Tuesday, October 6, 2015

We are in the 9th season! October 12th @ 8 p.m.




We are sold out!

9th Season 
Opener   

this coming Monday,
October 12 @ 8 p.m. 


Music & Arts in the Studio

(and Potluck Party)

 

  

The most sensational debut in the eight years of Classical Underground belongs to soprano Delaram Kamareh singing a challenging program of virtuosic coloratura arias last December, which she dispatched with captivating vocal flair and the charismatic stage presence of a born star.  A short time later she stole the show as the pyrotechnic soloist in Tan Dun's "The Water Passion" at Disney Hall.  We are delighted to have Delaram back at CU to perform an aria that should be a knockout: Zerbinetta's "Großmächtige Prinzessin" from Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss, accompanied by Mitsuko Morikawa on piano.  Not to be missed!
Delaram's CU debut youtube link: https://youtu.be/KC9u16_O65o


And that's just one of the delights on this wonderful opening program. Violinist Moni Simeonov and pianist Pepi Pilibossian will perform Ralph Vaughn Williams' ever-popular "The Lark Ascending," in the piano version of its premiere in 1920.

Pianist Eduardo Delgado will bring his lifetime of keyboard wisdom to the ultimate Beethoven piano sonata, Op. 111.
Guitarists Bryan Fasola and Donovan Butez of the Los Angeles Duo will perform classic and contemporary pieces,  La Valse d'Amélie by Yann Tiersen, Arabesque No. 1 by Claude Debussy, and Donovan's own work, Emergency Room. 
And our resident piano virtuoso Harout Senekerimian will perform Scriabin's Fantasie in b minor, op. 28.
 
 
  
 As always - bring your spirits, food and drink for you and your friends to enjoy.  

 


Please RSVP via Paypal through our website by clicking on the button above. WE ARE SOLD OUT!



  
******
We are most grateful to our supportive friends at
for graciously providing us with their incomparable instrument
Model D386.
  

Steinway  

         
******
                   
   
Classical Underground Showcase 

"Pink English Roses" 12"x15" oil on linen
on loan from Maxwell Alexander Gallery 

Classical Underground is proud to showcase the work of one of the leading figures in serious contemporary realism -  Michael Klein.

It's a rare treat to see the works of this superb artist on the West Coast, so when the Maxwell Alexander Gallery of Culver City assembled a sizable collection of his recent still lifes for a show, it was an opportunity not to be missed.

In his work, Michael steps much beyond just the scene in front of him -  he uses his subject matter as the starting point in a personal and complex visual expression. Much like in any great work of ART, it is not the scene that affects us in Michael's works, but the experience brought up by the aesthetics of its presentation and by the level of its execution.

Michael's thoughtfully arranged harmonies balanced just enough by well-decided contrasts, a sensation of space between the shapes of his objects, the delicate transition of colors -- all together bring the poetic feel surrounding Michael's work, delivering a magic sensation and a mood of underlying lament.  His good, "in-its-place" use of impasto, and the combination of decision and spontaneity in well-measured  alla prima passages within a multilayered paint world, create an optical feast for an engaged viewer.

Michael's elegant, fluid and exciting use of paint fully and authentically informed by a cool-headed visual decision making are remarkably rare and welcomed qualities in the field saturated with track-loads of "photo finish" attempting fare on one side, and sloppy trick-chasing on the other.

In his paintings, life just slowed down to remain still, and this is a kind of still life that is very hard to come by. The trembling petals of a flower or wet scales of a fish are transformed into elegies in paint by Michael's work.

Michael Klein's works are sophisticated expressions of a tall order. This is why they will always find themselves at home next to the most sophisticated and highest ART expressions of any style and of any time.


in ART we trust!
The doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m.  Unassigned seating.  Potluck.  Directions and address are below:

405 South to the Harbor 110 South towards San Pedro; Exit Torrance Blvd., Turn Left at the Stop sign; Turn Left on Torrance Blvd /next light/; Continue pass Figueroa Ave, pass Carson Town Center North; 200 yards before next light /which is Main street/ make Left into a driveway to a large parking lot  and proceed to your right. Please note that the gate next to CU will be closed for safety.  The entrance is from the parking lot. The building is on the corer of Main and Torrance. 20795 Main St. Carson, Ca 90745