Monthly Archives: January 2008

Melanie Alpert appears in The King and I

By Melanie Alpert | Events , violin

Many of you have expressed interest in attending Melanie’s performance of Lady Thiang, in the Performance Riverside production of The King and I. Also appearing in the production are Alpert Studio students Michael Sturgis and Gracie Unger.

Evening and matinee performances are scheduled between Feb 1st – Feb 10th, 2008 at Landis Auditorium on the campus of Riverside City College.

Because your are all considered friends and family, you are eligible for discounted tickets to the performances. Just call the box office at (951) 222-8100 and mention the code “PUZZLEMENT” along with the name “Melanie Alpert.” You will receive a 20-25% discount.

I think it will be a wonderful show; we hope many of you can attend!

For additional information here’s a link to the Performance Riverside website

Studio 2008 Updates

By billalpert | violin , voice

Voice and Violin lessons will resume this week! Your lesson will be at your regular scheduled time, unless otherwise discussed. If you are unsure about your lesson time, please call or e-mail as soon as possible.

Note from Melanie Alpert to Voice Students:
Please try to be flexible during the month of January. Because of my rehearsal schedule, some lesson times may need to be rearranged. I’ll do my best to find a convenient time for everyone.

SCVA Participants Reminder:
This year’s competition will be held on Saturday, January 12 at 9:00 a.m. Location: at the recital hall at 10722 Arrow Rte., Suite 104, Rancho Cucamonga

Note to Violin Students from Bill Alpert:
The violin studio is going to a flat monthly tuition rate. The monthly tuition will include approx. 45 lessons per year and all recital fees. Note that the tuition rate for each month will remain the same whether there are 4 or 5 weeks in the month. For continuing students, the monthly rate will be equivalent to the cost of 4 regular lessons. Please read my complete studio policies which includes information about cancellations, studio requirements and more.

Let’s all plan and enjoy and musically exciting and rewarding 2008. See you soon!

An opera to save the world

By billalpert | The Kitchen Sink

A scene from Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” (courtesy Metropolitan Opera)

Richard Wagner’s epic The Ring is a collection of four operas that have inspired concert goers, film makers, film composers, artists of all manner and even soldiers in combat for 150 years. It’s twenty hours of music that encapsulate legend, love, war, incest, racism and even the creation of the universe.

Productions of this mammoth work are legend in themselves. People plan for years and travel thousands of miles to attend. The mother of all Ring productions can be experienced at a specially built opera house in Bayreuthe, Germany, where Wagner staged his original production. You’ll need to buy your tickets early, maybe a couple of years early. Seats are running about $2000 each, per opera. Yes, a trip for two including air fare should be easily doable for only about $25,000 🙂

In case you don’t have the 25K, here’s plan B:

Find a quiet hour, brew a cup of tea, pull up a comfy chair and point your browser to the WNYC public radio podcast The Ring and I. It’s a fabulous production from WNYC’s Radio Lab. I’m a regular listener to this fine series, and this particular podcast is one of the best shows about classical music I’ve ever heard. You can download the mp3 here!

It’s extra credit for all Alpert Studio students, and a great way to introduce your non-musical friends to opera. Let us know what you think!