Red Dragonfly Productions Blog

"An American Evening" at the Vallejo Symphony

2008-02-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

I went to the Vallejo Symphony last night and experienced "An American Evening" with works by Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. When we hear the word "classical" we often don't think "American." We think Bach, Brahms, Bartok, Shostokovich -- and the list goes on. One tends to forget the rich tradition of American symphonic music and I thank the Vallejo Symphony for reminding me of my musical heritage.

The program opened with Bernstein's "On The Town: Three Dance Episodes." I talked to some high school students seated near me -- Benicia High School's spring production is "On The Town." These talented kids are already in rehearsal and I'm sure were inspired.

The next piece on the program brought up the evening's featured soloist José Franch-Ballester. He played with verve and nuance as he attacked a piece Copland wrote for Benny Goodman. The cadenza connecting the two movements of the clarinet concerto was pure "Goodman!"

The final piece was Copland's "Appalachian Spring" which Copland wrote for Martha Graham. It includes the beautiful Shaker melody "Tis The Gift To Be Simple." The simple purity of this exquisite melody is yet another piece of our American heritage and to hear it played as Copland heard it and by a full symphony was truly a highlight of the evening.

Mr. Franch-Ballester closed the evening with an encore including the principal violins, viola, cello and bass with a piece by the Argentinian composer, Astor Piazzolla. The haunting piece name "Oblivian" was an homage to the many "disappeared." Mr. Franch-Ballester spoke of the period of Argentina's history when people came home to find their father or their uncle gone -- never to be seen again -- not even to ever have a body to bury - they were taken by their government. The composer wrote this piece to honor and remember the many "desaparecidos." The stage lights came down to a soft glow on the small ensemble as they played a piece of longing for loved ones and the pain of not knowing. The lost voices of the "desaparecidos" will linger with me for a long time.

His choice of this encore demonstrates the power and relevance of classical music -- no one who heard this piece walked away without know the pain of a society losing their brothers and fathers and mothers and aunts and uncles and cousins to a brutal government. You can read books and tomes and essays on the plight of the "desaparacidos," or you can listen to this piece.

The Vallejo Symphony is a first class, professional, regional symphony. Congratulations to Maestro David Ramadanoff for your 25 years of leadership!

Chava Alberstein at Napa Valley Opera House on December 8, 2007

2007-12-02T13:07:00.003-08:00

I have six pairs of tickets to give away to see Chava Alberstein at the Napa Valley Opera House this Saturday, December 8th. Teri Stevens, the marketing director for the opera house, has very kindly given me tickets for fans of Red Dragonfly Productions. Please email me if you'd like to see the show.

As much music as I listen to and experience, there always seems to be a new name. Chava is just one of these jewels. She is a Israeli singer with a warm tenor voice and over 50 recordings to her credit.

"Even though I have lived in Israel nearly my entire life, I am constantly questioning my place in the world," said Alberstein. "Maybe this searching comes from being an artist, maybe it comes from being a Jew. I'm not really sure." Chava Alberstein

Although Chava is surely Israel's greatest singer, she is a singer of universal appeal. She sings tender love songs to defiant songs about peace and oppression. There are prayerful songs celebrating the beauty of the human form and more melancholy songs about loss, poverty, and solitude.

“…Despite the fact that all songs are in Hebrew, Alberstein easily cuts across linguistic and cultural barriers. In terms of style and delivery, she should garner comparisons to such artists as Leonard Cohen, Warren Zevon or Elvis Costello…”
Review on "End of the Holiday", Billboard Magazine

“ Alberstein’s quivering tenor is sublimely expressive, full of pathos when caressing a ballad, frisky when riding the crest of a traditional dance tune.”
Marc Weingarten, Entertainment Weekly

“Chava Alberstein possesses a rare combination of passion, sensitivity, anger, and intellect.”
Christina Roden, Amazon.com

This is going to be a special evening of music with an extraordinary singer. I'll be there. Please join me!

