Orcas soprano to sing at Lopez Community Center

When opera emerged in the 16th century, did audience members think this music would still be performed 450 years later? With the invention of so many mediums that produce a wide array of music, it is somewhat of a miracle that opera managed to survive century after century.

By Cali Bagby • October 2, 2013 12:35 pm
Sharon Abreu
Sharon Abreu

When opera emerged in the 16th century, did audience members think this music would still be performed 450 years later? With the invention of so many mediums that produce a wide array of music, it is somewhat of a miracle that opera managed to survive century after century.

For Orcas classical soprano Sharon Abreu, the value of keeping this music alive is just part of what makes her passionate about opera.

“For me, more than the historical importance is the joy of it. Styles of music have gone out of the repertoire and then were rediscovered many years later,” she said. “I feel lucky to live in a time where you can get up and perform any style of music, and there’s centuries of great repertoire to choose from.”

Abreu, shown left, will present “Sun, Moon, Stars and Rainbows: classical songs and arias to delight and inspire” at Lopez Center on Friday Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students.

Marianne Lewis will accompany Abreu on the piano and Linda Slone will join for several songs on the flute.

Abreu has sung as a soloist with Orchestra Seattle and the Seattle Chamber Singers, and with the Orcas Choral Society. She has recently been appointed the vocal coach for the Society. She also starred in the musical “The Taffetas” at Orcas Center. Abreu and her partner Michael Hurwicz have participated in benefit concerts for KLOI. This will be Abreu’s second full-length concert on Lopez

The local soprano will offer an array of songs and arias in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Czech, from Mozart and Puccini, to Samuel Barber and Jake Heggie, with a dash of operetta and Broadway. Abreu even reaches back to “Sweet Bird” from Handel’s “Il Penseroso,” which was composed in 1740, the year before he composed the “MESSIAH.”

Orcas flutist Linda Slone will be featured on “Sweet Bird” and Gounod’s “Sing, Smile and Slumber.

“Many of the songs are under three minutes and I think of them like little pieces of candy that you savor and then they just melt away,” said Abreu.

For more info, visit http://www.sharmuse.com/.