GEORGE CHRISTY
George Christy
Craig Mathew / Steve Cohn
Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong debuted in the demanding role of Rosina
The Grand Finale for LA Opera’s production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Performances run through March 22nd.
Lennie
and Bernie … Bernie and Lennie …
P eople
You
Should
Know.
The Greenbergs. Longtime caregivers for
our City of the Angels, Lennie and Bernie Greenberg are devoted to the cultural enhancement of our massive community. As Ann and Gordon Getty dedicate their hearts to the arts and architectural beauty with their Golden Gate sanctuary of San Francisco.
B eloved
Lennie’s participated in leadership roles within our arts arena through the years. MOCA, galleries, artists, etc. And, of course, the LA Phil remains eternally on the Greenbergs’ bighearted philanthropic calendar.
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ttorney Bernie and his law classmates at UCLA launched the opera company during the late ’50s at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, relocating to the Music Center upon completion of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
It was in 1986 when the
LA Opera birthed, creating Page 6 | March 6, 2015
its renowned productions after hiring General Director P e t e r Hemmings, and opening to internat i o n a l acclaim with V e r d i ’s Otello starring Placido Domingo. T o d a y , B e r n i e Premieregoers Lennie and Bernie Greenberg with LA Opera’s Director of serves as Communications Gary Murphy at the post-opera party in the Founders chairman of Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. the executive committee for the LA Opera, unlike folks who surreptiously omposer Rossini subtiand serves as a decades-long glance away, pretending they haven’t seen us. But should tled his farcical opera as The member of the board. they bump into us later, Useless Precaution. In other ount on Lennie and they’ll nonchalantly shrug, “I words, no matter what is Bernie to be front and center didn’t know you were here.” meant to be will be. at opera and LA Phil openings Haven’t we all suffered with irector Trevore Ross, a and art galas. Good citizens those critters? native of the fabled wrapping their enthusiasms, long with Lennie and Charleston, South Carolina, style and grace wherever we Bernie, the first nighter crowd opted for black and white find them. this week lapped up the costumes by Argentina’s heir kindness and opera’s high jinks at the Renata Schussheim, with Center’s Dorothy black and white production friendship are admirable. No Music Chandler Pavilion. and scenery design by Spain’s la-de-da show-offing attiEmilio Sagi and Llorenc tudes, as we sometimes hey were applauding Corbella. encounter with the big bucks the many curtain calls after butt-kissers in need of sanconducted by James tioning. Lennie and Bernie the LA Opera’s giggly revival of Gioachino Rossini’s Conlon, the cast is splendid. The are the Real Deal. Our kind . The libretGorgeously rich voices filling Barber Of Seville of people who cheerfully and to by Cesare Sterbini was the heart with singers hailing unhesitatingly walk across a inspired by the from Italy, Russia, Iceland, commedia room to greet and visit … buffa of Pierre Beaumarchais.
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and stateside New York, Illinois, Virginia. And let us bow to a glorious discovery with the alluring mezzosoprano Elizabeth DeShong from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania in an illustrious debut that’s not to be missed.
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o where in the dickens is Selinsgrove, having presented us with this thrilling artist?
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all it small town America in rural central Pennsylvania. Fifty miles north of Harrisburg and the home of Susquehanna University, whose football team’s a hot ticket, as is football everywhere in Pennsylvania, and whose team colors are orange and maroon.
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Online at www.bhcourier.com/category/george-christy
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