It’s a holiday weekend. So this weekend I’m adding a couple events on Monday for your viewing pleasure. My Best Bets: January 15th – January 18th include cabaret, classical music, dance, jazz, opera and plays. All in there are a dozen different performances to entertain you.
My top pick for the weekend is Close Quarters #6 from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Their ambitious series has redefined how classical music can presented in the 21st century. With innovative direction from James Darrah and interesting choices of music, LACO’s series is well worth exploring.
Here are my Best Bets: January 15th – January 18th:
OPERA: The West Is a Land of Infinite Beginnings – LA Opera – January 15th – January 29th
Missy Mazzoli’s opera, Proving Up, had its world premiere in 2018 at the Terrace Theatre in Washington, D.C. and is based on a short story by Karen Russell. Royce Vavrek wrote the libretto. This short film is inspired by the opera.
James Darrah directed this digital short for LA Opera. As he recently told me, “Proving Up is an excerpt, but I didn’t want it to feel like an excerpt. It was an opportunity to lean into 80s/90s counterculture. I’m using all my favorite horror movies. There’s a twist that allows you to think about the mystique of it. Let’s not tell the story of Proving Up, but let’s build mythology around this character and what would he look like in LA in 2021. The West is a Land of Infinite Beginnings is, I hope, a little unexpected.”
This digital short will have its premiere at 2:00 PM EST/11:00 AM PST on Friday, January 15th and remain available for free streaming for two weeks.
JAZZ: Virtual Halston – Cast Party Network YouTube Channel – January 15th: 5:00 PM EST/2:00 PM PST
If you’ve read this column on a regular basis, you know I think there’s no better way to start the weekend than with the charming and delightful Julie Halston and her Friday afternoon salons. Of course, if you’re on the West Coast, you’re getting an early start, but what’s so bad about that?
Her guests this week: jazz musician John Pizzarelli and his wife, actress Jessica Molaskey (Parade).
Mix your favorite cocktail and enjoy and hour of witty repartee and maybe even some music!
JAZZ: Kenny Garrett Quintet – SFJAZZ – January 15th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST
Saxophonist Kenny Garrett announced himself to the world when he was a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1978 (at the tender age of 18) under the direction of Mercer Ellington. He would go on to record with Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw before striking out on his own as a bandleader.
His first album was appropriately entitled Introducing Kenny Garrett in 1985. He’s never needed an introduction since. He’s won one Grammy and has received seven other nominations.
Joining him for this 2019 concert from SFJAZZ are percussionist Rudy Bird, pianist Vernell Brown, Jr., bassist Corcoran Holt and drummer Samuel Laviso.
This concert is party of the Fridays at Five series from SFJAZZ and requires a one-month digital membership ($5) or an annual membership ($60) to watch it.
JAZZ: Thumbscrew – Village Vanguard – January 15th – January 16th
Giovanni Russonello, writing in the New York Times, selected a streaming concert by Thumbscrew in October as one of the 8 Things to Do This Weekend. He described them this way:
“The guitarist and MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson works in all kinds of scenarios, but there’s no better way to get acquainted with her wavy, wiry style than to hear her play with Thumbscrew. In that trio, featuring the drummer Tomas Fujiwara and the bassist Michael Formanek, a playfully sympathetic rapport prevails whether the group is handling jazz standards, Brazilian folk songs or one of the bandmates’ own deceptively precise compositions.”
Doesn’t that sound intriguing? You can find out for yourself as Thumbscrew has two performances streaming from New York’s Village Vanguard this weekend. Each performance is $10.
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Close Quarters #6 – Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra – January 15th – 9:30 PM EST/6:30 PM PST
Two weeks ago, in the first of two Close Quarters films curated by Juan Pablo Contreras, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra released its most ambitious, so far, of this multi-film series. Which makes me all the more excited to see what’s in store from James Darrah and the musicians of LACO in #6 of the series.
Opening the program is the world premiere of Mariachitlán for Piano Four-Hands by Contreras. Also being performed is Seduccíon for flute, clarinet and piano by Miguel del Águila and Tangódromo by JP Jofre.
Performing Mariachitlán is the duo Hocket (composer/pianists Sarah Gibson and Thomas Kotcheff).
If you want to see just the performances without the surrounding filmmaking and storytelling, LACO makes that available on their YouTube channel. I recommend watching the full films.
DANCE: Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” – Center Theatre Group – January 15th – January 17th
In 2019 Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” returned to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. This marked the 20th anniversary of the show’s original run at the theatre.
The ballet uses Sergei Prokofiev’s music, but is set in War-torn England during the Blitz. Ashley Shaw and Andrew Monaghan star.
If you are seeking a traditional ballet, Bourne’s work is not for you. What makes his projects compelling is he is constantly seeking out new ways of telling familiar stories. Bourne has had a long relationship with Center Theatre Group with many of his other projects, including The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands and The Red Shoes having appeared there.
As part of Center Theatre Group’s Digital Stage Plus, they are making a film of this production available for rent. There are five available performances: Friday, January 15th at 8:00 PM PST; Saturday, January 16th at 2:00 PM PST and 8:00 PM PST and Sunday, January 17th at 1:00 PM PST and 6:30 PM PST. Tickets are $10.
OPERA: Romeo & Juliet – San Francisco Opera – January 16th – January 17th
This production of Charles Gounod’s opera, directed by Jean-Louis Grinda, was new to San Francisco Opera when it was performed in 2019 and marked the first time this opera has been performed there in 32 years. Grinda is director at Opéra de Monte-Carlo and this was his American directorial debut.
