LAKEPORT, Calif. – The recent Lake County Symphony’s “Day at the Opera” featuring dramatic mezzo soprano Heather McFadden was a resounding success by all accounts.

McFadden, in an elegant black gown and with upswept hair, sang pieces from three popular operas: “La Favorita” by Gaetano Donizetti; “Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball)” by Giuseppe Verdi; and “Carmen” by Georges Bizet.

For many of the audience members, it was their first ever exposure to live opera, and McFadden did not disappoint, singing perfectly while demonstrating her dramatic ability and wit with every note.

The intimate Soper Reese made it even better, because every seat was a great seat.

After McFadden finished she was rewarded with a standing ovation and a bouquet of flowers.

As she walked off stage, announcer Martin Scheel gave a shouted “Bravo!” McFadden smiled and paused to correct him. “When it’s a diva, you say ‘vrava’.” The audience loved it and clapped even louder.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Alison Murray, who brought her son, John. “Heather McFadden was so great because she acted out the different parts in a subtle way so that even though you couldn’t understand the language, you could tell exactly who the character was. I loved it. Even John really liked it and wants to see more operas. I do, too.”

The LCSA made their usual appeal for new members to support the symphony and donations to support the youth symphony and, during intermission, raffled off a beautiful decorative violin, sporting holiday trimming and suitable for hanging on a door or wall.

The violin was donated back to the LCSA by the previous raffle winner, Jon Hopkins.

The new raffle winner was Barbara Christwitz of Clearlake who said she has already regifted the prize to her friend and neighbor Don Miller.

“Don admired it so much, I just had to give it to him,” she said. “He is a great friend and an inspiration to me. He is in his 80s and is learning to play the ukulele and taking tap dancing lessons. If only we all had that energy!”