Opera highlights to showcase guest artists Rouland, Grimaldi, award-winning alumni, students

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, German conductor Sébastien Rouland will lead the orchestra and vocalists in An Evening of Opera Highlights. The program will feature guest soprano Anne Caroline Grimaldi of France, university alumni Stephanie Perez, Julissa Ramirez, Juliana Baioni, and Hannah Chang and vocal students Iman Haq, Tashyanna Simpson, and Bridget Lee. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. at La Sierra’s Hole Memorial Auditorium. Admission is free.

The evening’s repertoire will include arias from such iconic works as “Barber of Seville” by Gioachino Rossini, “La bohéme” and “Gianni Schicchi” by Giacomo Puccini, and “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi.

“It is a concert composed of gem-like beautiful repertoires that are easily accessible and impressive even to audiences unfamiliar with classical music,” said Raejin Lee, director of vocal studies and the university’s opera program. “The La Sierra Department of Music is delighted to be able to provide such high-quality music for free to students and the community.”

Rouland and Grimaldi arrive at La Sierra University through the invitation of its director of orchestral studies, orchestra conductor and music department chair Dean Anderson.

Rouland is general music director at the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, Germany. A cellist by training, since 2002 he has conducted opera productions in Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Vienna, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, Essen, Berlin, Geneva, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Bergen, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, Mexico among others, according to his artist’s bio. He has collaborated with, among others, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Handel Festival Orchestra in Halle, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Zurich Camerata, the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra.

“It is a concert composed of gem-like beautiful repertoires that are easily accessible and impressive ..." -- Dr. Raejin Lee, Director of Vocal Studies, La Sierra University Department of Music

In 2021-2022 Rouland was invited with his orchestra to perform at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris and recorded a disc with saxophonist Asya Fateyeva. “La Vie parisienne,” which he conducted at the Opéra national de Lyon, is available on DVD from Virgin Classics.

Grimaldi studied both voice and flute at the Conservatoire National de Region Strasbourg, France. She also studied operatic singing at the Munich Conservatory and completed a Master’s in Opera Singing at the Mannheim Conservatory of Music in Germany. She has been a member of the opera choir of the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, Germany since 2016 and regularly appears in concerts in the lied and oratorio repertoire. Key roles include Susanna from “Le Nozze di Figaro” and Mimi from “La Boheme.”

Alumni vocalists have performed with top groups, been recognized by various organizations, and garnered awards in university and other competitions. Chang, a coloratura soprano who graduated last June from La Sierra has received notable awards and placed in several vocal competitions; Baioni’s vocal performances include major ensembles and regional musical theater with top placements in university and professional events; Ramirez, who completed a performer’s certificate in 2021, has won top university awards and participated in international music festivals.

Perez, a mezzo-soprano, graduated from La Sierra University in 2017 with a B.A. in music and went on to earn a graduate degree from the Mannes School of Music at The New School in New York City. She has performed in recitals, opera scenes, concerts, and productions such as Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” and Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress.” In January, Perez was named a winner in the Los Angeles District of the Laffont Competition of The Metropolitan Opera in New York.

La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. For further information email music@lasierra.edu or call 951-785-2036.