Announcing: Laurie Rubin

MEZZO-SOPRANO LAURIE RUBIN WILL PERFORM
TO BENEFIT ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLIND

ONE NIGHT ONLY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 AT 7:30
ZIPPER CONCERT HALL AT THE COLBURN SCHOOL OF MUSIC

PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE WORKS BY MOZART, GERSHWIN, RODRIGO, SCHWARTZ, SIVAN, AND FEATURE SPECIAL GUESTS

Celebrated mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin, a native of Encino and now a full-time resident of New York City, will return home to California on February 28 to perform a program of works by Mozart, Rodrigo, Gershwin, Sondheim, Schwartz, and Sivan, among others.  The evening will also feature special guest artists.  Set to benefit the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, the concert will be held at Zipper Concert Hall  at the Colburn School of Music, and the curtain goes up at 7:30pm.

Ms. Rubin will present an eclectic program of works, including songs by Joaquin Rodrigo (a Spanish composer who happened to be blind), and a song cycle commissioned for her by Israeli composer Noam Sivan, who will perform with her.  In addition, she will be joined by guest artists, clarinetist Jennifer Taira, pianist David Wilkinson, and renowned soprano and actress Kate Reinders.  “It is a sincere pleasure to be donating a night of music to this wonderful guide dog school,” Ms. Rubin said.  “Sharing and performing music with good friends is the most rewarding thing in the world for me, and from my perspective as someone who knows the incredible benefits of a guide dog, there is no worthier cause to be supporting.”

Blind since birth, Ms. Rubin received high praise from The New York Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini, who wrote she possesses “compelling artistry,” “communicative power,” and that her voice displays “earthy, rich and poignant qualities.” Recent career highlights include her United Kingdom solo recital debut at Wigmore Hall in London, as well as her solo recital debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  Ms. Rubin has performed concerts of new music with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and has performed numerous roles, including the lead role of Karen in The Rat Land by Gordon Beeferman with New York City Opera, Penelope in Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses, and the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola.  She has recorded a CD with renowned collaborative pianists Graham Johnson and David Wilkinson on the Opera Omnia label.

Since its founding in 1991, the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind has produced over 327 partnerships between blind Israelis and guide dogs. “When a blind Israeli (either Jewish or Arab) requests our assistance, we transport them to our center, house and feed them for three weeks during training, and provide an additional week of training in their homes at no cost to them,” says Noach Braun, director and founder of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind.  “It is all made possible by the generosity of our donors who have the vision to help those less fortunate.”

Tickets for this special evening with Laurie Rubin and Friends are $50 (with a special student price of $20), and are 100% tax deductible.  They may be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93740, or by calling (800) 838-3006.  Tickets will also be on sale at the door, subject to availability.  Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School of Music is located at 200 S. Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.  For further concert information, please visit www.laurie-rubin.com, or call (818) 905-1421.

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01-25-10