Puccini celebrates 150th birthday at Irvine Bowl

Another night of “Opera Under the Stars” is in store for Laguna Beach.

For the second year in a row, Opera Pacific is bringing its singing stars to the Irvine Bowl.

The show, titled “Puccini Passion,” will pay special tribute to the 150th anniversary of the opera composer’s birth, and feature selections from his most romantic and popular operas such as the “Donde lieta usci” from “La Bohéme” and “E lucevan le stelle” from “Tosca.” The program will also include works from opera’s golden era such as “Falstaff” by Verdi and “Pagliacci” by Leoncavallo.

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor John DeMain will lead the Opera Pacific Orchestra and Chorus, accompanying an all-star cast of singers including Grammy Award-winning soprano Ana Maria Martinez, playing opposite her husband, tenor Chad Shelton; baritone Quinn Kelsey, direct from the Metropolitan Opera; as well as soprano Shana Blake Hill, mezzo-soprano Cynthia Jansen and tenor Ernest Alvarez.

The Festival grounds will open at 5 p.m. for picnicking and pre-concert socializing. Bristol Farms will provide picnic dinners for purchase at the event, or they can be ordered in advance for pick-up at the event by calling (949) 760-6514.

The outdoor concert is a preview of the opera company’s 2008-09 main stage season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, which will open with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” Oct. 22 to Nov. 1.

This will be followed by the West Coast premiere of composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Michael Korie’s new American opera “The Grapes of Wrath.” Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, the opera will have four performances from Jan. 21 to 31.

Also, Deborah Voigt will star in Richard Strauss’ “Salome” for four performances from Oct. 22 to Nov. 1, in a new production from stage director Francesca Zambello of Chicago Lyric Opera fame.

“We have chosen three blockbusters for the 2008-09 season “” each one strikingly different from the other two; a beloved comedy steeped in operatic tradition; the West Coast premiere of a ground-breaking epic, the biggest production in our history; and the appearance of one of opera’s true superstars in one of her signature roles. It will be an Opera Pacific season like no other,” Opera Pacific President and chief executive Robert C. Jones said.

“The diversity of this season will not only delight and inspire our audiences, but should have a deeply felt impact on the entire West Coast,” said Artistic Director John DeMain.

For more information, visit www.operapacific.org or call (800) 346-7372.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Opera Under the Stars: Puccini Passion”

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sept. 13

WHERE: Irvine Bowl, Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: $30 to $100

TICKETS: (800) 346-7372, or online, www.operapacific.org

OTHER: Picnicking on the grounds at 5 p.m.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or cindy.frazier@latimes.com.