Tag Archives: music

Farewell to the OC FAIR

The Orange County Fair, ranked as the 11th most attended fairs in North America, with 1,072,018 attendees (OC Register Wiki)  will end this weekend. Open from 10am to midnight on the last few days, many events are included for free at the OC Fair. Enjoy the last days of deep-fried delicacies, heart-stopping rides, rockin’ concerts and more for the whole family (OC Fair Newsrelease, Aug. 9).

With a carnival, petting zoo, extreme sports acts, acrobatics, live music and more, the OC Fair has always offered fun for everyone (OC Register Wiki). In 1890 the Orange County Farigrounds were founded and after many headline news this year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sold the Fairgrounds to the City of Costa Mesa for $96 million this June, just before the official start of the OC Fair.

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THE OC FAIR 2010

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Should you have missed the OC Fair and are longing for some “Jahrmarkt” adventures, then prepare yourself for the LA County FAIR starting Sept. 4th to Oct. 3rd, 2010.

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Opera “Haensel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck in San Diego

Humperdinck’s enchanting fairy tale opera, die Maerchen Oper  ”Haensel und Gretel” -

If you grew up in Germany or Austria, I am sure you are just all familiar not only with the story but also the music. Haensel und Gretel Even though associated with Christmas and winter time, many of the arias are songs we all heard and sang as little kids all year round. I certainly remember singing and dancing to  ”Bruederchen komm tanz mit mir, beide Haende reich’ ich Dir” or “Suse, liebe Suse, was raschelt im Stroh”. Do you? 

Well, just thinking of these beautiful songs in this opera warms my heart and I am so happy that there finally is a possibility to see and hear the opera here in Southern California,  at the Lyric Opera San Diego. This is something I don’t want my kids to miss and I hope they will feel a glimpse of that wonderful joyful spirit that this opera radiates. It’s a bit of German culture to pass on to our children!

“Haensel und Gretel” was first performed in Weimar on December 23, 1893 and conducted by Richard Strauss. Since then it has become one of the most popular operas and one that’s perfect for introducing children to the world of opera.

The Lyric Opera San Diego presents Haensel and Gretel in English on November 13, 15, 19, 21 and 22 at Birch North Park Theatre, 2891 University Ave San Diego, CA 92104. Tickets can be ordered online or by phone (619) 231-5714.

For the ones who want to listen in to some of the songs here is a link to listen to excerpts sung by Lucia Popp ( Gretel) and Brigitte Fassbaender ( Haensel) and others  http://www.weltbild.de/3/15559795-1/musik/haensel-und-gretel.html 

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