Columbia Theatre to present Mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University's Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts will present Mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin to kick off its 2014-15 season on Sept. 14 at 3 p.m.
In October 2012, Seven Stories Press published Rubin's memoir, "Do You Dream in Color? Insights from a Girl Without Sight." Recounting her experiences from childhood through the rise of her career as an opera singer, Rubin shows how her determination to continually surpass and redefine others' expectations has enabled her to defy the naysayers who told her that she would never experience romance, have a real job, live independently, much less ski, design jewelry or fulfill her ambition to sing on stage.
"From the first moment of hearing Ms. Rubin's voice, I was enchanted. Melodic and skilled, she uses song to tell a fascinating story of promise and success through determination," said Interim Director of Columbia Theatre and Fanfare Roy Blackwood. "Audiences will be thrilled with this artist's ability to make the heart sing, while listening to the beauty of her voice."
A co-founder and co-artistic director of Musique a la Mode Chamber Music Ensemble, which has a concert series in Manhattan's East Village, Rubin is also one of the founding members of the baroque ensemble Callisto Ascending, which has performed concerts at Lincoln Center. In addition, she is the co-founder and associate artistic director of Ohana Arts, a performing arts festival and school in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Rubin has performed a number of operatic roles, including the title role in Rossini's "La Cenerentola," Mrs. Noye in Britten's "Noye's Fludde" under the baton of Dr. Samuel Wong, the lead role of Karen in Gordon Beeferman's "The Rat Land" at New York City Opera's VOX Festival, Penelope in Monteverd's "The Return of Ulysses" at the Greenwich Music Festival and Elle in Poulenc's "The Human Voice" at the Greenwich Music Festival and the Ohana Arts Festival.
She has also performed concerts of new music with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Rubin has collaborated with and premiered works by composers John Harbison, Gabriela Lena Frank, Keeril Makan, Bruce Adolphe, Noam Sivan and Gordon Beeferman.
Tickets for the Laurie Rubin concert range from $20 - $34 and are available at the Columbia Theatre box office Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or by phone at (985) 543-4371. Patrons may also get tickets online at www.columbiatheatre.org.
All Southeastern faculty, retired faculty or university staff with ID may purchase one ticket for Laurie Rubin and receive one ticket at half price. Both tickets must be purchased in the same transaction and for the same price at the Columbia box office. Contact the box office at 985-543-4371 for more information.
