International Singer Returns to Arcata for Halloween Concert at HSU

Fresh from a “vividly dramatic” performance in Manhattan lauded by the New York Times, mezzo-soprano (and Arcata High grad) Hai-Ting Chinn returns home to perform a recital of spooky songs from the classical repertoire on Halloween night, October 31 at the HSU Fulkerson Recital Hall.

She was known as Allison Chinn when she sang with the Redwood Coast Children’s Chorus and Humboldt Light Opera, and when she graduated from Arcata High. She took her middle name “Hai-Ting” as her professional name.

Now an international performer of classical and contemporary opera, she is currently featured in the world tour of the Philip Glass opera Einstein on the Beach. In mid-October she performed Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire in New York to widespread praise.

  As an advocate for classical music in accessible settings, she sang on the Wendy Williams syndicated talk show. “Chinn has it all: breathtaking beauty, poise, and a voice of pure gold,” wrote David Cote in Timeout New York.

For HSU on Halloween, “I'm planning a fun little art-song recital of spooky songs from the standard repertoire (Dowland, Schubert, Schumann, Fauré, Mahler, Barber) about witches, ghosts, and the grim reaper, plus a whole set about the moon,” she said. Chinn will also perform the song cycle La Courte Paille by 20th century composer Francis Poulenc—“it’s one of my personal favorites.” She will be joined by soprano and HSU Music professor Elisabeth Harrington for two duets, including Rossini’s “cat duet,” especially for Halloween.

Hai-Ting Chinn performs in a Guest Artists Concert on Wednesday October 31 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets: $8/$3 from HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Produced by the HSU Music Department.

Media: Humboldt State Now, Tri-City Weekly, Arcata Eye