Theater: Cultural Events

A New Relationship With Art
The 2025 Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour
May 2 – 4, 2025, Daily hours 10am – 5 pm.

Spring in the spectacular Mid-Columbia Gorge and the 2025 Gorge Artists Open Studios tour go hand in hand! The Gorge Artists Open Studios tour continues to be a much anticipated and beloved yearly art event- proudly in its 19th year! The tour continues to grow, with a consistent yet ever changing array of participating artists. A unique energy emerges each year.

A free, self-guided event, visitors are invited to find a new relationship with art as they experience first hand the creative talents of 48 artists and artisans in 42 studios, up close and personal. There is much to explore with art for every visitor’s taste and discovery – painting, pastel, watercolor, ink, printing, photography, ceramics, basketry, woodworking, fiber and textiles, jewelry, enamel and more.

For additional information, visit gorgeartists.org . Find a brief introduction to all the participating artists, examples of their work, a map and directions to their studios.

About Gorge Artists
Gorge Artists is a nonprofit 501(c3). Its mission is to advance and encourage artists in the Columbia River Gorge by building community among artists and the public, promoting art and business education, and providing opportunities for the public to experience and enjoy art.

Join Festival Chorale Oregon for a concert of Magnificent Magnificats. The Magnificat (“My soul magnifies the Lord”) is one of the most ancient Christian hymns and has been set to music by numerous composers. This performance will present two of the most well-known versions. J.S. Bach’s Magnificat is considered one of the grandest illustrations of his genius and is one of his most popular vocal works. John Rutter’s Magnificat is a modern masterpiece that builds on the structure of Bach’s version while incorporating elements of Latin American music and that region’s jubilant celebration of Mary. Soloists Nicole Peldyak, Emily Evelyn Way, Hannah Penn, Les Green, and Brett Peldyak join the chorale and orchestra led by Founding Artistic Director Dr. Solveig Holmquist. Supported by a grant of Transient Occupancy Tax from the City of Salem.

Oregon Repertory Singers audiences are well aware of the beauty and power of the music of Ēriks Ešenvalds. His setting of Sara Teasdale’s Stars for choir and tuned wine glasses, which ORS sings every year at Glory of Christmas, creates the indelible feeling of floating in the heavens surrounded by music. In 2012 ORS became the first American choir to host this inspiring composer for the United States premiere of Passion and Resurrection. In the years since, Ešenvalds has become one of the most prominent choral composers in the world. We are honored to host him in Portland again for the Northwest premieres of several of his major works including In Paradisum for choir, viola, and cello; Seneca’s Zodiac (on a text by the Roman Stoic poet); and three new works using texts by Oregon’s poet laureate emerita, Paulann Petersen.

For tickets and more information, visit orsingers.org.

Coastal Voices, the 52-voice premier community choir of the central Oregon coast, presents “Holiday Homecoming,” a concert of diverse selections celebrating the festive December season. In Part I of the performance, the spotlight is on music for Kwanzaa, Solstice, and Chanukah. An audience sing-along follows the intermission (lyrics to seasonal favorites provided.) Christmas is the focus of Part II, featuring sacred and secular selections honoring the holiday. SoundWaves, the smaller ensemble drawn from the larger group, also performs several songs. Tickets for the raffle of song-themed gift baskets are available for purchase before the concert and at intermission.

Tickets available at coastal-voices.org or at the door. 17 and under free at all venues. Senior discount made possible by grants from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contributions Fund and the Robert D. & Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust.

Cost:

17 & under: free

Adults 18 – 54: $25

Seniors 55+: $20

In anticipation of their upcoming tour to Spain, ISing Choir, under the direction of Stephen Galván, will present a colorful program featuring music from the Americas. The concert will begin with a fiery rendition of Psalm 150 from Brazil by Ernani Aguiar followed by a sacred prayer in double choir formation, “O sacrum convivium” by Antonio de Salazar. Antonio de Salazar is a little-known composer who worked in Mexico in the early 1700s. Also on the program are the dramatic “The Conversion of Saul” by Randall Stroope, and the heartrending “Even When He is Silent” by Kim André Arnesen.

