Vineyard Touring Opera Company
Thursday, July 31, 7:30 PM
The Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St. Redlands, CA
Vineyard Touring Opera Co. is a non-profit, charitable 501(c)3 corporation established to promote the unique art of the opera and provide opportunities for talented singers, from professionals expanding their repertoire by trying out new roles, to serious amateurs seeking performance opportunities, to young and aspiring talent. It is dedicated to engaging new audiences of live opera with fully staged performances, recitals, lectures, and demonstrations. https://www.vtopera.org/
Music includes pieces from Barber of Seville, La Rondine, Lucia di Lammermoor, Idomeneo, Tosca, Aida, Don Giovanni and Anna Bolena.
Christa Stevens (lyric soprano), has been noted as possessing “a remarkably clear soprano voice with excellent control…” – Nancy Davidian for Singerpreneur and is increasingly in demand as an international artist. She is regularly featured as a soloist for oratorios, cantatas, concerts, and operas with numerous notable organizations. Additionally, she performs with Marco & Marie, a popular duo with tenor Marco Antonio Lozano.
Rae Shrum (mezzo soprano), is recognized for her “agile and enticing” voice and dynamic stage presence. Recent role debuts include Giovanna (Anna Bolena), L’Opinion Publique (Orphée aux enfers), Charlotte (Werther), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), and Hansel (Hansel & Gretel). Shrum has appeared in concert series in Southern California and abroad with Pacific Symphony Outreach, Pacific Opera Project, Leipziger Kammerchor, Long Beach Camerata Singers, and more. Rae trained in Leipzig, Germany under mentorship of internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Elvira Dreßen. She continues her training in Los Angeles with Sunjoo Yeo and Reid Bruton.
Marco Antonio Lozano (tenor), is a tenor of international renown. He has performed extensively in Germany and Austria and has shared the stage with the late Grace Bumbry. Mr. Lozano was a recital curator and performed for Gore Vidal. He holds a Master of Music degree from USC.
Eric Castro (baritone) was guest baritone soloist at Walt Disney Concert Hall three times during 2011: During the last year, Eric also performed the title role of Don Giovanni: As Sam in Berstein’s, ; and as Sharpless, Lescaut, the Count, Marcello and Escamillo with Nevada Opera Theater in Las Vegas; Eric is a regular baritone solo-ist at the annual Handel’s Messiah. He also recently performed as Baritone soloist in two Christmas Oratorios by Bach and by Saint Saens with the orchestra and chorus of Camerata Los Angeles.
Patrick Blackwell (bass) has performed with Los Angeles Ópera for the past six seasons. A Grammy Award winner and Graduate of the Juilliard School, Patrick makes Los Angeles his home base. Other Ópera credits include; San Francisco Ópera, San Diego Ópera, New Orleans Ópera Theater, Ópera National du Rhin (Strasbourg, France), New York City Ópera, Lyric Ópera Chicago, Ópera San Luis Obispo and Pacific Opera Project. Patrick made his LA Philharmonic debut in the spring of 2024 as Don Fernando in Beethoven’s only Opera, Fidelio under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. Other Major Orchestras include; Munich Philharmonic under the Direction of Lorin Maazel, San Diego Symphony, American Symphony (Bard College), Utah Symphony and Utah Ópera. Mr. Blackwell is excited to perform with the Palisades Orchestra. Upcoming roles; Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with Genesis Ópera Theater and Dick Halloran in Paul Merovec’s Ópera, The Shining with Utah Opera.
Agatha Hou (accompanist) studied at the Musickhochschule in Frankfurt, Germany and with Johanna Harris in Los Angeles. She accompanied principals in the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, renowned horn soloist Hanz Pizka, and the Montreal Jazz Ballet. In addition to being a staff accompanist at the University of Redlands, Agatha is also the MTAC Pomona Valley Branch Bach Festival Chair, CAPMT District IX Honors Auditions Chair, Evaluator, Certificate of Merit, MTAC, and an adjudicator for a number of competitions and festivals including SYMF, Bach Festival, and Sonata Festival. Agatha is a member of MTAC CM Syllabus Committee. Agatha is performing member of chamber ensembles, Tuesday Musicale, St. Cecilia, and Dominant Music Club, and also performed at the Liszt Conference in Virginia.