Friends of Operetta, founded in January, 1995 by Dr. Gerald Turbow, is one of the few social/educational/cultural groups in the United States devoted to promoting interest in operetta at the community level. The group meets quarterly for lectures, live performances, special guest interviews, and CD/video reviews, as well as providing a forum for informing our members about operetta events locally and nationally. New members and visitors with an interest in this most entertaining form of musical theatre are invited to attend our meetings.
OUR NEXT MEETING
To Be determined...
Friends of Operetta Meeting History
| 69 | 05/18/15 | Tania Mandzy Inala w/Wendy Caldwell / Mike talked |
| 68 | 01/19/15 | Our 20 year anniversary! Laura Neill, Executive Director of Ohio Light Opera, shared her many experiences with the company |
| 67 | 11/03/14 | Michael Miller presented “I’ve Heard That Tune Before … Has the Composer?”, a talk on musical borrowings |
| 66 | 06/09/14 | Screened Ivor Novello’s 1955 musical romance King’s Rhapsody |
| 65 | 03/10/14 | Sarah Best (mezzo) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist) with commentary by Michael Miller |
| 64 | 09/30/13 | Michael Miller presented video talk #13 |
| 63 | 05/27/13 | Screened Sigmund Romberg’s 1930 film operetta Viennese Nights |
| 62 | 02/04/13 | Michael Miller presented video talk #12 |
| 61 | 10/08/12 | Adam Aceto presented a concert of virtuoso piano medleys from ten Broadway operettas and musicals |
| 60 | 05/21/12 | Presentation by Daniel Pantano founder and artistic director of Concert Operetta Theater in Philadelphia |
| 59 | 01/23/12 | Natalie Ballenger (soprano) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist) with commentary by Michael Miller |
| 58 | 10/03/11 | Michael Miller presented video talk #11 |
| 57 | 05/02/11 | Andreas Mitisek (General Director) discussed Shostakovich’s “Moscow Cherry Town” at Long Beach Opera |
| 56 | 01/31/11 | John Welch presented a lecture: “Gilbert and Sullivan Off the Beaten Path” |
| 55 | 09/27/10 | Michael Miller presented video talk #10 |
| 54 | 05/03/10 | Wagner and Operetta: An unlikely Pairing (RING Festival LA) |
| Robin Farnsley (soprano), Gregorio González (baritone), Victoria Kirsch (pianist), Michael Miller (narrator) | ||
| 53 | 01/25/10 | Sahara Glasener-Boles (mezzo) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist) with commentary by Michael Miller |
| 52 | 09/21/09 | Michael Miller presented video talk #9 |
| 51 | 05/04/09 | Robin Farnsley (soprano) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist), with commentary by Michael Miller |
| 50 | 01/26/09 | Screened Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience by Opera Australia |
| 49 | 10/13/08 | Alex Hassan (pianist) |
| 48 | 05/19/08 | Screened Franz Lehár’s operetta Der Zarewitsch |
| 47 | 01/28/08 | Michael Miller presented video talk #8 |
| 46 | 10/08/07 | Richard Sheldon and Ann Noriel performed Gilbert and Sullivan songs |
| 45 | 07/16/07 | Alex Hassan (pianist) |
| 44 | 03/05/07 | Sara Gartland (soprano) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist), with commentary by Michael Miller |
| 43 | 01/08/07 | Showed clips from Romberg operettas |
| 42 | 09/25/06 | Dr. Evan Baker spoke on operetta theaters and production at the turn of the 20th century |
| 41 | 06/26/06 | Richard Sheldon performed and gave a presentation on Gilbert and Sullivan |
| 40 | 04/17/06 | Michael Miller presented video talk #7 |
39 |
01/09/06 | Robin DeLeon (soprano) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist), with commentary by Michael Miller |
38 |
09/06/05 | Richard Traubner (operetta historian) discussed German films of the 1930's |
37 |
04/25/05 | Andreas Mitisek (General Director) reviewed the Long Beach Opera season |
36 |
01/24/05 | Gregg Opelka (composer/lyricist) spoke on the challenges of translating musical theatre |
35 |
09/27/04 | Sarah Jane McMahan (soprano) and Vicki Kirsch (pianist) / Michael Miller reviewed CDs |
34 |
06/28/04 | Alex Hassan (pianist) |
33 |
02/09/04 | Andreas Mitisek (General Director) discussed María de Buenos Aires at Long Beach Opera |
32 |
11/17/03 | Nigel Douglas (singer/author/raconteur) discussed his theatre experiences |
31 |
06/23/03 | Alex Hassan (pianist) |
30 |
04/14/03 | Michael Milenski (General Director) discussed La Périchole at Long Beach Opera |
29 |
12/02/02 | Scott Hayes (Sullivan descendent) spoke on Arthur Sullivan: The California Connection |
28 |
10/03/02 | Michael Miller presented video talk #6 |
27 |
06/24/02 | Alex Hassan (pianist) |
26 |
02/07/02 | Julia Migenes (soprano) was interviewed by Miles Kreuger and Michael Miller |
25 |
10/21/01 | Michael Miller presented video talk #5 |
24 |
06/25/01 | Alex Hassan (pianist) |
23 |
04/09/01 | John Raitt (actor/singer) was interviewed by Miles Kreuger |
22 |
12/14/00 | Michael Miller gave a talk on the celebration of food and drink in operetta |
21 |
10/06/00 | Michael Miller presented video talk #4 |
20 |
06/26/00 | Alex Hassan (pianist) played potpourris from musicals and operettas |
19 |
04/03/00 | John Welch and Miles Kreuger presented talks on Gilbert and Sullivan |
18 |
12/16/99 | Michael Miller gave a fin-de-siècle review of operetta and Noël Coward on his 100th birthday |
17 |
09/07/99 | Michael Miller presented video talk #3 |
16 |
06/29/99 | Edward Baron Turk discussed his new Jeanette MacDonald book, Hollywood Diva |
15 |
04/29/99 | Patricia Morison (actress/soprano) was interviewed by Miles Kreuger |
14 |
01/26/99 | James Stuart (Ohio Light Opera founder) spoke about his theatrical experiences |
13 |
11/06/98 | Michael Miller gave a talk entitled “History à la Operetta” |
12 |
08/04/98 | Michael Miller presented video talk #2 |
11 |
04/21/98 | Linda Wang (violinist) with Sarkis Baltaian (pianist) |
10 |
02/07/98 | Richard Traubner (operetta historian) presented a lecture on Zarzuela (Part II) |
9 |
11/13/97 | Richard Traubner (operetta historian) presented a lecture on Zarzuela (Part I) |
8 |
07/15/97 | Michael Miller presented a video lecture entitled “Treasures from the Merry Video Vaults” |
7 |
04/01/97 | Dr. Loren Zachary spoke of his fascinating life / Michael Miller reviewed recent recordings |
6 |
12/13/96 | Michael Miller gave a talk entitled “Around the World in 80 Minutes” |
5 |
09/04/96 | Michael Miller gave a talk entitled “Operetta A to Z” |
4 |
01/19/96 | Richard Traubner (operetta historian) discussed operetta after Offenbach |
3 |
07/26/95 | Michael Miller gave a talk focusing on the works of Ivor Novello |
2 |
04/10/95 | Michael Miller gave a talk on operetta’s neglected masterpieces |
1 |
01/17/95 | Richard Traubner (operetta historian) talked on the world of operetta |