The second half will feature Christopher Tin’s “Wild Swans,” the tango “Noche de Lluvia” and a vibrant arrangement of a Hispanic folk song, “La Llorona.” The concert will conclude with Pacific Northwest composer Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night,” a choral gem filled with beauty and wonder. International concert pianist Yvonne Yang will join ISing.

For tickets and more information, visit isingchoir.org.

Groundhog Day: The Musical tells the tale of Phil Connors (Travis Bilenski), a cynical TV weatherman from Pittsburgh. He is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the small, isolated town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his producer Rita (Madison Curtis) and cameraman Larry (Keaton Fields), Phil discovers that he is seemingly destined to relive Groundhog Day in an endless loop, unless he finds a way to break the cycle. As each day unfolds in exactly the same manner, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Yet, is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences? Will he ever unlock the secret to breaking the cycle?

For tickets and more information, visit lakewood-center.org.

Dress to impress for the prom of your dreams! With full-energy rock tributes including hits like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Footloose,” “Dancing Queen,” and more performed by your Oregon Symphony, this prom night is certainly going to be a night to remember. Relive the glory days or make new memories with an evening of timeless Prom tunes, silly photo opportunities, and the crowning of a King & Queen!

For tickets and more information, visit orsymphony.org. 

Artists
Raúl Gomez-Rojas, Conductor
Oregon Symphony

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama returns to the McCaw Hall stage in a classic production that “has just about everything: great tunes, desperate lovers, loads of action, and a bad guy you’re going to love to hate” (The Seattle Times). Two lovers are thwarted by the power-hungry Scarpia while the fiery prima donna Tosca is pushed past sanity when her only hope for freedom means submitting to the evil Baron’s lecherous desires.

“Vocally perfect” (Broadway World) soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea (Alcina ’23, Don Giovanni ’21, Carmen ’19) and the “gleaming soprano” (Opera Warhorses) of Lianna Haroutounian (Madame Butterfly ’17) return to McCaw Hall as Floria Tosca. As Cavaradossi, the “warm, rich tenor” (Bachtrack) of Rame Lahaj alternates with “ardent tenor and an impassioned actor” (The Seattle Times) Yonghoon Lee, who returns to Seattle after his debut as Samson (Samson and Delilah in Concert ’23).

A New Relationship With Art
The 2025 Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour
May 2 – 4, 2025, Daily hours 10am – 5 pm.

Spring in the spectacular Mid-Columbia Gorge and the 2025 Gorge Artists Open Studios tour go hand in hand! The Gorge Artists Open Studios tour continues to be a much anticipated and beloved yearly art event- proudly in its 19th year! The tour continues to grow, with a consistent yet ever changing array of participating artists. A unique energy emerges each year.

A free, self-guided event, visitors are invited to find a new relationship with art as they experience first hand the creative talents of 48 artists and artisans in 42 studios, up close and personal. There is much to explore with art for every visitor’s taste and discovery – painting, pastel, watercolor, ink, printing, photography, ceramics, basketry, woodworking, fiber and textiles, jewelry, enamel and more.

For additional information, visit gorgeartists.org . Find a brief introduction to all the participating artists, examples of their work, a map and directions to their studios.

About Gorge Artists
Gorge Artists is a nonprofit 501(c3). Its mission is to advance and encourage artists in the Columbia River Gorge by building community among artists and the public, promoting art and business education, and providing opportunities for the public to experience and enjoy art.

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama returns to the McCaw Hall stage in a classic production that “has just about everything: great tunes, desperate lovers, loads of action, and a bad guy you’re going to love to hate” (The Seattle Times). Two lovers are thwarted by the power-hungry Scarpia while the fiery prima donna Tosca is pushed past sanity when her only hope for freedom means submitting to the evil Baron’s lecherous desires.

