(Credit: The Verdi Chorus)

The Verdi Chorus will present “A Verdi Puccini Fest” on Nov. 12 and 13, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica.

Audiences will hear passages from “I Lombardi,” “Don Carlo,” “Rigoletto,” “La Traviata,” “La Bohème,” “Turandot,” “Suor Angelica,” “Tosca,” “La Fanciulla del West,” and “La Rondine.”

Soloists include Jamie Chamberlin Granner, Nathan Granner, and Ben Lowe. Anne Marie Ketchum conducts the performances. 

“Both Verdi and Puccini were masters of writing operatic music that was extremely theatrical,” said Ketchum in an official press statement. “Verdi is known for melody, and Puccini is known for dramatically writing for the orchestra with his striking use of colors and rhythm in a rich theatrical style. They are truly deserving of being referred to as two of the greatest opera composers that ever lived.  In terms of the opera chorus, Verdi wrote for the chorus as an actual character and force in what the leading characters were saying and doing, and Puccini wrote musical tones and hues for the chorus to illustrate more deeply the story being told.”