LAKEPORT, Calif. – Spirited and attractive Elena Casanova, who has won widespread admiration in previous Lake County appearances, will perform as featured soloist at the Sunday, Nov. 18, concert of the Lake County Symphony.

Casanova will play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major on CLPA’s Yamaha grand piano. It will take place at Lakeport’s Soper-Reese Community Theatre at 3 p.m.

Cuban-born Casanova studied at Havana’s Alejandro Garcia Culturia, as well as California’s Pacific Union College and the San Francisco Conservatory. She earned her bachelor of arts in music at the University of Redlands, and since moving to Mendocino County has played in many concerts and recitals, including at least two in Lake County.

Symphony conductor John Parkinson has assembled an all-Mozart program for the Fall concert, entitled “Mozart Masterpieces” and Casanova’s selection fits into this theme. The Piano Concerto she chose is often called “The Coronation Concerto” because the composer wrote it to commemorate the coronation of Leopold II as Holy Roman Emperor.

For Mozart-lovers – and there are many in Lake County – the concert will be a jewel, with Parkinson also leading the orchestra in one of Mozart’s most beloved and endearing works “The Haffner” which was dedicated to one of the composer’s sponsors. Its official title is the Symphony No. 35 in D Major. Also on the program is the Overture to one of Mozart’s most popular operas “The Marriage of Figaro” which resulted from the first collaboration between the Austrian composer and Italian librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its instant popularity led to two more – Don Giovanni” and Cosi fan Tutte.”

Over his 30-plus years of leading the Symphony Parkinson has presented a panoply of classical and popular music, but returns often to Mozart because of the the elegance and emotion of his music. Lake County audiences evidently agree, since past “Mostly Mozart” concerts have often been sellouts.

The CLPA Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Susan Condit, will adhere to the Mozart theme with two numbers from the prolific composer. They are from one of only two symphonies Mozart ever wrote in the minor key. Called the Great G Minor Symphony, it has been described as one of his most “intensely emotional” works. The second is the Rondo Alla Turko, from the Piano Sonata No. 11, especially scored for an orchestra the size of the Youth group.

There is just one departure from the Mozart program, and that is a solo rendition of Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto Op 3, No. 6 by 9 year old Rafael Contreras who blew the audience away when he performed the same piece at the CLPA annual meeting in September. Contreras is a fourth grader at Lower Lake Elementary School and has won recognition for his skillful and emotional playing.

Member admission to the fall concert will be $20. With general admission $25 and tickets may be ordered in advance at 263-0577 or online at www.soperreesetheatre.com . Season tickets also are available.

Both Casanova and the Symphony and Youth Orchestras will perform a full rehearsal at 11 a.m., to which youths under 18 will be admitted free. Adult admission will be $5.