“Vocally perfect” (Broadway World) soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea (Alcina ’23, Don Giovanni ’21, Carmen ’19) and the “gleaming soprano” (Opera Warhorses) of Lianna Haroutounian (Madame Butterfly ’17) return to McCaw Hall as Floria Tosca. As Cavaradossi, the “warm, rich tenor” (Bachtrack) of Rame Lahaj alternates with “ardent tenor and an impassioned actor” (The Seattle Times) Yonghoon Lee, who returns to Seattle after his debut as Samson (Samson and Delilah in Concert ’23).

Groundhog Day: The Musical tells the tale of Phil Connors (Travis Bilenski), a cynical TV weatherman from Pittsburgh. He is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the small, isolated town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his producer Rita (Madison Curtis) and cameraman Larry (Keaton Fields), Phil discovers that he is seemingly destined to relive Groundhog Day in an endless loop, unless he finds a way to break the cycle. As each day unfolds in exactly the same manner, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Yet, is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences? Will he ever unlock the secret to breaking the cycle?

For tickets and more information, visit lakewood-center.org.

From festive birdsong and thunderstorms to harvest celebrations and tranquil snowfall, Vivaldi’s wildly popular Four Seasons represents Baroque music at its most cinematic. Start the holiday season with this timeless classical favorite performed by your Oregon Symphony.

For tickets and more information, visit orsymphony.org. 

Program
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Violin Concerti
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

Artists
Deanna Tham, Conductor
Keiko Araki, Violin
Inés Voglar Belgique, Violin
Erin Furbee, Violin
Chien Tan, Violin

In anticipation of their upcoming tour to Spain, ISing Choir, under the direction of Stephen Galván, will present a colorful program featuring music from the Americas. The concert will begin with a fiery rendition of Psalm 150 from Brazil by Ernani Aguiar followed by a sacred prayer in double choir formation, “O sacrum convivium” by Antonio de Salazar. Antonio de Salazar is a little-known composer who worked in Mexico in the early 1700s. Also on the program are the dramatic “The Conversion of Saul” by Randall Stroope, and the heartrending “Even When He is Silent” by Kim André Arnesen.

The second half will feature Christopher Tin’s “Wild Swans,” the tango “Noche de Lluvia” and a vibrant arrangement of a Hispanic folk song, “La Llorona.” The concert will conclude with Pacific Northwest composer Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night,” a choral gem filled with beauty and wonder. International concert pianist Yvonne Yang will join ISing.

For tickets and more information, visit isingchoir.org.

With a career spanning nearly three decades, the multiple Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet has achieved international recogni tion as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. The Quartet is known for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often-daring repertory choices. Having served as quartet-in-residence at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music for the past decade, the Quartet also leads the Center for Advanced Quartet Studies at the Aspen Music Festival and School, and was previously the quartet-in residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2021, the Pacifica Quartet received a second Grammy Award for Contemporary Voices, an exploration of music by three Pulitzer Prize-winning composers: Shulamit Ran, Jennifer Higdon, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

Cost: $40

This concert is Charlie Chaplin’s classic silent film The Gold Rush with live music performed by the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Michael Kissinger.  Premiered in 1925, The Gold Rush is considered Chaplin’s greatest silent film, and made him an international star.  Set in the 1890’s Alaskan Klondike Gold Rush, Chaplin is a poor, lonely prospector, who ventures north in hope of finding fortune.  Through his comedic adventures he fights villains, falls in love with a beautiful girl, strikes it rich, and sails home from Alaska, a millionaire!

