An unusual concert to benefit music at Lopez Center

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Extraordinary French Horn soloist, Nels Magelssen, will join our Lopez soprano, Ginni Keith, in a varied and beautiful program on June 3 at 2 p.m. All proceeds will go to Lopez Center for Community and the Arts. Orcas Island’s Patty Johnson will be the pianist for this unique event.

Johnson has been the accompanist for the Orcas Choral Society, Orcas a capella and the Lutheran Church of the San Juans for all of their Orcas and Lopez services.

Magelssen is principal horn for many Seattle area musical groups. He is also a skilled Alphorn player (remember the “Ricola” commercials?).

Keith has been the soprano soloist for two complete performances of “Messiah” with the Victoria Chamber Orchestra. She has also soloed in Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate” and Handel’s “Gloria” with the Island Sinfonia.

The program will include music from many periods and cultures. Especially exciting will be three movements from Benjamin Britten’s “Serenade” for voice and French horn originally written for Britten’s partner, tenor Peter Pears, and legendary hornist Dennis Brain. This beautiful and difficult music is set to moving poetry by the famous English writers, Tennyson, Cotton and Ben Jonson.

The surprise will be a setting of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Huntsman, What Quarry?” Contemporary East Indian composer Simon Sargon has done a masterful job of capturing the emotion and drama of this touching poem, and matching the notes to the words. (Keith is hoping she can sing it without crying!)

Be sure not to miss this one-time-only performance!

Call 468-2203 for tickets, or 468-4422 for further information.