Opera Featured by the MacDowell Club

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A dozen divas dazzled and delighted a full house at the Steinway Piano Gallery on November 15th, 2009, when the MacDowell Club of Milwaukee presented a concert entitled "Operatic Options", an afternoon of music by many of the opera world's best known composers.

Organized by soprano Sally Lane Schwarz of Menomonee Falls, (pictured here in her role as Rosario in Goyescas' "The Maja and the Nightingale"), the program featured solos, duets, trios and ensemble pieces from works of Gluch (1714-1787) to Saint-Saens (1835-1921).

Singing a wide range of familiar arias were Enid Bootzin Berkovits of Mequon; Linda Ehlers of Milwaukee; Carol Haywood of Brown Deer; Julie Maurer of South Milwaukee; Judith Pilon of Wauwatosa; and Donna Shriner of Shorewood; with guests Carlie Beaudin of Bayside and Rebecca Carvalho of South Milwaukee.

Sharing the stage were pianists Carla Coonan of Bay View; Shanti Daya of Brookfield; Suzanne Pajunen and Geraldine Thien Stone, both of Wauwatosa; plus flutist Linda Hartig of Waukesha.

The MacDowell Club of Milwaukee is currently celebrating its 100th season and has four more free-to-the-public concerts scheduled through the spring of 2010. Dates and locations are listed on line at macdowellclubmilwaukee.org.

New member auditions will be held on Saturday morning, January 16th, 2010, at Cardinal Stritch University. Details and requirements are available on line at the MacDowell Club's web site above. All classically-trained musicians are welcome.

To make music is one of life's greatest gifts. Whether made alone or with others, it can soothe the heart, lift the spirit, and stir the soul. Sharing this gift with others is at the core of this Club!

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