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Berkeley Opera's
orchestral reductions
by Bryan Higgins are
available for rent
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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Jonathan Khuner
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Timothy R. Blevins
President
Marian Kohlstedt
Vice President
Paul Sugarman
Secretary
Barbara West
Treasurer
Jim Aron
Claude Babcock
Phyllis Montez
Gayle Roberts
Luanne Rogers
Freya Turchen
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
Kimberly Read
ADVISORY BOARD
Richard E. Goodman
(Director Emeritus)
Helen Burke
Jonathan K. DeYoe
John Duykers
Sonny B. Gee
Susan Hone
Rob Hopcke
Thomas Kelly
Jeremy Knight
Marilyn Kosinski
Barbara Lanier
John McKenna III
Dale Robards
Nancy Snow
Gretchen Wettig
Doug Young
Madi Bacon
(In Memoriam)
WEB SITE
www.berkeleyopera.org
Berkeley Opera is
a 501(c)(3) corporation
EIN #94-2739808
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Bartók’s
Bluebeard's Castle and Ravel’s
L’enfant et les sortilèges opens Saturday.
Saturday, May 3, 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, 2:00 p.m.
For tickets call 925-798-1300
Read about Bluebeard and L'Enfant in the San Francisco Chronicle, and about maestro Khuner
the Wall Street Journal.
We are looking for singers for the Tosca chorus. Must have chorus experience; stage experience a plus. Contact Susan Swerdlow for more information.
(click image for more information)
(click image for more information)
Dear Friends,
Berkeley Opera is known for its adventurous productions. Our last season was particularly challenging, even controversial. In our 2008 season we present a more balanced diet, with two beloved masterpieces bracketing one modern multi-media exploration.
There is a bit of a secret to each of our shows. The season opens with a straightforward and charming production of Donizetti's Elixir of Love. This bel canto rustic comedy blends naïveté and sophistication, and touches us with its pretty tunes and sweet insights into the little games of deception all young lovers play.
Our season ends with Puccini's "chic lustrous shocker," to misquote the famous critical quote of Berkeley's own dean of opera, Joseph Kerman. Our version, compared to what one might find on an opulent international stage, might be "shabby," and certainly "little," but our trademark directness will make it much more of a shocker. The clandestine motivations that run deep in the hearts of Tosca, her lover Mario, and their nemesis Scarpia, will shine through fiercely to you in the intimate space of the Julia Morgan Center.
In between those two standard works, we offer a double-bill of the finest and most important operas of the twentieth century, both investigating secrets of the psyche. One is the tale of Bluebeard, whose inner sanctum is a dangerous whose inner sanctum is a dangerous but magnetic mystery for his new bride Judith. His castle is a metaphor for every man's mind. The other is a fascinating journey through the hidden thoughts and desires of a mischievous child, whose environment magically comes to life, scolding, teasing, threatening, and eventually enlightening.
Each enigma in our season holds its charms, and I hope you will enjoy all of them.
Jonathan Khuner, Artistic Director
Listen to an interview with Jonathan Khuner by Live Oak Studio's Priscilla Rice.
SPECIAL FREE EVENTS AT THE BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
- LECTURE AND HIGHLIGHTS from Bluebeard's Castle
and L'Enfant et les Sortilèges
In the Community Room (3rd Floor) Thursday, April 24, 12:15 p.m.
- A NOON CONCERT of highlights from Puccini's Tosca
In the Art & Music Room (5th Floor) Thursday, June 26, 12:15 p.m.
The Berkeley Public Library is at 2090 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck) in downtown Berkeley.
Getting Acquainted with Tosca
Wednesday, June 4, 7:30 p.m., at Chapel of the Chimes,
4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
In an enjoyable and educational program that is at once lecture, demonstration, and preview, Berkeley Opera Artistic Director Jonathan Khuner will provide some hints about the historical background and artistic construction that will enhance your appreciation of this favorite verismo opera. Soloists from the show will give a preview of the vocal splendor you can enjoy to the fullest in Berkeley Opera's full production in July. Featured singers are Jillian Khuner as the opera's heroine, Tosca, and John Minagro as the villainous Scarpia, with Maestro Khuner at the piano.
Jennifer Roderer as Amneris in Aïda, with Yelena Segal and Sara Lindsey
From the Critics
"Berkeley Opera is one of the more interesting small companies in the nation."
— Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice
"Taking risks is one of the Berkeley Opera's more endearing and admirable traits ... the cast as a whole gave excellent portrayals. Maestro Khuner kept his 25-piece ensemble in admirable form, and the chorus work was delectable ... all in all, this was an adventurous and thoroughly enjoyable performance for both theater and opera lovers. It's one you should plan on seeing."
— Jaime Robles, Berkeley Daily Planet (Romeo & Juliet)
"The wonderful thing about small opera companies is that what may be lacking in grandeur often is compensated with ingenuity. Berkeley Opera's Romeo and Juliet has much to recommend it ..."
— Suzanne Weiss, culturevulture.net
"This Aïda ... yielded an evening of musical thrills ... the cast turned in strong performances across the board."
— Georgia Rowe, Contra Costa Times
This is the
real Aïda, without all the gorgeous
ceremonial window-dressing:
a personal human tragedy
like that of today's British Royals.
It is also a painfully realistic
political parable, as referential of
Caesar's Rome, the Third Reich,
or Stalin's USSR as it is to contemporary
world events.
— Susan Steinberg, Livermore Independent
Read Susan Steinberg's full review.
Charlotte Khuner as Patriotic Girl in Aïda
From the Audience (at Aïda)
"This was a wonderful production."
"The best ever"
"The best one you have ever done!"
"We go to San Francisco Opera too, and I like this just as well."
"Very clever staging."
"I couldn't imagine how you could do it without the elephants, and loved the way you brought them in."
"The singing, the orchestra, the chorus, the way it looks — marvelous."
"Wonderful voices"
"Very imaginative and I liked it very much."
"Thank you for doing this."
"We enjoyed it — I will send a check."
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