Unplugged View: Arias
by Aaron Rowan
A rare extra layer of icing on the cake of Modesto Unplugged programming happens when a featured musician shares a name with an instrument or musical term. There was Viola: violinist & vocalist with the traditional Italian folk group PizziCali, one of the zestiest headliners I’ve hosted. There was Banjo (named not for the instrument, but after a famous Australian) who played percussion with the Aussie family band The Hollands. More recently, Melodia, a young fado singer I met through Opera Modesto, put together her own starring concert for my series last year. One more member of the club, who I also know from Opera events, is the most aptly named of them all: a talented young tenor named Abner Arias.
Abner got his start singing in church from a young age. Artists such as Mariah Carey, Kirk Franklin, and Israel Houghton were early musical influences; later, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti would serve as his gateway to opera music. Abner’s first vocal coach was Seija Anderson, the mother of one of our local opera stars and Opera Modesto chorusmaster, Liisa Davila. Abner became involved with OM through their Summer Opera Institute intensive training program, and then at my annual multilingual concert spectacular co-hosted with them, sharing a song from his childhood based on one of the Psalms. He was a guest performer at my most recent Young Artist showcase a few months ago. Now the time has come for Abner to step up front and center.
On Saturday evening August 19, Abner will lead his first recital concert at my invitation, with a program titled ‘El Sonido De Mis Raizes’ (“The Sound Of My Roots.”) The focus is on romantic songs with beautiful lyrics, many performed in Spanish and drawing slightly from mariachi music but without the repetitive tempos of that genre. The program also includes a song in Tagalog, a Filipino language with similarities to Spanish which Abner appreciates. Abner will be joined by fellow young vocalists Michael Balerite, Philomena Iorns & Lola Fletcher; Roy Mendiola on piano; and David Perry Molina on guitar. Enjoy this intimate listening concert with Abner and friends starting at 6:30 pm at the Mistlin Gallery on J St. Admission is $15 cash at the door, and as always, seats can be reserved at modestounplugged@yahoo.com. The presentations I cohost with Opera Modesto have been some of the most enriching of the past few years, and this one will be no different. We hope to see you at this haute August night of musical magic.
Intimate performances. Infinite playlist. MODESTO UNPLUGGED. www.modestounplugged.com.
