The 60-voice choir is backed by the Los Angeles Concert Orchestra.
Scheduled for May 19 and June 21, 22
By BERNICE FOX
Special to Circling the News
Attending a local choral concert can be just the thing to help clear the head of everyday noise. And we’re in luck because this is the middle of what some call Spring Choral Season.
Here are two upcoming concerts of interest that include singers from Pacific Palisades.
First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica – Sunday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.
Imagine a musical mass that will have you tapping your toes and dreaming of a trip to Argentina.
Misa Tango, completed in 1997 by Argentinian composer Luis Bacalov (1933-2017), is part of Sunday’s concert at the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica.
Along with a 60-voice choir and the Los Angeles Concert Orchestra conducted by Dr. James Smith, is guest bandoneon player, Mariano Dugatkin.
The bandoneon is a concertina that provides a signature sound to tango music. (You’ll know it when you hear it!)
While living in his native Buenos Aires, Dugatkin played bandoneon with a variety of tango orchestras. Now that he lives in Los Angeles, he regularly plays with an ensemble called TintoTango. And he’s an orchestra teacher at several schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Also, on the May 19 program is John Rutter’s (b. 1945) Requiem. This major composition was completed in 1985. And like other pieces by this well-loved British composer, it’s melodic, stirring and memorable.
First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica is at 1008 11th Street, Santa Monica with free underground parking across the street. Suggested donation for tickets at the door is $20 for adults, and $10 for seniors and children under 12.
Angel City Chorale – Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, 8 p.m.
Angel City Chorale, which appeared on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ will perform in Santa Monica in June. Photo: Vivian Zink
For those who haven’t seen the Angel City Chorale live in concert because their previous performances were way east of the 405 in the mid-Wilshire district and you couldn’t bring yourselves to fight traffic, you’ll be happy to learn they have a new performance venue. It’s Barnum Hall – the auditorium on the campus of Santa Monica High School.
The 180-voice Angel City Chorale, or ACC, conducted by founder Sue Fink, has chosen an appropriate title for this year’s spring concerts: As Seen on TV.
That’s a reference to their joyous appearances on NBC’s America’s Got Talent last year when they made it all the way to the semi-finals.
As Seen on TV also refers to some of the songs they’ll be performing June 21 and 22, which they sang on America’s Got Talent. They’ll also perform music that celebrates the super-hot TV series, Game of Thrones, as well as a medley of classic TV theme songs. And there will be music from video games.
ACC’s spring concerts also will feature world music, gospel and classical. Plus, at one point, the adult choir will be joined by the Angel City Youth Chorale.
Barnum Hall at Santa Monica High School is at 600 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica. A public parking lot is nearby, next to the Civic Auditorium, though limited parking could be available on the campus.
Advanced tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for seniors and children 5-12. They’re available online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4216394. Unless sold out in advance, tickets will be available at the door on concert nights for an additional fee.