Cost:

Adults: $35

Students age 18 & younger: free

Oregon Repertory Singers audiences are well aware of the beauty and power of the music of Ēriks Ešenvalds. His setting of Sara Teasdale’s Stars for choir and tuned wine glasses, which ORS sings every year at Glory of Christmas, creates the indelible feeling of floating in the heavens surrounded by music. In 2012 ORS became the first American choir to host this inspiring composer for the United States premiere of Passion and Resurrection. In the years since, Ešenvalds has become one of the most prominent choral composers in the world. We are honored to host him in Portland again for the Northwest premieres of several of his major works including In Paradisum for choir, viola, and cello; Seneca’s Zodiac (on a text by the Roman Stoic poet); and three new works using texts by Oregon’s poet laureate emerita, Paulann Petersen.

For tickets and more information, visit orsingers.org.

Get ready to dive into the intense emotions of Robert Schumann’s Manfred Overture. Based on a poem by Lord Byron, you’ll feel the great suffering from supernatural forces that he detailed in his dramatic 1817 work.

Then, experience the resilience in Ruth Gipps’s Second Symphony, written during WWII. Reflecting its time, this symphony is like a musical journey from struggle to triumph that leaves you feeling hopeful and strong.

Valerie Coleman’s Tracing Visions is powerful and thought-provoking, addressing the ugliness of hatred of apathy and violence and means to reinforce the profound truth that we are all one people and should strive to create a safe and compassionate world.

Finally, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring young pianist Hansen Barrett, feels like a burst of sunshine with its cheerful melodies, like the light at the end of the tunnel after so much grief.

It is a program to inspire — to move and encourage us all to continue in our search for beauty and hope.

For tickets and more information, visit portlandyouthphil.org. 

Coastal Voices, the 52-voice premier community choir of the central Oregon coast, presents “Holiday Homecoming,” a concert of diverse selections celebrating the festive December season. In Part I of the performance, the spotlight is on music for Kwanzaa, Solstice, and Chanukah. An audience sing-along follows the intermission (lyrics to seasonal favorites provided.) Christmas is the focus of Part II, featuring sacred and secular selections honoring the holiday. SoundWaves, the smaller ensemble drawn from the larger group, also performs several songs. Tickets for the raffle of song-themed gift baskets are available for purchase before the concert and at intermission.

Tickets available at coastal-voices.org or at the door. 17 and under free at all venues. Senior discount made possible by grants from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contributions Fund and the Robert D. & Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust.

Cost:

17 and under: free

Adults 18 – 54: $20

Seniors 55+: $15

Program:
Mendelssohn: Athalia Overture
Barber: Violin Concerto – Guest Artist Anthea Kreston
Holst: The Planets

Pre-concert talk by Director, Jonathan DeBruyn 3PM

The Planets is a brilliant and dramatic symphony with movements representing all the known planets at the time it was written. It’s an ambitious masterpiece requiring many instruments including 6 timpani, 2 harps, celeste, numerous percussion, horns, woodwinds, strings, and a female choir for Neptune – the Mystic, the last haunting movement.
In a search for a female treble chorus, Sunnyside Symphony Orchestra Director, Jonathan DeBruyn heard recordings of Pride of Portland (PoP) Sweet Adelines chorus, and reached out to its Director, Drew Osterhout. PoP is an a capella chorus performing close four-part harmony primarily in the barbershop style. The clear, careful vocalization was what Jonathan was looking for. Although a step out of their comfort zone, Drew jumped at the chance for an exciting musical adventure. While Jonathan was busy finding instrumentalists to fill the orchestration, Drew reached out to various community choruses for more soprano and alto singers, building a PoP and Friends chorus.
The Planets requires the chorus to be off-stage while singing to give the feeling of angelic voices. This means also finding a way to coordinate the two directors during the piece as well as figure out how to fit all the instruments on the stage.
This truly ambitious concert will also include the Violin Concerto by Samuel Barber with Guest Artist, Anthea Kreston, the terrific first violin of Oregon’s renowned Delgani Quartet.

Finishing their 2025 spring performances, Blueprint brings a unique concept within the choral and theatrical arena:
letting the audience choose what comes next!

With provided handheld digital devices, the audience will get opportunities to select/vote
— at numerous junctures in this original spy thriller —
which path the main characters will take next!

