November arrives here in San Francisco and with it the election that has been consuming our media frenzied world.   For some reason I cannot clearly discern, election season reminds me of many opera plots. Perhaps it is because they so often deal with the ruthless pursuit of and transgressions by those seeking ultimate power and the innocent people who are tragically drawn into the vortex of these all consuming conflicts. (Hmmmm…..Does sound like an Opera plot, doesn’t it? Librettos may not be sensible but, hey, neither are humans as far as I can tell)  So…..!!!! Why not celebrate pre-election week with a few of our favorite Opera Characters as they light up the night – illuminating our shared human tragedies through the music of magnificent composers?!

  Come on down to Martuni’s (4 Valencia St., San Francisco)
and
indulge in the best martini in town.
(We promise you a passion filled performance worthy of that 2nd specialty martini)
…sit back and enjoy the company of great composers as we SING for you – what could be better?

November 2nd Performers:
Vismaya Lhi – spinto soprano
Tristan Robben – baritone
Rachel Warner – contralto
and special guests:
Ellen Young –  soprano and Billy Wiggins – tenor
with the extraordinary Osvaldo de Leon Davila at the piano

Verdi, Mascagni and Puccini!
(Il Trovatore, Un Ballo in Maschera, La Boheme and????? )

Admission: Free (with cocktail purchase!)

Opera Cocktail
Ingredients:
1½ ounces gin (use “London” dry gin; see Notes)
½ ounce Dubonnet (the rouge—red—variety)
¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
a dash of orange bitters (optional, but improves the drink, IMO)
twist of orange or lemon peel as garnish (optional)

Opera Cocktale
Ingredients:
3-5 exceptional opera singers
1 – 4 opera scenes (the flaming hot variety)
1-5 arias of exquisite passion and extraordinary range
dash of acting (optional, but improves the experience, IMO)
twist of plot or unexpected ornamentation or high notes as garnish (optional)