San Diego Opera Opens Fall Concerts With Star Stephanie Blythe's Take On Mercer Songbook

By Editor, Times of San Diego

October 18, 2021

The San Diego Opera returns to indoor performances Saturday as mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe kicks off the fall season.

Blythe, in the first of three fall concerts hosted by the company, performs at the Balboa Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The opera star’s show, “Johnny Mercer: America’s Lyricist” offers, she said in a statement “a musical and historical look at the words and songs of Johnny Mercer and those who influenced and partnered with him, from the early years of jazz, to Tin Pan Alley, and eventually, Hollywood.”

San Diego fans know Blythe from her work in 2014’s A Masked Ball as Ulrica, along with the San Diego Opera’s Verdi Requiem, and another recital, “We’ll Meet Again: The Songs of Kate Smith.”

The fall concerts continue Nov. 20-21 with soprano Michelle Bradley at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla, before concluding Dec. 3 with tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz at the California Center for the Performing Arts in Escondido.

Bradley made her debut with the San Diego Opera in the title role of Aida in 2019, and performed as the musical guest for the opera’s recent gala. She plans to perform opera and art songs, including a focus on American composers.

Chacón-Cruz, the 2005 winner of the Operalia Competition, has sung in excess of 60 roles in more than 30 countries. His program in Escondido will include a mix of opera favorites, zarzuela and mariachi.

Tickets for the season’s concerts start at $35.

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