Backed by a fast-paced plot, audio and visual enhancements,
and (of course) an amazing soundtrack,
the jukebox-musical-style Choose-Your-Adventure-Now show
packs fun and quirky elements together with a fully choreographed show,
and of course the choral harmonies that the organization highlights at every show!

THE STORY (in a sentence or two):
Random major fires have been springing up along the West Coast,
and no agency knows what is causing them!
The source behind them could threaten the very fabric of the entire nation!

Come be part of our team of field analyst detectives helping figure out this mystery, and decide what our agents do next, with a slammin’ pursuit soundtrack, which could include (depending on the path chosen)…

• Themes from James Bond films!
• Barber’s Agnus Dei
• Holding Out For a Hero!
• Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide
• Trousdale’s Wouldn’t Go Back
• Both Sides of the Coin from Drood
• You’re Nothing Without Me from City of Angels
• The Riddle from Powers
• Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen

Oh, and much, much more!

Grab your x-ray specs and your martini for a musical journey of mystery and intrigue!
So come and be a part of the show, and a part of the story!

May 6, 7pm – Montavilla Church
9204 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97216

• TAILLEFERRE – String Quartet
• GLIÈRE – Eight Pieces for Violin and Cello (Bass), Op. 39
• SCHUBERT – Sonata (Duo) in A Major, Op. 162 for Violin and Piano
• DVORAK – Terzetto in C major, Op.74
• VAUGHAN WILLIAMS – Piano Quintet in C minor

All concerts are FREE to the public. More information at classicalupclose.org.

All Classical Radio is the official media sponsor of Classical Up Close.

May 7, 7pm – Red Sea Community Church

7535 N Chicago Ave, Portland, OR 97203

• GLIÈRE – Eight Pieces for Violin and Cello, Op. 39
• SHAW – “Limestone and Felt”
• PROKOFIEV – Quintet in G minor, Op. 39
• KODÁLY – Duo for Violin and Cello, Op.7
• SEIBER – Serenade for Winds

All concerts are FREE to the public. More information at classicalupclose.org.

All Classical Radio is the official media sponsor of Classical Up Close.

Groundhog Day: The Musical tells the tale of Phil Connors (Travis Bilenski), a cynical TV weatherman from Pittsburgh. He is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the small, isolated town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his producer Rita (Madison Curtis) and cameraman Larry (Keaton Fields), Phil discovers that he is seemingly destined to relive Groundhog Day in an endless loop, unless he finds a way to break the cycle. As each day unfolds in exactly the same manner, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Yet, is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences? Will he ever unlock the secret to breaking the cycle?

For tickets and more information, visit lakewood-center.org.

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama returns to the McCaw Hall stage in a classic production that “has just about everything: great tunes, desperate lovers, loads of action, and a bad guy you’re going to love to hate” (The Seattle Times). Two lovers are thwarted by the power-hungry Scarpia while the fiery prima donna Tosca is pushed past sanity when her only hope for freedom means submitting to the evil Baron’s lecherous desires.

“Vocally perfect” (Broadway World) soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea (Alcina ’23, Don Giovanni ’21, Carmen ’19) and the “gleaming soprano” (Opera Warhorses) of Lianna Haroutounian (Madame Butterfly ’17) return to McCaw Hall as Floria Tosca. As Cavaradossi, the “warm, rich tenor” (Bachtrack) of Rame Lahaj alternates with “ardent tenor and an impassioned actor” (The Seattle Times) Yonghoon Lee, who returns to Seattle after his debut as Samson (Samson and Delilah in Concert ’23).

Groundhog Day: The Musical tells the tale of Phil Connors (Travis Bilenski), a cynical TV weatherman from Pittsburgh. He is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the small, isolated town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his producer Rita (Madison Curtis) and cameraman Larry (Keaton Fields), Phil discovers that he is seemingly destined to relive Groundhog Day in an endless loop, unless he finds a way to break the cycle. As each day unfolds in exactly the same manner, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Yet, is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences? Will he ever unlock the secret to breaking the cycle?

