The Golden Age of the beautiful city of Vienna coincided with the phenomenal world-wide popularity of the romantic music of Johann Strauss. This was the era of the Viennese Waltz, a style of popular music that dominated ballrooms and music halls for generations in every city on six continents. From Vienna With Love! will feature festive music by Strauss, Franz Lehár, Robert Stolz and other renowned melodists of turn-of-the-century Vienna. "It’s hard to sit still when confronted with these ravishing and exhilarating rhythms, as much of this music was meant for dancing.”, according to Maesto Thomas Conlin. " Coming on the heels of the much more stiffly formal minuet, the waltz was considered by some to be far too dangerously sensuous!" Rated “R” (for “romantic”).
Soloists at From Vienna With Love! include the vocally and dramatically stunning Finnish American soprano Liisa Dávila partnered by tenor Alex Boyer, who enthralled the Empress Theatre audience in Three Tenors!—the Next Generation. The Vallejo Festival Orchestra will be under the direction of Grammy award-winning conductor Thomas Conlin.
Alex Boyer is an alumnus of the Merola Opera Program and the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for Singers. Boyer has been hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle for his role as Canio in the Festival Opera’s production of Pagliacci. Recognized for his portraysls of commanding tenor roles like Cavaradossi with Hawaii Opera Theatre and Captain Ahab in Jake Heggie's Moby Dick with Chicago Opera Theater, among many others. Alex stated “I am very excited to get back into being on the stage!” Alex acknowledged that this pandemic-induced time away from performing caused him to reflect a lot about his musical future. “I had time to focus on rebooting and doubling down on approaching my career even more seriously.”
Liisa Dávila’s passion in music was “ignited” at a very young age. When she was 10 years old she sang in the opera chorus of La bohème. Watching the lead singer from the side stage, Liisa “felt the music vibrate in my body from head to toe”. This became the first step to her lifelong journey in becoming an operatic soprano. Returning to the stage post-pandemic, Liisa declared how she is filled with “Joy, love, appreciation and an overwhelming sense of grattitude to be able to connect and share a sense of community with everyone in the room.” She explained that nothing "can replace the human connection experienced with a live performance that celebrates joy, fun and a release of stress” from the dark times we have all experienced recently.
Boyer and Dávila have performed exerpts from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss several times before. They are thrilled to share the stage together again at the Empress Theatre!