So, we’re in the middle of a thing. My next sentence would normally be “so I decided to do a thing,” but I’m actually pretty proud of my first two attempts here. These are a series of quarantine boredom-induced performances of opera scenes featuring all bass or low baritone parts, starting with the statue scene from Don Giovanni and the Sparafucile duet from Rigoletto. Enjoy!
Author: John T.K. Scherch
Verdi Requiem with the Friday Morning Music Club
You may have noticed it on the calendar; John returns to the Friday Morning Music Club as the bass soloist for their performances of Verdi’s Requiem on January 16th and 18th! Admission is free, but you can reserve your spot and donate to the organization here.
Choral Happenings This Winter
There are some opportunities to see John in an ensemble context coming up (perhaps not a surprise as we near December):
Messiah with the BSO: 12/7-8 at the Meyerhoff
Messiah with Handel Choir: 12/14 at Grace United Methodist Church, 12/15 at St. Mark Church
Old St. Paul’s Church Christmas Concert: 12/15
Amadeus live scoring with the BSO: 1/3-5, at the Meyerhoff and at Strathmore on 1/4
Rachmaninoff All-Night Vigil with Handel Choir: 3/7 at the Baltimore Basilica
Watch this space for more musical goings-on!
Season Update
As the young season has progressed, so has the list of things you’ll be able to see me in!
October 17/20: my BSO acting debut, as the Farmhand in Hindemith’s Sancta Susanna. Thursday evening at the Meyerhoff, Sunday afternoon at Strathmore. Tickets and more info here.
November 1-2: I’ll be the bass soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and Mendelssohn’s Psalm 115 with the Friday Morning Music Club. Performances are at 8 PM at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in DC. More info here.
March 7, 8, 14, 15: the world premiere of Frances Pollock and Robert Misbin’s new opera Briscula the Magician, in which I will perform the role of Man from the City, with Bel Cantanti. Performances are at the Randolph Road Theater in Silver Spring. Tickets and more info at belcantanti.com.
April 11, 12, 16-19: a new version, orchestrated for circus ensemble, of Verdi’s Rigoletto with IN Series, in which I will sing Sparafucile. Performances are at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in DC. Tickets and more info here.
John “shined” at Young Vic!
Young Victorian Theatre Company’s “From London to Baltimore” has been a big hit, and John was singled out in this excellent review! You’ve got one more chance to see it, this Sunday at 3 at the Gilman School.
A Return to Young Vic
John returns to the Young Victorian Theatre Company for From London to Baltimore, a greatest-hits show of Gilbert & Sullivan as part 1 of their 50th anniversary celebration. The shows are July 14th, 18th, and 21st at the Gilman School; more information can be found at yvtc.org.
Die Zauberflöte with the Bethesda Summer Music Festival
On June 29th at Bethesda Presbyterian Church, the Bethesda Summer Music Festival presents Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with John in the principal bass role of Sarastro. There are two performances that day, at 2:30 and 7:30. He will also appear in an art song recital and a preview show for the opera on June 22nd.