For tickets and more information, visit lakewood-center.org.

Winner of the 2020 Rome Prize at the American Academy, Katherine Balch is a composer of uncanny expressive and technical prowess whose work has been heard from London to Tokyo to Los Angeles and beyond.

This performance takes place at Alberta Rose Theatre.

For tickets and more information, visit orsymphony.org. 

Artists
Katherine Balch, Composer
Gabriel Kahane, Host
Members of the Oregon Symphony

Percussion is the oldest kind of musical instrument, dating back to the dawn of time when the earliest humans found themselves captivated by the noises made when they hit one object with another. Over the centuries, the ‘percussion section’ has been augmented with other objects that are not music instruments, but can be used to make music—Tchaikovsky’s cannons (1812 Overture), Verdi’s anvils (Il Trovatore), and Mahler’s DIY hammer blow (Symphony No. 6). More recently, composers also used new technology—analog recordings in the musique concrete of the 1940s, and sampling and synthesis starting in the 1980s—to bring sounds found in the wider world into the concert hall. With such a rich and diverse tradition as our touchstone, we’re sure you’ll find this concert makes a glorious noise that is exciting, thought-provoking…and fun. Join us!

Cost: $10-30

Coastal Voices, the 52-voice premier community choir of the central Oregon coast, presents “Holiday Homecoming,” a concert of diverse selections celebrating the festive December season. In Part I of the performance, the spotlight is on music for Kwanzaa, Solstice, and Chanukah. An audience sing-along follows the intermission (lyrics to seasonal favorites provided.) Christmas is the focus of Part II, featuring sacred and secular selections honoring the holiday. SoundWaves, the smaller ensemble drawn from the larger group, also performs several songs. Tickets for the raffle of song-themed gift baskets are available for purchase before the concert and at intermission.

Tickets available at coastal-voices.org or at the door. 17 and under free at all venues. Senior discount made possible by grants from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contributions Fund and the Robert D. & Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust.

Cost:

17 and under: free

Adults 18 – 54 – $20

Seniors 55+: $15

Hannah Penn, contralto
Emma Cowell, soprano

The Salon Series at Ascension Episcopal Parish

Join Dr. Hannah Penn (Willamette University) and Ascension music director Emma Cowell for a lecture-recital on the songs of iconoclastic Baroque singer and composer Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677). Strozzi was among the most prolific and successful Venetian composers of her time, and a brilliant writer for women’s voices – as well as a fearless and determined human being. The recital will be accompanied by Ascension’s Baroque-style tracker organ. A reception will follow the performance.

$20 suggested donation; all are welcome regardless of ability to donate.

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama returns to the McCaw Hall stage in a classic production that “has just about everything: great tunes, desperate lovers, loads of action, and a bad guy you’re going to love to hate” (The Seattle Times). Two lovers are thwarted by the power-hungry Scarpia while the fiery prima donna Tosca is pushed past sanity when her only hope for freedom means submitting to the evil Baron’s lecherous desires.

“Vocally perfect” (Broadway World) soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea (Alcina ’23, Don Giovanni ’21, Carmen ’19) and the “gleaming soprano” (Opera Warhorses) of Lianna Haroutounian (Madame Butterfly ’17) return to McCaw Hall as Floria Tosca. As Cavaradossi, the “warm, rich tenor” (Bachtrack) of Rame Lahaj alternates with “ardent tenor and an impassioned actor” (The Seattle Times) Yonghoon Lee, who returns to Seattle after his debut as Samson (Samson and Delilah in Concert ’23).

Groundhog Day: The Musical tells the tale of Phil Connors (Travis Bilenski), a cynical TV weatherman from Pittsburgh. He is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the small, isolated town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his producer Rita (Madison Curtis) and cameraman Larry (Keaton Fields), Phil discovers that he is seemingly destined to relive Groundhog Day in an endless loop, unless he finds a way to break the cycle. As each day unfolds in exactly the same manner, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Yet, is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences? Will he ever unlock the secret to breaking the cycle?

