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After the initial Nov. 8 date sold out, a second performance has been added for veteran Broadway vocalist Matt Jones and pianist Larry Dieffenbach, rejoining forces for an evening of music and fine dining Tuesday evening, Nov. 15, at Niche restaurant in Geneva. A special wine dinner also is announced.
The artists
A St. Charles native, Jones received a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance from Northwestern University, and sang with Chicago’s Grant Park Symphony and Lyric Opera before accepting an apprenticeship with the Santa Fe Opera, which led to a full scholarship at Yale, where he earned an Artist Diploma in Opera.
When he found himself on Broadway playing Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera,” he realized that this was “home.” Since then, he has played bandleader Hartley aboard the “Titanic” musical on Broadway, and has toured North America, Canada and Europe with other Broadway musicals, including “Evita,” “1776,” “Chess,” “Camelot” and “Showboat.”
Most recently, he was seen in “Married Alive” at Noble Fool Theatre (now Fox Valley Repertory), “A Christmas Carol” at Marriott Lincolnshire, “The Producers” at The Little Theatre on the Square, and “Sweeney Todd” at Drury Lane Oak Brook, where he currently appears in “The Sound of Music.”
Larry Dieffenbach teaches piano in his home in Geneva. He serves on the faculty at Elgin Community College as an instructor of piano and class piano. He is music director and organist at The Little Home Church By The Wayside in Wayne, and has performed in and hosted the Concert Between Courses Series at Niche since it began four years ago.
The evening opens with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner and concert at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50. For reservations, call (630) 262-1000.
Wine dinner
The fifth annual Red Helmet Dinner, representing Zinfandel selected by Sommelier Vince Balistreri, is planned at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. He has chosen Zinfandels from different parts of California, showcasing the better growths of the varietal. Along with California Zinfandels, he also has chosen a Zinfandel from Oregon to throw in a bit more contrast, and to show another side to the varietal not commonly grown in that area of the country.
Wines
2009 Orin Swift “Saldo,” California
2009 Turley “Rattlesnake Ridge,” Howell Mountain
2008 Sineann “Old Vine Zinfandel,” Columbia Valley
2008 Ridge “East Bench,” Dry Creek Valley
2006 Duckhorn “Paraduxx,” Napa Valley
The wines, which will be paired with a five-course tasting menu prepared by Chef Serena Perdue, will be available to purchase after the event for one’s own cellar.
The dinner costs $100; call for reservations at (630) 262-1000.
After the initial Nov. 8 date sold out, a second performance has been added for veteran Broadway vocalist Matt Jones and pianist Larry Dieffenbach, rejoining forces for an evening of music and fine dining Tuesday evening, Nov. 15, at Niche restaurant in Geneva. A special wine dinner also is announced.
The artists
A St. Charles native, Jones received a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance from Northwestern University, and sang with Chicago’s Grant Park Symphony and Lyric Opera before accepting an apprenticeship with the Santa Fe Opera, which led to a full scholarship at Yale, where he earned an Artist Diploma in Opera.
When he found himself on Broadway playing Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera,” he realized that this was “home.” Since then, he has played bandleader Hartley aboard the “Titanic” musical on Broadway, and has toured North America, Canada and Europe with other Broadway musicals, including “Evita,” “1776,” “Chess,” “Camelot” and “Showboat.”
Most recently, he was seen in “Married Alive” at Noble Fool Theatre (now Fox Valley Repertory), “A Christmas Carol” at Marriott Lincolnshire, “The Producers” at The Little Theatre on the Square, and “Sweeney Todd” at Drury Lane Oak Brook, where he currently appears in “The Sound of Music.”
Larry Dieffenbach teaches piano in his home in Geneva. He serves on the faculty at Elgin Community College as an instructor of piano and class piano. He is music director and organist at The Little Home Church By The Wayside in Wayne, and has performed in and hosted the Concert Between Courses Series at Niche since it began four years ago.
The evening opens with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner and concert at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50. For reservations, call (630) 262-1000.
Wine dinner
The fifth annual Red Helmet Dinner, representing Zinfandel selected by Sommelier Vince Balistreri, is planned at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. He has chosen Zinfandels from different parts of California, showcasing the better growths of the varietal. Along with California Zinfandels, he also has chosen a Zinfandel from Oregon to throw in a bit more contrast, and to show another side to the varietal not commonly grown in that area of the country.
Wines
2009 Orin Swift “Saldo,” California
2009 Turley “Rattlesnake Ridge,” Howell Mountain
2008 Sineann “Old Vine Zinfandel,” Columbia Valley
2008 Ridge “East Bench,” Dry Creek Valley
2006 Duckhorn “Paraduxx,” Napa Valley
The wines, which will be paired with a five-course tasting menu prepared by Chef Serena Perdue, will be available to purchase after the event for one’s own cellar.
The dinner costs $100; call for reservations at (630) 262-1000.
