Google+ LinkedIn YouTube

Magic, Fantasy and Adventure at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Published in the Pasadena Independent

Photo by Terry Miller - Beacon Media News

Photo by Terry Miller – Beacon Media News

Magic, Fantasy and Adventure, the third concert of  Maestro Victor Vener and his California Philharmonic’s 2014 Summer Season, already has people singing praise for the captivating program that mixes suites of music from The Lion King, Beauty & The Beast and The Little Mermaid along with classical masterpieces such as Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue.

Joining the world class orchestra for the concert is the acclaimed 100-plus member-strong Cal Phil Chorale, led for the past seven seasons by the multi-talented Chorus Maestra Marya Basaraba.

Known as “The Voice of Cal Phil,” Cal Phil Chorale is composed of some of California’s best choral singers, whose beautiful sound is the perfect complement to the rich, sumptuous tones of the California Philharmonic.

“I personally select, prepare and deliver the chorus to Maestro Vener as an ‘instrument’! Just as the brass players create a section, as the violins, violas, celli and bass players make up a section; the chorus is section, an instrument that becomes part of the overall ensemble,” said Basaraba, who also operates a private voice studio in Pasadena and serves as the Director of Music Ministries at Grace Lutheran Church and the Choir Director at Temple Akiba, both in Century City, as well as serving as the Resident Chorus Maestra of the Golden State Pops Orchestra among others. “I have a huge roster of singers who have joined us for previous seasons and many of them start writing to me early in the New Year to inquire about the Cal Phil Chorale. It’s very gratifying to have so many people who plan their summer schedules around the Cal Phil season!”

Calling Maestro Vener “a master of programming,” Basaraba reflects on the opening concert of this season which included a fabulous rendition of the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky featuring the Cal Phil Chorale singing in Russian what was originally scored for a cello quartet.

“It was absolutely stunning,” said Basaraba. “I was totally enthralled by the whole work and could not have been more thrilled to have prepared the Chorale for this extraordinary arrangement.”

Cal Phil Chorale duringMagic, Fantasy and Adventure August 3 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. In addition to performing songs from Disney favorites Beauty And The Beast, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, the concert includes a phenomenal arrangement of music from the film, The Mission, in an orchestral suite that features the Chorale.

“Cal Phil Chorale Maestra Marya Basaraba is not only a brilliant Chorus Master but a spectacular soloist,” said Maestro Vener. “She and the Chorale are tremendous assets to the California Philharmonic and to creating many memorable moments in our concerts.”

“From our first collaboration in 2008, the orchestra has been tremendously acknowledging of this Chorale which I can tell you, is quite uncommon,”continued Bsaraba. “The Chorale’s enthusiasm, love and support have been absolutely awesome over the years and never as precious as when I am called to the stage by Victor to share the bow with them either as a solo artist or simply as their Maestra!”

Audiences throughout Southern California have options to attend extremely different experiences of Cal Phil’s one-of-a-kind concerts at two iconic venues; every other Saturday evening at Santa Anita Race Track on the infield with the beautiful unobstructed backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains or Sunday matinees at Los Angeles’ most vaunted music destination, the incomparable Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Source Beacon Media News