For tickets and more information, visit lakewood-center.org.

Inspired by a lifelong passion for the sea, Debussy’s La Mer shimmers with orchestral colors in musical portraits of tranquil waves, brewing storms, and the sun’s celestial journey across a radiant sky. And soloist Paul Huang brings his “stylish and polished playing” (Strad) to Korngold’s Violin Concerto, which marries European romanticism with the gilded glamour of Hollywood film scores.

For tickets and more information, visit orsymphony.org. 

Program
Katherine Balch: musica pyralis
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major
Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage 
Debussy: La Mer (The Sea)

Artists
Jun Märkl, Conductor
Paul Huang, Violin

In Giuseppe Verdi’s final opera, inspired by Shakespeare’s Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor, the charismatic (but bankrupt) Sir John Falstaff conspires to seduce two wealthy married women.

After sending identical love letters, Falstaff’s flimsy plan is foiled; Alice Ford and Meg Page hatch a scheme of their own to expose him.

Portland Opera’s unique take on this classic finds our hero traipsing about a 1980s Country Club, brought to life with vivid projections and colorful costumes.

Merriment and mischief are at the heart of the tale as this beloved buffoon endures mishaps and deceptions, ultimately discovering his humility.

With bright and lively melodies and unparalleled polyphonic arrangements, this exuberant masterpiece is widely considered one of the best comedic operas ever written.

Cost: $25 – $150

For tickets and more information, visit portlandopera.org. 

“The French Connection” exhibits delightful works of three well-known composers from their early composing years. Under the direction of guest conductor, Dr. Don Appert, the Tilikum Chamber Orchestra will feature works of French composers Camille Saint-Saëns and Albéric Magnard along with special guest, Ludwig van Beethoven, who had his own unique French connection. Featured works include Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture”, Magnard’s “Suite in Ancient Style”, and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 2 in A minor.

Cost:

Adults: $15; Seniors: $12; Students (and adult student with ID): $5; Children under 12: Free

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama returns to the McCaw Hall stage in a classic production that “has just about everything: great tunes, desperate lovers, loads of action, and a bad guy you’re going to love to hate” (The Seattle Times). Two lovers are thwarted by the power-hungry Scarpia while the fiery prima donna Tosca is pushed past sanity when her only hope for freedom means submitting to the evil Baron’s lecherous desires.

“Vocally perfect” (Broadway World) soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea (Alcina ’23, Don Giovanni ’21, Carmen ’19) and the “gleaming soprano” (Opera Warhorses) of Lianna Haroutounian (Madame Butterfly ’17) return to McCaw Hall as Floria Tosca. As Cavaradossi, the “warm, rich tenor” (Bachtrack) of Rame Lahaj alternates with “ardent tenor and an impassioned actor” (The Seattle Times) Yonghoon Lee, who returns to Seattle after his debut as Samson (Samson and Delilah in Concert ’23).

Inspired by a lifelong passion for the sea, Debussy’s La Mer shimmers with orchestral colors in musical portraits of tranquil waves, brewing storms, and the sun’s celestial journey across a radiant sky. And soloist Paul Huang brings his “stylish and polished playing” (Strad) to Korngold’s Violin Concerto, which marries European romanticism with the gilded glamour of Hollywood film scores.

For tickets and more information, visit orsymphony.org. 

Program
Katherine Balch: musica pyralis
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major
Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage 
Debussy: La Mer (The Sea)

Artists
Jun Märkl, Conductor
Paul Huang, Violin

Groundhog Day: The Musical tells the tale of Phil Connors (Travis Bilenski), a cynical TV weatherman from Pittsburgh. He is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in the small, isolated town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his producer Rita (Madison Curtis) and cameraman Larry (Keaton Fields), Phil discovers that he is seemingly destined to relive Groundhog Day in an endless loop, unless he finds a way to break the cycle. As each day unfolds in exactly the same manner, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Yet, is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences? Will he ever unlock the secret to breaking the cycle?