Starring as Romeo is Pene Pati (who assumed the role after the announced Bryan Hymel withdrew a few days before opening). In the role of Juliet is Nadine Sierra. Additional members of the company were Lucas Meachem as Mercutio, Timothy Mix as Capulet, James Creswell as Friar Lawrence, Daniel Montenegro as Tybalt, Philip Skinner as the Duke of Verona, Stephanie Lauricella as Stéphano and Eve Gigliotti as Gertrude. Yves Abel conducted.
Joshua Kosman, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, said of Pati’s performance, “He’s got a vigorous, full-bodied sound with a lustrous mid-range and glorious, perfectly placed top notes, including one long-held stratospheric closer that would have sounded like showboating if it hadn’t been so magnificent. Pati sings in a gleaming, sensuous stream of sound, with heroic accents in more athletic passages and a warm, tenderly inviting depth for moments of romantic intimacy.”
PLAY: Sinatra: RAW – The Wallis – January 16th – 11:00 PM EST/8:00 PM PST
If you went to central casting for the perfect type to portray Frank Sinatra in 1971, you probably wouldn’t think of hiring a British actor. Richard Shelton, however, had other ideas and put together a show that depicts Sinatra being Sinatra – warts and all – and allows Shelton to shine.
It’s late night in Palm Springs and the singer has had a few too many drinks. He starts to tell stories about his career, the Rat Pack and, of course, sings a few songs.
Press notes indicate that this is a cabaret version of his show. When Sinatra: Raw was reviewed by Donald Huerta for the Times of London, he said, “This solo performance (with pianist) is a mesmerising distillation of Shelton’s talent for inhabiting a showbiz legend. If you are in any way, shape or form a fan or, indeed, want to know more about a complex man, Shelton’s masterful take on Ol’ Blue Eyes is a must-see.”
Tickets are $25 and allow for streaming for 24 hours.
CABARET: Kelli O’Hara with Seth Rudetsky – Seth Concert Series – January 17th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST
If you’ve seen Tony Award-winner Kelli O’Hara on stage in any of the musicals in which she has performed*, you know why any opportunity to hear her glorious singing is one not-to-be-missed. If you haven’t, do yourself a favor and watch this show.
Seth Rudetsky’s concert series performances are not glamorous. She’s in her home and he’s in his on a keyboard accompanying her. They communicate online through their computers. But somehow it all works and makes for some beautiful performances and always good stories.
*The Bridges of Madison County, The King and I, Kiss Me Kate, The Light in the Piazza, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Pajama Game and South Pacific
If you cannot catch the performance live on Sunday, there will be an encore showing Monday, January 18th at 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST. Tickets are $25.
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Mutual Admiration – Gershwin and Ravel – Music@Menlo – January 17th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST
In 1928, composer Maurice Ravel was on a tour of America where he performed several of his works. During his stop in New York, he had a chance to meet George Gershwin. The two shared a keen interest in jazz.
This concert, featuring violinist Kristin Lee and pianist Orion Weiss, looks at their Mutual Admiration from the perspective of the music each man wrote.
The concert comes from Music@Menlo in Atherton, California.
On the program is Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, op. 45; five songs from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess arranged for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz and closes with Ravel’s Tzigane for violin and piano.
Tickets are $25.
CABARET: Pajama Cast Party – Cast Party Network YouTube Channel – January 18th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is so much fun. It’s a shame that we can’t see this wildly entertaining show in person. But he’s putting on his pajamas, as are his guests. And you should, too! Switching to the online format as Pajama Cast Party allows Caruso to continue his show where performers from various genres show up and sing whatever they want.
Joining him on Monday (the show runs every Monday) are Claybourne Elder (the new production of Company that hadn’t officially opened when Broadway was shut down); Capathia Jenkins (Newsies), married opera singers Jessica Fishenfeld (New York City Opera’s Stonewall) and Scott Joiner (San Francisco Opera’s The Secret Garden) and singer/songwriter Susan Werner (composer of the musical Bull Durham).
PLAY: Crowndation – Center Theatre Group – January 18th – 9:00 PM EST/6:00 PM PST
Center Theatre Group is launching a new series called Not a Moment, But a Movement on their Digital Stage. The series centers on Black artists and combines the work of a musician, a theatre artist and a visual artist.
The series gets launched with Angelica Chéri’s Crowndation; I Will Not Lie to David. This one-woman show finds Fatima Seed struggling to define herself at the exact same age her mother was when she passed away. In the course of her journey she uncovers something previously unknown about her father.
Composer Jessica Lá Rep and visual artist Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle are paired with Chéri for this program.
Since Monday is Martin Luther King Day, Center Theatre Group is making this first showing available for free for all viewers. But only this one showing. It’s considered a sneak peak. Beginning on January 21st, the program will be free only for donors and subscribers, $10 for all others.
A few reminders before closing out Best Bets: January 15th – January 18th:
New York’s Prototype Festival concludes on January 16th. There is some terrific programming here. If you’re a bit on the adventurous side, I strongly urge you to check it out.
The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival 2021 concludes on Sunday, January 17th. This festival also has interesting and entertaining options. I strongly recommend the motown project by Alicia Hall Moran. (You can read my interview with her about the show here.)
PlayhouseLive began streaming You I Like – A Musical Celebration of Jerry Herman this week. This is a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes guaranteed to please fans of musicals.
Finally, the Metropolitan Opera concludes a week of productions starring soprano Renée Fleming with Richard Strauss’ Capriccio on Friday; George Frideric Handel’s Rodelinda on Saturday and Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka on Sunday. And here’s a preview of next week since we’re including options for Monday. Next week’s theme is Leading Ladies: Opera’s Greatest Heroines and the week gets started with a 2014 production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen.
That officially ends my Best Bets: January 15th – January 18th. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Enjoy the holiday weekend.
Main Photo: Piano duo Hocket (Courtesy Hocket.org)