Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • December 14, 2011 Ridgewood The Parlance Chamber Gala Benefit Concert on Sunday, Dec. 18 is an early holiday gift for local music lovers. The presentation will be held at 4 p.m. at the West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood. Parlance Chamber Concerts feature top singers and soloists from the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and New York’s extraordinary chamber music community. The Gala Concert will feature Met Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, Met Opera Pianist Warren Jones, and New York Philharmonic Principal Violist and Bergen County resident Cynthia Phelps. The concert will open with Johannes Brahms’ “Eleven Gypsy Songs, Op. 103 for Mezzo Soprano & Piano.” Since it is the caroling season, eight members of the Met Opera Chorus will perform traditional Christmas carols by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten. Then the Brahms “Three Motets Op. 110” will be performed by the Met Opera double chorus. After the intermission, Phelps, Blythe, and Jones will perform Brahms’ “Two Songs Op. 91,” followed by Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasy on Greensleeves” performed by Phelps and Jones. The Met Opera Chorus will perform Parlance Chamber Gala Benefit is gift for music lovers Giuseppe Verdi’s “Va pensiero from Nabucco.” The concert will conclude with the “Seguidilla” and “Habanera for Mezzo Soprano and Opera Choir” from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.” Michael Parloff will guide the audience through the afternoon with informative and often humorous commentary about the music. “My goal is to help the Parlance audience enjoy the concert by better understanding the music and the composer,” said Parloff, artistic director of the Parlance Chamber Concert. A post-concert dinner will follow the program, allowing the audience an opportunity to meet and dine with these extraordinary music professionals. “This will be an incredible afternoon of music,” said Parloff. “Hearing these gifted performers without having to travel into New York City is what makes this gala benefit concert extra special. The free parking is also a nice perk.” Parlance Chamber Concerts are made possible by partial funding provided by the New Jersey State Council of the Arts through grant funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Tickets for the gala are available at various levels. The Premiere Patron level is $500 and includes premium concert seating at this and the upcoming three Parlance Chambers this season plus attendance at the post-Gala Concert dinner. The Patron Level is $250 and includes premium concert seating at this and the remaining three Parlance Chambers this season. Both Patron Levels are tax-deductible donations. For details, visit www.parlancechamberconcerts.org. General Admission Front is $75 for the concert only, and General Admission Rear is $50 for the concert only. All tickets may be reserved online at the website listed above. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe (Photo by Kobie van Rensburg) Tickets may also be ordered by mail. Mail a check made out to Parlance Chamber Concerts to: 138 Phelps Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. All tickets will be held at the door. West Side Presbyterian Church is located at Varian Fry Way, 6 South Monroe Street at South Hillside Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Parking is free, and West Side Presbyterian Church is barrier-free. For more information, email Parlance2@aol.com or call (201) 612-8399.