For tickets go to www.nvoh.org or call the Box Office at 707.226.7372

Benefit For Comic With Cancer at Pepperbelly's

2007-11-30T23:32:00.000-08:00

“Amazing Grace” show helps ailing woman

Some of you may remember Grace White from our recent comedy benefit for the Benicia Vallejo Humane Society. Grace is known as the "hippie" comic. She came to comedy late in life and has enjoyed a second career making people laugh. She was very funny and a delight to meet.

Grace was recently diagnosed with cancer and is having a hard time. Rich Freedman from the Vallejo Times Herald, Pepper Belly's and many of Grace's comedy friends are coming together to help her out. I assure you a wonderful night of good laughs and good hearts. Please join us!

Bay Area stand-up comics Johnny Steele and Bob Sarlatte plus national headliner Rocky LaPorte are among the comics performing Thursday, January 24th at 7:30 pm.

The show, “Amazing Grace: Comics Unite to Fight Cancer,” at Pepper Belly’s Comedy and Variety Theatre in Fairfield, will help stand-up comic Grace White, a resident of Colfax in the Gold Country.

Steele, a past winner of the San Francisco Stand-Up Competition, joins Sarlatte, a veteran San Francisco comic, voice actor and pubic address announcer for the San Francisco 49ers.

Other comics confirmed include LaPorte, voted “Best Male Comic of the Year” by the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau, Aundre the Wonderwoman, Howie Nave of “The Improv” in Lake Tahoe, Fairfield comedian Clark Taylor and Pine Sol lady, Diane Amos.

Howie Nave, the host and producer of the Improv at Harvey’s in South Lake Tahoe and host of the “Howie’s Morning Rush” morning show on KRLT in Tahoe, also appears.

Rocky LaPorte says “While some of us are long-time friends of Graces’s, some haven’t even met her. But we understand what it is to go without health insurance or go without being able to pay some bills. This show won’t only help her financially, but, hopefully, lift her spirits."

Other comics are expected to be added later.

General admission tickets for the 7:30 pm show are $20 and on sale at Pepper Belly’s. Call 707.422-SHOW or www.pepperbellys.com for tickets and information.

House of Floyd back at Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre

2007-11-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

The House of Floyd show at Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre on November 3rd was so well received that we've already scheduled to bring it back on November 8, 2008! How's that for planning ahead? This show brought a laserium quality laser show, video, lights and live music to Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre and delivered a stunning multimedia package with live music. I'm still getting emails and phone calls from people in the audience that night. This show is the most complex show I produce. There was a moment after loadin -- when equipment, instruments and cables were covering the stage. There were technicians and roadies and musicians and venue staff everywhere and I thought --- "Are we going to put this all together in time?" At other times, as I tried to keep out of everyone's way, I thought "What were you thinking? Why don't you produce comedy shows? A chair, a mic.....it's so easy!" But, come 8 pm and, of course, all was well. Thank you to House of Floyd for being such a great band to work with, and thank you to the technical staff of Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre. Everyone came together and the show was wonderful!

The Empress Theatre in Vallejo

2007-11-25T16:31:00.001-08:00

I finally got a chance to see the inside of The Empress Theatre in Vallejo. I've been hearing good things about The Empress and it's all true! The Empress has been beautifully restored to it's glory. It just goes to show what a few million dollars can do! My hats off to all involved in this restoration. You can be proud.

The Majestic Theatre in Benicia is not going to be available to rent for the next 3 months. Robert is taking a break from renting the theatre through the winter so the opening of The Empress couldn't happen at a better time for me. I spoke with Robert last week and he'll let me know as soon as The Majestic is available to rent, but for now -- there aren't going to be any shows at The Majestic Theatre. We've certainly had some memorable shows with some wonderful artists -- Steve Freund, Tommy Castro, Maria Muldaur, Johnny Ace, Cathy Lemons, Pork Pie Phillips, Alvon, Mz. Dee, Stef Burns, Kenny Saydak, The Alameda Allstars, The Detroit Disciples, The Volker Strifler Band, The Bud E. Luv Trio, Bill Haley's Original Comets, VOENA, The David Thom Band, Craig Horton, The Suburban Comedy Tour, George Winston, House of Floyd and Antsy McClain and The Trailer Park Troubadours....

I'd like to thank Robert, the owner of The Majestic, for two wonderful years of shows at The Majestic!