Opera lovers rejoice! The Verdi Chorus, now in its 38th season, celebrates the return to live performance with their Fall concert, Ritorna Vincitori! for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on Nov. 13 and 14. Led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, The Verdi Chorus is the only group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus. The program, which Ketchum said includes “both the most joyous and the most dramatically reflective moments from some of the most powerful operatic works,� will feature selections from Verdi’s Aida, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Boito’s Mefistofele, Bizet’s Carmen, and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. The concert also features four guest soloists—soprano Shana Blake Hill; mezzo soprano Audrey Babcock; tenor Alex Boyer, and baritone Roberto Perlas Gómez. “What we do in this concert is excerpts, taking a moment from this and a moment from that and pull them together to create something interesting and beautiful; it’s not in a linear story,� Ketchum said. “We are taking the best moments with four incredible soloists. You can hear the operatic voice and see a human portraying the character. I have heard from audience members who are not big opera fans turn into opera fans after seeing our concerts. It’s an entertaining evening that takes you on a journey.� Ketchum added that she and the chorus are thrilled to be back live after performing online during the pandemic. “This is the real thing,� she said. “45 singers singing their hearts out!� About The Verdi Chorus. The Verdi Chorus is a Southern California nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting opera choruses in concert and to providing career development opportunities for young professional singers. As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music of the opera chorus, The Verdi Chorus gives talented amateur singers the unique opportunity to sing side-by-side with professional singers in rehearsals leading up to performances held to the highest artistic standards. Under the direction of its remarkable Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, each rehearsal is like a vocal master class. Its repertoire includes more than 300 choruses from 81 operas in seven languages. The Verdi Chorus Fall 2021 Concert Ritorna Vincitori takes place at theFirst Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, 1220 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov.14 at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information visit: www.verdichorus.org