Ahhh, summer…

Dear Eusebius and Florestan,

Knowing of your fondness for both coffeehouses and music, you may be pleased to hear that the Florentine Opera here in Milwaukee has opened its ninth season of summer evening concerts en plein air down at the Alterra at the Lake.

On a lovely Thursday evening, I joined a crowd of more than 100 there to enjoy the music. Many brought picnic suppers and bottles of wine. I got the Alterra special for the evening – a delicious and apropos tomato soup florentine.

The first half of the program was mostly Mozart. Soprano Erica Schuller sang a lovely aria from Idomeneo, which is on the Florentine’s schedule for the coming season. Baritone Nathan Krueger and mezzo Colleen Brooks sparkled with sly looks and comic energy in a nuanced and delightfully tense scene between Guglielmo and Dorabella from Cosí fan tutte.

The second half featured lighter German cabaret-type fare. Tenor Matt Richardson swooned through a “German Elvis” song called Heute nach oder nie, prompting Florentine general director Bill Florescu to quip, “I guess we can get by with that much milking in Wisconsin.” The ensemble finished with tight quartet harmonies on Cole Porter’s Night and Day and sent the crowd home with an imaginative and witty rendition of Goodnight Irene. Anne van Deusen was the pianist.

During the performance some of the audience members chose to keep chatting, which drew icy stares from their neighbors. I had to laugh to myself. Having conversation and drinks and food while listening to Mozart arias probably is closer the performance conditions of Mozart’s day; the worshipful silence we have grown accustomed to is a more modern convention.

A Florentine at the Lake program would make a romantic, classy and inexpensive date. It’s also casual enough to meet a friend. So, Eusebius and Florestan, grab a sweater and meet me at Alterra on the Lake.

Note that the Florentine alternates with Alterra’s Musica del Lago series, featuring hot salsa and Latin jazz.

Love,

Marianne Yvette

The schedules: Florentine at the Lake, July 21, Aug. 4, Aug. 18; Música del Lago, La Chazz June 23; Carmen Lamarque July 14; Bahía July 28; D’CalleSon August 11; De La Buena August 25; Caché September 1. All events begin at 7 p.m. at Alterra at the Lake, 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive.