Shelley Koppel
STAFF WRITER
skoppel@YourVoiceWeekly.com
STUART — Palm City opera singer Lorrianna Colozzo is a favorite of Treasure Coast audiences. The soprano, who received a bachelor’s degree in vocal music from the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, will perform two local concerts this season.
On Dec. 13, she will present a program of holiday music at the Kane Center and on Jan. 14 she will perform musical standards at the Lyric Theatre. Each is a great place to take out-of-town visitors, and each would make a lovely holiday gift of music.
The singer spoke recently about the two very different shows.
“At the Kane Center, the show is ‘Life is a Christmas Cabaret,’” she said. “This year, the show is cabaret style, just me and my pianist, Brandon Glick. When they told me they were doing a cabaret series. I said I definitely wanted to do Christmas. The Kane Center is so beautiful. It’s such a unique spot and it’s on a Sunday afternoon, so people can enjoy a matinee of Christmas music.”
Colozzo said that choosing the music was a challenge.
“I only have an hour,” she said.
“I could do a week’s worth. I’m doing holiday tunes introduced by people like Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford and Rosemary Clooney. They’re songs we all grew up with and never tire of, like ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ ‘Silver Bells,’ ‘White Christmas’ and many more. There are songs like Connie Francis’ ‘Baby’s First Christmas.’ It’s so beautiful. There’s Rodger and Hammerstein’s’ ‘My Favorite Things,’ that’s popular during Christmas. I found a really cool Rodgers and Hammerstein song that was never part of a show, ‘Happy Christmas, Little Friend.’”
Colozzo said that she is the interpreter of the songs and she will also give the backstory of each to put it in context.
On Jan. 14, the singer and some of her friends will present “High Standards” at the Lyric Theatre. She will use the same successful formula she used last year for her “Night at the Opera” show at the Lyric, with a mezzo soprano, tenor and baritone joining her on stage. This year’s guests are Graham Fandrei, Rebekah Diaz-Fandrei and James Channing.
“For ‘High Standards,’ we bring out some of the old standards, songs you know and love from Broadway and timeless classics from The Great American Songbook,” she said.
“They are songs that have stood the test of time, like ‘Some Enchanted Evening,’ ‘If I Loved You,’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ‘Luck Be a Lady,’ and ‘Unforgettable.’ We only have an hour and there’s so much music. That’s the fun part of being an artist, deciding which songs we love and can portray.”
Given Colozzo’s operatic background, some pieces that skim the line between musical theater and opera, may find themselves in the mix.
“From Gershwin, we’ll sing something from ‘Porgy and Bess,’ like ‘Summertime,’ she said.
“’Carousel’ is also operatic. There might also be some surprises.”
Colozzo had one for me. She said audiences were going to get a plus one on stage when she appears. She is pregnant with her second child and is due in March.
“I’m so excited to be able to be doing these shows while pregnant, even if I have to look for larger dress sizes,” she said. “I am blessed.”
Lorrianna Colozzo presents “Life is a Christmas Cabaret” Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Kane Center, 900 S.E, Salerno Road, Stuart. Tickets are $20 for non-members and $15 for members. Call (772) 223-7800 or order online at www.kanecenter.org.
“High Standards” will be presented Jan, 14 at 7 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre, 59 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart. Tickets are $37. Call the box office at (772) 286-7827 or order online at www.lyrictheatre.com.
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