Classically Trained: Man with the golden baton leads Bond concerts

Altogether, Davis and the Pacific Symphony played about 20 songs, or at least one number from all the Bond films. Carewe sang for just under half of them, her voice molding to the required style of each number as the evening progressed.

Carewe's talents came out best in "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) and "License to Kill" (1989). I wasn't entirely convinced, though, with Carewe's R&B style for "Goldeneye" (1995), but Tina Turner's original rendition of it would be a hard act for anyone to follow.

Last, but not least, plaudits go to the hall's lighting crew. Their patterns projected above the symphony — especially the ones resembling the signature point-of-view gun barrel sequence that opens most Bond films — truly helped enhance the viewing and listening experience.

*

For the music lovers of the really, really old-fashioned — as in the 16th and 17th century — the annual Baroque Music Festival: Corona del Mar is this Sunday at the Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 798 Dover Drive. The main concert starts at 4 p.m., with a pre-concert of Baroque brass music about 20 minutes beforehand.

This year's festival, dubbed "Handel in Italy," features music that inspired George Frideric Handel's three-year visit throughout Florence, Venice and Rome after he left his native Germany.

The concert also showcases the John Alexander Singers — the 24-voice professional group of the Pacific Chorale — and its director John Alexander. Elizabeth Blumenstock serves as concertmistress for the day.

This year, however, the festival, which started in 1981, was cut from the traditional five days to one. Organizers are calling the 2011 season a "transitional year" due to the retirement of festival director Burton Karson, but are promising a fuller lineup come June 2012.

Tickets start at $30. Discounted student rush tickets will be sold if they are available. Also, for $105, you'll get premium seating and a private, catered dinner at the Newport Beach Country Club, 1600 E. Coast Hwy.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit http://www.bmf-cdm.org or call (949) 760-7887.

BRADLEY ZINT is a copy editor for the Daily Pilot and a classically trained musician. E-mail him story ideas at bradley.zint@latimes.com.