Adele Oppenheimer will be the featured performer at the Mendocino Coast concert series Musica Eclectica on Sunday, November 27, 2011, in Little River, Calif. Courtesy photo.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The new Mendocino Coast concert series, Musica Eclectica, got off to a rousing start on Nov. 13, with one of the best chamber music concerts in recent memory.

A string and piano quartet featuring Caspar's Tony Miksak on Cello performed Mozart's Piano Quartet in E-flat major, and Brahm's Piano Quartet #3, Op. 60. Their performance received a standing ovation.

Now, as the Monty Pythons used to say, “for something completely different.”

Following the musical diversity theme of the new concert series, Musica Eclectica, Little River concert producer Jim Culp presents a joyous afternoon of show tunes and songs we all love sung by Marin County vocalist Adele Oppenheimer, accompanied by local pianist Lynn Kiesewetter on Sunday, Nov. 27.

After intermission at the Woods Clubhouse, on Little River Airport Road, Oppenheimer will hand out songbooks for members of the audience and lead them in a sing-along that features tunes that anyone over the age of 50 should know.

Adele Oppenheimer’s musical career started when she was three, harmonizing with her sisters and singing words she didn’t even understand.

She continued singing throughout school and later with the College of Marin Community Chorus & Gospel choir, and the San Francisco Choral Society.

She is currently a member of Ross Commons, a four-part harmony group, which often performs at Bread & Roses venues.

Oppenheimer also performs with piano and rhythm accompaniment at retirement communities in Marin, Napa, Sonoma and now Mendocino County.

Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

It seems to me that most poems are set in spring or summer, and I was pleased to discover this one by Molly Fisk, a Californian, set in cold midwinter.

Winter Sun

How valuable it is in these short days,

threading through empty maple branches,

the lacy-needled sugar pines.

Its glint off sheets of ice tells the story

of Death’s brightness, her bitter cold.

We can make do with so little, just the hint

of warmth, the slanted light.

The way we stand there, soaking in it,

mittened fingers reaching.

And how carefully we gather what we can

to offer later, in darkness, one body to another.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2010 by Molly Fisk from her most recent book of poetry, The More Difficult Beauty, Hip Pocket Press, 2010. Reprinted by permission of Molly Fisk and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2011 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Performances will take place in the Weaver Auditorium at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Historical Museum in Lower Lake.

The cast is made up of a variety of performers – mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers – as well as a gaggle of children who make up the children's chorus and street urchins.

Scrooge, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future as well as the Cratchets and all the favorites who make up this full length drama make this a must see for the entire family.

There will be barrels in the theater for the audience to contribute canned and nonperishable foods and new toys for distribution throughout Lake County.

The performances at the Weaver Auditorium in Lower Lake will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.

Ticket prices are $15 reserved, $12 general, with a $2 discount for students, seniors and Lake County Theater Co. members, and can be purchased at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St. in Lakeport, 707-263-5787m and Lower Lake Schoolhouse Historical Museumm 707-995-3565.

For more information call 707-279-2595.

Chief among them are Felix Mendelssohn's “Hebrides Overture,” written when the composer was just 20 years old, and now generally known by it's more popular name “Fingals Cave.” The music evokes the beauty of the Irish seashore where Mendelssohn first explored the cavern.

Another relative youngster at the time Sergei Prokofiev, created what has become one of the most enduring – and endearing – family music classics ever written.

Charged with producing a piece that would help children better understand and appreciate music, Prokofiev spent just four days in developing a story about a little boy – Peter – who lives with his grandfather in a house deep in the woods, along with a pet cat and duck, and a friendly wild bird. And, of course, the household is threatened by a wolf.

The composer wrote narration to let the kids follow the story line, and assigned instruments of the orchestra to represent the characters.

For example Beth Aiken's oboe will represent the pet duck, which is eventually cornered and swallowed whole by the wolf, while Cathy Hall's flute will be the bird that warns them that the wolf is on the way.

Clarinetist Nick Biondo will play the part of the cat, while the violin section, led by Andi Skelton, will represent Peter, who eventually succeeds in capturing the wolf and hanging him by his tail from a tree, where a band of hunters find him.

The Timpani takes the part of the hunters, while Ann Hubbard's bassoon represents the grumpy grandfather and the French Horns are the wolf.

The story line becomes clear with the help of narration by veteran local actor Bert Hutt. With Hutt's help, listeners are given hope that the duck may be rescued from the wolf's belly, unhurt.

The program will also include "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from the first suite of Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt suite" which was adopted from a play written by Norway's most famed playwright Henrik Ibsen.

The CLPA Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Susan Condit, will also stick to the youth theme, featuring Hee Newbold's “Mythos.”

Newbold is a well-known young Korean actress, composer, musician and film-maker. A second selection is “The Royal March of the Lions” from Camille Saint Saens' “Carnival of the Animals.” The program ends with the “Finale” from the same work.

Parents are reminded that youngsters under 18 are admitted free to the full-dress rehearsal that starts at 11 a.m., with Bert Hutt's narration supported by additional comments from Conductor Parkinson.

Adults, too, are welcome at the rehearsal for just a $5 admission fee. Season tickets for the CLPA-sponsored Lake County Symphony are $85, or $100 for seats in the premium loge section, although very few of these remain unsold. In both cases CLPA members get a $10 discount.

Single concert tickets are $27 for general seating and $32 for premium, also with a $5 discount for CLPA members.

Tickets can be ordered online at www.soperreesetheatre.com or by phone at 263-0577, or at the theater box-office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, Thursdays or Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the banquet hall at the golf course, 16451 Golf Road in Cobb.

Meet the artists, and choose unique, creative holiday gifts from high quality fine art, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, art glass, gourds, whimsical handmade animal towels and “blankie buddies” for kids, and more.

A silent auction will include art items and services donated by the community, and door prizes will be given away every hour.

The Cobb Mountain Artists’ mission is to enrich the community with events where local art and craft designers can mingle with people of all ages who appreciate art. A portion of the proceeds is donated to support local elementary art programs.

All work offered for sale is juried and meets the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship and originality.

For more information, call 707-494-6285 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting local artist and Serendipity Boutique owner Diana Liebe, who will present two art workshop classes to learn how to paint on silk.

Class dates and time are Sunday, Nov. 13, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Liebe will demonstrate the process and each participant will paint and take home a hand-painted silk scarf for themselves or perhaps to give as a gift to someone during the holidays.

The materials fee is $15 for a scarf. Class space is limited to 12 persons each class – sign up now by calling Susan at 707-293-8752 or visiting Lake County Wine Studio.

A former art teacher at both the high school and college levels, Liebe has been very involved in the Lake County Arts community since moving here from Mendocino County seven years ago.

The Wine Studio is located on the corner of First and Main Street in Historic Upper Lake across from the famous Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Café. Regular hours for the wine studio are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays.