Books and vibrato

Bookstores have an ambience similar to libraries. Although one sells crisp new books and the other rents old, musky editions, people often visit both places for the same reason: to read for free in a quiet atmosphere. On Saturday, September 17, the standard decibel level of whisper will be broken at Borders by soprano Carrie Hennessey and pianist Narmina Sultanova. The Sacramento Opera will present Opera Interludes, featuring live excerpts from upcoming productions of The Elixir of Love and La Traviata. Visitors will experience opera like never before, up close and free. Don’t plan to spend the evening perusing aisles or flipping through books. Hennessey’s stunning vibrato will surely replace the sound of rustling pages. She’s played Edith in Pirates of Penzance and Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro for the Sacramento Opera, as well as Mimi in La Bohème. So yeah, she’s got chops. There also will be entertaining commentary by lecturer Robert Coleman, and one lucky visitor will win two opera tickets.