hoyes as Barbarina added zest late in the evening with her smooth soprano.

   Finally, playing an orchestral version of the overture was a curious decision, given James Fitzwilliam’s brilliant piano playing in the pit, with Ray Calderon conducting briskly.

    The Hevreh Ensemble, including Lakeville oboist Judith Dansker, will give a concert of chamber music for woodwinds and keyboard at Norfolk Library on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m., featuring works with both Native American and Jewish spiritual flavor by bass clarinetist member Jeff Adler. Admission is free.

   Trio sonatas and a violin sonata of J. S. Bach along with three Handel overtures will be featured at another concert in Crescendo’s series of Wanda Landowska tributes at Trinity Lime Rock Church on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., with a preconcert talk at 6:30 by Christine Gevert. Tickets are $25 (under 18 free).

   Bard College will present a “Music Alive!†concert  Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m., in the Sosnoff Theater, with works from the mid-20th century to the present, including the popular “Adagio for Strings†by Samuel Barber, and pieces by Steve Reich, Villa-Lobos, Béla Bartók and John Adams, all directed by Grammy-winning composer Joan Tower. Suggested donation: $20, minimum donation $5.  For ticket information contact the Fisher Center Box Office at www.fishercenter.bard.edu or call 845-758-7900.

   Piano diva Simone Dinnerstein will play Bach at McConnell Auditorium, Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. The program, presented by the Berkshire Bach Society, includes preludes and fugues, the G major French Suite, the Keyboard Concerto in d minor, and a set of variations on a Bach chorale by Philip Lasser. Dinnerstein hit the top of the Billboard classical charts with her debut recording of the “Goldberg Variations†and has been a hot commodity ever since, recording a second hit album and playing at the Mostly Mozart festival and the chic Le Poisson Rouge in Manhattan. Tickets are $35. 800-838-3006 or www.BerkshireBach.org.

Donald Sosin. www.oldmoviemusic.com