Pacific Opera Project

Barber of Seville – Pacific Opera Project

| Chris

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Looking forward to performing a secondary role with Pacific Opera Project in their upcoming production of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”.

After a busy summer of singing Don Jose in Bizet’s masterpiece “Carmen”, filling in as a last minute Alfredo Germont for a company in need of a tenor for Verdi’s “La Traviata” and then taking part in a wonderful series of master classes in Beverly Hills with Maestro Peter Mark … Christopher is very much looking forward to the fun and hilarity that has been every POP production he has been involved in.

If you want to laugh all night long at what will be an amazing cast while hearing beautiful music and talented singers … you can buy your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=pop

CA-W

Reviews in for Mozart vs. Salieri

| Chris

5716f27c712b3-pacific-opera-project-s-mozart-vs-salieri-review-1Our run is over and we had such fun working/playing together on and off the stage. Once again Pacific Opera Project walks that tiniest of tight ropes between supremely professional and irreverently fun … in my opinion this is why so many talented singers want to sing for them.

So kudos to the people who put it all together: Josh Shaw, Stephen Karr, Kaitrin Kinnare, Maggie Green, Gabriela Villalobos, Kylene Johnson and everyone who pitched in to set up and tear down those stages and sets night in and out!

You make opera fun … bravissimi tutti!

Bravissimi anche to the stellar cast of singers I was privileged to sing with: Tracy Cox, Brooke deRosa, Karen Hogle Brown, Justine Aronson, Andy Papas and Alex Charlie Boyd. You all were amazing and wonderful to work with.

Here are some links to reviews and quotes I was grateful to receive:

“The tenor voice and comedic talent of Christopher Anderson West added to the setting of the stage for the appearances of competing sopranos.”

“Dueling sopranos played by Karen Hogle Brown and Brooke deRosa finally arrive on the set as two divas being courted by an opera patron (played  elegantly by Christopher Anderson-West), and things heat up.”

*******

Next up: Don Jose in Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen, with Celestial opera this June. Rehearsals begin today and I am embracing the drastic shift from comedy to tragedy/drama! 😉

CA-W

  • photo by Martha Benedict

Mozart VS. Salieri – Pacific Opera Project

| Chris
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From left to right: tenor Christopher Anderson-West, soprano Karen Hogle Brown, baritone Andy Papas and soprano Brooke deRosa.

Well, we just finished our closing weekend of Mozart vs. Salieri … it was a great run with sold out shows throughout. Pacific Opera Project puts on an awesome show every time they go! 🙂 This was a recreation of an actual contest put on by Joseph II, here is the description from Mozart.com:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was widely known in Vienna, but the coveted permanent employment as court composer at the imperial court of Joseph II was held by the older Antonio Salieri. The natural competition between the two musicians was the talk of the Viennese society and, unsurprisingly, an idea of Emperor Joseph II in spring 1786 was the talk of the day.

The emperor invited both musicians to participate in a public opera competition. Both were to compose a one act opera, to be performed consecutively. Both works told the stories of intrigues at the opera. The occasion was a visit of Joseph’s sister Archduchess Marie Christine and her husband, Duke Albrecht von Sachsen-Teschen, from Brussels. The competition was to be held in front of hundreds of guests during a spring festival at the orangery of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

Mozart had to compose the musical comedy “The Impresario”, Salieri an Italian opera buffa – “Prima la musica e poi le parole”. It was a splendid evening for the guests in the tropical atmosphere of the orangery, great food was served and the high society amused itself – unfortunately, at Mozart’s expense.

Here is the link to the video of the operas, both comedic one acts featuring the behind the scenes action of conductors, impresarios and the singers they “work with”. Make some popcorn and get ready to laugh:

Next up on my slate is Don Jose for Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen, with Celestial Opera. Enjoy the show!

CAW

Another Spring Opera Addition

| Chris

I have so enjoyed being a part of The Merry Widder with Pacific Opera Project … it will be a fantastic show full of laughs, dancing and beautiful music. You won’t want to miss it!

I am also pleased to announce that I will be singing the tenor role in POP’s next production as well! It will be a recreation of the “contest” put on by Joseph II between Mozart and Salieri … “The Impresario” vs. “Prima la musica, e poi le parole”.

In the meantime I am also working on Don Jose for Carmen, by Bizet, and rehearsals will begin just a couple of weeks after this new opera ends. So LOTS of music and memorization … no complaints here! I am happy to be busy making music!
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Cast for Mozart vs. Salieri production in featured pic: Andy Papas, Alex Boyd, Tracy Cox, Justine Aronson, Brooke deRosa, myself and Karen Hogle Brown. show less