Sacramento State’s Capistrano Hall was filled with musical excellence as tenor Hannes Busch, soprano Rufina James, and pianist Ellen Deffner performed a selection of operettas Sunday afternoon.

This performance was part of the Crocker Classical Concert Series and featured German operettas by Viennese composers Franz Lehar, Emmerich Kalman, Carl Zeller, and Johann Strauss, Jr.

Before entering the performance, I held a pre-conceived notion about the opera and had already determined that this genre of musical performance was not for me.

However, as I sat through the concert, I began to feel the intense power, strength and emotion behind the series of German operettas. Although I was unable to understand a word of the German dialect, it was clear that the pieces told beautiful narratives of life and love.

Tenor Busch was educated at the Opera Studio of Hannover, Germany and has performed in various productions around the world. Busch said he was pleased to perform on the West Coast.

“I promise, this is music you have never heard here on the West coast. That’s why I wanted to do it,” Busch said.

Busch and James performed a total of twelve pieces during the concert. Throughout the show, Busch and James would alternate from solo operettas to partnered performances.

I found the partnered performances to be the most engaging. Busch and James would face one another in front of the grand piano and look in to each other’s eyes as they bellowed in melodic harmony.

As I scanned the recital hall, I noticed a thoroughly fascinated audience.

Mira Hunter, an opera enthusiast, was one member of the audience who understood my observations.

“I thought it was fabulous. I just thought it was amazing to be able to come to a college in a community like Sacramento and have something that would be just as good as you can see anywhere in the world,” Hunter said.

Hunter traveled from the East Bay to see Sunday’s performance because she said she knew it would be accomplished and wonderful.

“I think it’s really great to have a variety of music in any community and I think it’s nice that people get an opportunity to see all different kinds of performances like this. It really rounds out our personalities,” Hunter said.

Next month’s classical concert will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. and will feature harpsichordist Nancy Metzger and saxophonist Keith Bohm.

Miranda Marsalla can be reached at [email protected]