First-Ever Operatic Concert in Historic New Mexico Opera House

    SOCORRO, NM, May 01, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Mother's Day, May 12, 2013, the first operatic singer to ever perform at the Garcia Opera House will headline a benefit concert in the historic building. Nick Palance, a masterful talent who has been called "America's Bocelli" will lend his remarkable singing voice to help raise funds to benefit Cielito Lindo Ranch, a New Mexico non-profit dedicated to sustainable living and learning, and Habitat For Humanity's ReStore in Albuquerque.

In honor of this historic event, Susana Martinez, the Governor of New Mexico, has issued a proclamation declaring May 12th as "Socorro's Garcia Opera House's First Operatic Performance Recognition Day".

The old-west opera house has been a beloved community gathering place, as well as a unique structure studied by architects. In the mid 1880's, Francesca Garcia, widow of local Socorro businessman, Jose Garcia, and a descendant of the original Spanish settlers, decided to build an opera house. Construction began on the adobe structure, which took three years to build. The building boasts an arched ceiling suspended over walls that angle out at the ceiling to improve acoustics, and one of the few raked stages still in existence. The adobe walls are an impressive thirty-four inches thick. In December 1886, the opera house had its grand opening with a musical festival. Since then, the theater has held orchestral entertainments, plays, dances, local proms, weddings, and other celebrations, but no opera.

In 1985, the building was restored by Dr. Wilson of Socorro. The woodwork inside is original, and the adobe offers one of the best examples of such construction in New Mexico. However, in its entire history, an operatic performance has never been held at the Garcia Opera House--Nick Palance will have the distinction of performing the first.

Nick Palance sings in six languages and in genres as varied as rock to show tunes, but he made his mark in opera. He is a California native who now travels the world, performing at various venues. MoMoGoNow.com has named Nick Palance, "L.A.'s premier classical soloist."

Nick Palance will also perform an evening dinner concert on Friday, May 10 in Santa Fe, at the Pranzo Italian Grill, at 6:00 PM, and will give an additional evening performance in Albuquerque at the University of New Mexico's Kessler Hall on Sunday, May 12 at 7:00 PM. Ticket prices are $100 for the dinner performance, including dinner, and $35 for the Kessler Hall performance.

The Garcia Opera House performance will be held 12:00 noon on Mother's Day in Socorro (one hour south of Albuquerque), and ticket prices are $25 a seat. A handmade rose will be given to the first 75 mothers.

Tickets for all events can be purchased at www.CLRnewmexico.org or by phone by calling 800-595-4849.

For additional information visit www.cielitolindoranch.org or Nick Palance's web site at www.nickpalance.com. Cielito Lindo Ranch, a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit, can also be contacted at CLRnewmexico.org, or by calling Shannon Donnelly or Sam Palahnuk, 575-322-4122

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