Last May, Anne Fridal's presentation of 'A night of operatic arias and scenes' in an unusual setting, under the stars at "Homestead", 5 Richmond Terrace, Knightsbridge, Cascade, was very well received.
The San Fernando born Dramatic Soprano, who lives abroad, has now returned to present "A Christmas Gala" at the same venue on Friday, December 6, at 6.30 p.m. She will be accompanied by American classical pianist, Harold Brown, who will also perform piano solos by Chopin and Debussy, and pianist Ralph Davies. The programme will be a mixture of operatic pieces and jazz.
What has Anne Fridal been up to since her May appearances at The Knights Residence in Cascade. "As usual I have been very busy" says Fridal, who played the role of Mary in Geraldine Connor's Carnival Messiah during the summer months in England. "The scene I enjoyed most was at the beginning of the performance. It was called J'ouvert and I played a Spiritual Baptist coming onto the scene to stop the revellers from having a good time."
Then it was time for Fridal to tour New York, sponsored by the New York Daily News she appeared at City Hall and SouthStreet Seaport, accompanied by a steelband called CASYM led by a young Trinidadian, Arddin Herbert. Moving to California, Fridal appeared in a series of concerts at the San Juan Capistrano Basilica in Laguna Beach.
One of the reasons that she is here in Trinidad was an invitation received to sing for the opening of Queen's Hall, which has now been postponed. She would have been accompanied by Phase 11 Pan Groove conducted by Len Boogsie Sharpe, and her two choices would have been "Fly Me To the Moon" and the operatic version of Kitchener's "Symphony in G."
Reservations for Homestead at a cost of $100.00 can be made through calling 624-4720, 621-0715 and 766-9300.
Fridal, who will remain in Trinidad for Christmas, is considering staying until Carnival but must leave on the Tuesday to sing "Serena" in Porgy and Bess in Detroit, Michigan, for one month, then back to California at the beginning of summer, continuing on to Seattle, Washington State to perform with the Seattle Opera and then back to England for the rest of the summer.