Orchestra’s June 7 show will feature guest soprano soloist

LW ORCHESTRA

The Leisure World Orchestra will feature guest soprano soloist Carol Winston singing popular opera selections at its June 7 concert devoted to theatrical music, held in Clubhouse 2 at 1 p.m. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted.

The San Francisco-born Winston has toured nationally in lead Gilbert and Sullivan roles with Opera a la Carte, and has undertaken major parts in landmark operas such as “La Traviata,” “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni.” Her solo credits include orchestral/ choral works such as Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” and the Mozart “Requiem.”

Winston will perform two works from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, “Mikado,” during the Leisure World concert. She will also sing the “Habanera” aria from “Carmen,” and short selections during a medley of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical theater works.

The June 7 concert’s other soloist is Leisure World resident Yuri Lotakov, a Ukrainian-trained classical pianist. Lotakov will be accompanied by the orchestra as they undertake one of music’s most challenging works, the first movement of Edvard Grieg’s “Concerto in A minor.” Grieg completed his only piano concerto in 1868 at the age of 24, and the first movement, which lasts 14 minutes, remains an ambitious work for the pianist and orchestra performing it.

Lotakov, who performed his first formal concert as a 9-year-old boy 70 years ago, was trained and then taught at Kiev’s Conservatory of Music. He was enjoying a distinguished performing career in Europe and Russia until he petitioned Soviet authorities to emigrate to the United States. He lost his faculty position and his performance tours were halted. However, he found his way to Los Angeles two years later. Lotakov moved to Leisure World in 2020.

During the concert, the orchestra’s artistic director, Linda DeRungs, will also lead the group in performing the “Anvil Chorus” from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” and crowd-favorite “Bugler’s Holiday” by American composer Leroy Anderson.

Refreshments will be served after the performance.