SHOWS & EVENTS
Bernstein celebrates release of new EP
Big Island singer-songwriter Dagan Bernstein celebrates the release of his latest EP, “Change Something,” this evening at Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea.
The CD release party gets underway at 6 p.m. with opening acts Rachael Scott and Colin John. Bernstein takes the stage around 7:30 p.m. playing music from the entire album of indie-folk music, as well as some other originals.
Info: daganbernstein@gmail.com.
Opera, ballet seasons continue
The 2016-17 Metropolitan Opera and the Bolshoi Ballet seasons continue at Regal Makalapua Stadium 10 in Kailua-Kona.
On Saturday, live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Placido Domingo leads a large cast in “Nabucco,” a story of leadership and resistance in the fight for control of ancient Biblical kingdoms, composed by that master of drama and tragedy, Guiseppe Verdi.
On Jan. 21, the Metropolitan offers the music of Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette,” sung by Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo, the timeless story that stirs memories of young love and can break our hearts again and again.
And on Feb. 25, Kristine Opolais lets loose a voice that can define “operatic” in the “To the Moon” song and other arias and duets of “Rusalka.” Antonin Dvorak’s telling about the tragedy of love between human and immortal shimmers in this production, echoing those told by others, such as Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid.”
Later in the season, opera lovers can enjoy Verdi’s “La Traviata,”(March 11), Mozart’s “Idomeneo,” (March 25), Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” (April 22), and R. Strauss’s “Der Rosenavalier,” (May 13).
On Jan. 21, the Bolshoi Ballet dancers react “The Sleeping Beauty.” On Feb. 5, the Bolshoi offers “Swan Lake,” in which the greatest dancers can show their chops in ways that seem to defy gravity and to define gracefulness. Later ballets are “A Contemporary Evening,” (March 19) and “A Hero of Our Time,” (April 9).
The high definition performances will be shown at the Regal Makalapua Stadium 10 at the Makalapua Shopping Center. Performances for the opera usually begin at 12:55 p.m. Saturdays. On the following Wednesday, encore performances usually begin at 6 p.m. The ballets are shown on Sundays, also usually starting at 12:55 p.m.
To purchase tickets in advance or for more information, visit www.fandango.com, the Box Office at the Regal Makalapua Stadium 10, www.fathomevents.com or call (944) 462-7342. Prices for the opera are between $22 (senior) and $24 (adult); for the ballet, between $16 and $19.
Waimea Ocean Film Festival continues in North Kona
The 2017 Waimea Ocean Film Festival continues through Tuesday with a lineup of films, special guests, intimate coffee talks, Q&As, exhibits, receptions and morning activities at Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai in North Kona.
The annual event opened Jan. 2 at multiple venues in Waimea (Kahilu Theatre, HPA Gates, Parker Theatre) and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, in South Kohala. It moves today to Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai in North Kona where it continues through Jan. 10.
The festival brings more than 60 films to the big screen this year — most of which are world, U.S., Hawaii or Big Island premieres — with many filmmakers in attendance to answer questions following the showing of each film. The festival format immerses participants in a greater understanding and awareness of the ocean and island culture through films, talks, exhibits and activities. Films fall into the basic categories of ocean experience (such as surfing and paddling); ocean environment — including things we do on land that impact the sea — and island culture.
Art also continues to weave its way throughout the 2017 festival.
Bonnie Cherni will offer a class in ocean-inspired origami from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Four Seasons.
Painter Sophie Twigg-Smith Teururai, granddaughter of noted artist William Twigg-Smith, will present a full exhibit of recent works at the Four Seasons Resort on Saturday. Teururai’s work is featured on the cover of this year’s festival program.
Tiffany’s Art Agency will showcase the work of local artist Mary Spears and photographer Cathy Shine on Saturday at Four Seasons Resort.
The full lineup of films and the complete festival program is available at www.waimeaoceanfilm.org. Festival passes can be purchased via the website or by calling 854-6095.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Blue Sea Artisans announce January featured artist
The Blue Sea Artisans Gallery featured artist for the month of January is oil and watercolor painter Marilyn Koschella.
Koschella’s subject in her art is mainly of seascapes. Most of them she paints on site with the West Hawaii Plein Air Painters group.
Because Koschella grew up in Southern California, swimming and spending time at the beach was her favorite past time. This is reflected in her paintings of the ocean. Before purchasing a home in Hawaii in 2008, most of her paintings included lakes and rivers around the Lake Tahoe area. After moving to the Big Island, she has added seascapes of the Kona Coast to her repertoire.
From 1 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 14 a reception will be held for Koschella at the gallery. The gallery is now located in the Keauhou Shopping Center. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Info: 329-8000.
Colton Thomas is KVA’s January featured artist
Mixed media painter Pamela Colton Thomas is the Kailua Village Artists featured artist in the month of January.
Colton Thomas has been a Big Island resident for more than 30 years and has been painting since her early childhood, tutored by her father, an accomplished artist. In the late 1970s, she studied at Academy of Art in San Francisco and found her stride when she came to Hawaii in the ’80s.
Colton Thomas’ art is influenced by the rich color palette of paintings on silk, the vivid colors of stained glass and she strove to recreate this effect with line work that acted as resist on paper to contain the vibrant water based colors she paints with. Her paintings go through several stages, creating the complicated line work first and then adding color. Colton Thomas spent many years experimenting with the line work in silver, gold and black.
Meet Colton Thomas at the gallery today, Jan. 27 and at the Kokua Kailua Village Stroll on Jan. 15. The Kailua Village Artists Gallery, located in the Kona Marketplace off Alii Drive, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
Info: 329-6653.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
APAC resumes theater arts classes
Aloha Performing Arts Company will resume its roster of theater classes for all ages beginning the second week in the new year. Jerry Tracy’s “Tuesday Troupers” class for 8 to 12 year olds will strike up again, slightly expanded, on Tuesday afternoons, Jan. 10 through Feb. 28, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. This is an eight-week course and the tuition is $80. The Troupers will focus on performance skills such as projection, articulation, and characterization. Tracy is assisted by Riley Newton, and the theme this session is the weather. A parent or responsible family representative must attend a brief meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, immediately before the first class officially begins.
Felicity Johnson will continue her popular “Intergenerational Acting” class on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. This class is open to people of all ages, and has expanded to eight weeks, running Jan. 12 through March 2. Tuition is $80.
Nicole Gour will once again lead a six-week class for youngsters between the ages of 4 and 7 on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. She has given the class a new name for the new year: “The Little Theatre Club.” The Club will focus on increasing self confidence and developing basic social and performance skills, and will meet from Jan. 12 through Feb. 16. Tuition is $60. A parent or responsible family representative must attend a brief meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, immediately before the first class officially begins.
All of the above classes will be held at the historic Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, and each will culminate in a free performance, open to the public, on the final class day. Online registration at www.alohatheatre.com is recommended.
In addition, Engela Edwards continues as adviser of Aloha Teen Theatre, which meets Fridays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the APAC Loft, across the street and a half block south of Aloha Theatre, on the second floor of the building housing The King’s Daughters Thrift Store. ATT is free and ongoing, and accepts new members between the ages of 13 and 18 at any time.
For more information about any of these classes, call the APAC office at 322-9924.