For tickets and more information, visit lakewood-center.org.

The award-winning Oregon Sinfonietta, now in its 52nd season and conducted by Dr. Donald L. Appert, is a full symphony orchestra of roughly 70 members that draws together community musicians from the greater Portland metro area. The Sinfonietta offers four free concerts per season. On Sunday, May 11, 2025, the orchestra performs Svendsen’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major. In addition, one of this season’s young Concerto Competition winners, Lucy Joo, will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major (“Emperor”). The concert begins at 3:00 at the Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church in Portland. Although donations are always welcome, there is no charge to attend.

Coastal Voices, the 55-voice premier vocal ensemble of the central Oregon coast, presents their spring 2025 concert series “Americana Adventure: Best Foot Forward.” Part I celebrates classic Americana with rhythmic renditions of familiar songs like “Skip to My Lou” and “I Bought Me a Cat,” followed by a nod to sacred traditional works such as “Down In the River to Pray” and the Shaker hymn “Gentle Words.” An audience sing-along follows the intermission (lyrics to folk songs provided.)

Part II showcases modern Americana. Selections including “Animal Crackers,” whimsical poetry by Ogden Nash set to music by Eric Whitacre, and “The Marvelous Toy” by Tom Paxton, appeal to young and old alike. The salute to modern American composers continues with choral versions of “Over the Rainbow” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” among others. SoundWaves, the small ensemble drawn from the choir, performs several pieces.

Tickets for the raffle of song-themed gift baskets are available before the concert and at intermission. Seniors 55+ will receive a $5 discount, sponsored by the Siletz Charitable Contribution Fund and the Robert D. and Marcia H. Randall Trust.

Cost:

17 and under: free

Adults ages 18 – 54: $20

Seniors 55+: $15

Inspired by a lifelong passion for the sea, Debussy’s La Mer shimmers with orchestral colors in musical portraits of tranquil waves, brewing storms, and the sun’s celestial journey across a radiant sky. And soloist Paul Huang brings his “stylish and polished playing” (Strad) to Korngold’s Violin Concerto, which marries European romanticism with the gilded glamour of Hollywood film scores.

For tickets and more information, visit orsymphony.org. 

Program
Katherine Balch: musica pyralis
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major
Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage 
Debussy: La Mer (The Sea)

Artists
Jun Märkl, Conductor
Paul Huang, Violin

 May 13, 7pm – St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church

11265 SW Cabot St, Beaverton, OR 97005

• BEETHOVEN – Piano Trio No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 1
• MENDELSSOHN – String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 44
• BRITTEN – String Quartet No. 2 in C Major Op. 36
• SCHUBERT – Octet in F Major, D. 803

All concerts are FREE to the public. More information at classicalupclose.org.

All Classical Radio is the official media sponsor of Classical Up Close.

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Giacomo Puccini’s melodrama returns to the McCaw Hall stage in a classic production that “has just about everything: great tunes, desperate lovers, loads of action, and a bad guy you’re going to love to hate” (The Seattle Times). Two lovers are thwarted by the power-hungry Scarpia while the fiery prima donna Tosca is pushed past sanity when her only hope for freedom means submitting to the evil Baron’s lecherous desires.

“Vocally perfect” (Broadway World) soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea (Alcina ’23, Don Giovanni ’21, Carmen ’19) and the “gleaming soprano” (Opera Warhorses) of Lianna Haroutounian (Madame Butterfly ’17) return to McCaw Hall as Floria Tosca. As Cavaradossi, the “warm, rich tenor” (Bachtrack) of Rame Lahaj alternates with “ardent tenor and an impassioned actor” (The Seattle Times) Yonghoon Lee, who returns to Seattle after his debut as Samson (Samson and Delilah in Concert ’23).