Songbird Festival

YeYe Suarez

Following a decade of traditional Afro-Colombian dance, YeYe began composing lyrics influenced by the rhythms of the African diaspora in Latin American. Her music incorporates many of the most vibrant Latin musical traditions, including Mexican son jarocho, Cuban son montuno, Colombian cumbia, Venezuelan joropo, Peruvian festejo, Bolivian huayno, Brazilian samba, and Argentinean tango. Through her collaborations with various artists, YeYe seeks greater cultural unification. Her music is an invitation to collective healing through lyrics, theater, music and dance.

For more information on The Red Poppy Art House – Salon Fundraiser Click Here

Conspiracy of Beards

Conspiracy of Beards is a 30-member a capella male choir which performs exclusively the songs of the legendary poet, novelist, and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Inspired by the late performing artist Peter Kadyk and directed by Daryl Henline, the group performs gritty, uplifting renditions Cohen’s songs. Since its foundation in 2003, the choir has performed to dozens of enthusiastic audiences around the San Francisco Bay Area. Notable performances include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco City Hall and the Great American Music Hall, as well as appearances on PBS television station KQED, radio stations KFOG and KPFA, and national radio program West Coast Live. The group became an official non-profit organization in 2006; in 2008, the Beards completed their first mini-tour of the East Coast, performing on radio station WFMU and at several venues in the New York City area, including the Highline Ballroom and the Bowery Poetry Club.

Transforming Cohen’s simple melodies into complex 4 to 5 part harmonies, their sound ranges from tender to robust. One can hear influences of contemporary, jazz, gospel, barbershop, classical and even doo-wop styles in the unique arrangements by chorus members. Using the genius of Cohen’s words, the Beards inspire the audience to ponder personal, political and spiritual life throughout the show, amid laughter and cheers. The songs have real and relatable meaning which affects listeners in an intimate manner. And when sung by a group of sincere gentlemen, it is a rare phenomenon which touches audience members on many levels.

For more information on The Red Poppy Art House – Salon Fundraiser Click Here

Zoltan DiBartolo is a dapper and charming!

Zoltan DiBartolo comes from a long and diverse vocal background that spans 25 years and includes the genres of Opera, Classical, Jazz, Tango, Salsa, Cabaret, and Vaudeville.  His classical singing career began in 1998 as a tenor in Seattle’s Cascadian Chorale, with Brahm’s German Requiem.  In recent years, Zoltan has directed his efforts towards a long-time dream of becoming an opera singer.  His opera debut came in May 2009, with San Francisco’s Goat Hall Productions, in Christopher J. Pratorius’ contemporary opera Roxane de Boveda, Harriet M. Page directing.  His first major role was Shaunard in Virago Theater Company’s La Boheme,Robert Lundy-Paine directing.  Mr. DiBartolo has been a tenor soloist with the prestigious UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus, and also with the UC Berkeley Summer Symphony, in which he performed Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony.

This past winter, Mr. DiBartolo played Enrico Caruso in the contemporary musical The Last Night of the Barbary Coast, written and directed by Jessa Brie Berkner.  In the same season, he sang with Berkeley West Edge Opera in Handel’s Xerxes and The Carmen Fixation, and was the tenor soloist for the Solano Chamber Society’s production of Handel’s Messiah.

In other musical arenas, Zoltan is the singer for San Francisco’s acclaimed Tango Number Nine,  and a featured vocalist in Allison Lovejoy’s Cabaret Classique.

He will be performing in The Red Poppy Arthouse Family Art Program on Thursday, April 21, 2011.

Virago Theatre Company presents Verdi’s soaring opera, La Traviata

Zoli, has two roles in this one– Zoli is playing the larger of the two, Gastone, on April 30th and May 8th (and also for the preview on April 28th), so get your tickets for those nights if you want a little more vitamin Z with your opera…

April 28, 7PM – sliding scale preview $10-$30, Robert Ashens conducting
April 30, 8PM – champagne opening night
May 6, 8PM – Talk Back with Director and cast
May 8, 2PM – Mothers Day event; $40 for special pre-show H’ors d’oevres, Robert Ashens conducting
May 14, 8PM – closing with wine and and cheese from Blacksmith Cellars

Virago Theatre Company presents Verdi’s soaring opera, La Traviata, at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda. Directed by Harriett March Page of Goat Hall Productions, with Musical Direction by Andrew Whitfield, and starring SF Opera member Eileen Meredith, with Ray Chavez, Jo Vincent Parks and Andrew Whitfield, along with Zoli DiBartolo, Jennifer Schwarz, Michael Crozier, Branislav Radokovich, Roger McCracken, Gianmarco Moristica and Elizabeth Wells.  With a special appearance by Wendy Allen and Fat Chance Belly Dance!

In Italian with English translations.

For more information on The Red Poppy Art House – Salon Fundraiser Click Here

OOL

OOL [Objects of Light] is an experimental music duo exploring Tibetan Book of the Dead and related themes.  Ron Chornow (found objects/percussion/clarinet) is a veteran of many punk, industrial and alternative bands, such as Animal Vegetable Television, Forms of Things Unknown, Samsara, Color Failure, Dinosaur Lullaby, Lots of Trees, New Assault and Krank.  In addition to traditional percussion instruments, Ron likes to create sounds with objects originally intended for other purposes.  Laurie Buenafe (vocals/effects) has a background in physical theatre and women’s dance traditions of the Silk Road.  Recently she has contributed vocals to Eurostache and Cartoon Justice, and enjoys singing Eastern European music in a community choir.

http://soundcloud.com/objectsoflight

For more information on The Red Poppy Art House – Salon Fundraiser Click Here

MamaCoAtl, Barrio Poet, Songstress, Curandera, Artivist, works for the reconnection of the human soul with the living Earth through music prayer and political action.

MamaCoAtl

For more information on The Red Poppy Art House – Salon Fundraiser Click Here

Angus Matin and Gabrielle Ekedal

A lovely pair will delight audiences at The Red Poppy Art House Family Art Fundraiser on Thursday, April 21, 2011

For more information on The Red Poppy Art House – Salon Fundraiser Click Here

Shovelman