All Berkeley Opera performances are held at the
Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Avenue (at Derby), Berkeley (click HERE for directions) The 30th Anniversary Concert will be at First Congregational Church (click HERE for directions) 
photograph by Ching Chang In English with English supertitles English adaptation by David Scott Marley Conducted by Ernest Knell Directed by Phil Lowery Saturday, February 28, 8:00 p.m. Read the reviews:
San Francisco Chronicle Contra Costa Times San Francisco Classical Voice Berkeley Daily Planet SFCV feature story
Berkeley Opera goes Steampunk!*
Ten years ago the Oakland Tribune raved about David Scott Marley's sparkling English adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann: "Marley's neat, tight and psychologically incisive rewrite of the sprawling original [is] an illuminating improvement on the version that premiered in 1881." We bring it to life again in a pre-electric industrial world of Victorian science fiction, the world of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, where flights of fanciful imagination are powered by steam, elaborate clockworks and little bit of magic where science leaves off. Just like his hugely popular Riot Grrrl on Mars, (aka Rossini's L'Italiani in Algeri) Marley marries the wondrous music of a past century to the present-future tense. Adam Flowers is the tortured poet Hoffmann, Angela Cadelago† the objects of his affection, Paul Murray his villainous rival and Nora Martin his devoted friend and muse. Listen to a half-hour interview with David Scott Marley conducted by KALW's Alan Farley. * Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. †Angela Cadelago is a Metropolitan Opera Regional finalist of whom San Francisco Classical Voice exclaimed, "...consistently wonderful ...the soprano also has that ineffable quality that separates good from something better; she definitely has 'it'...effortless, bright, spot-on singing." 
The libretto for The Tales of Hoffmann is available for purchase at The Other Change of Hobbit, 2020 Shattuck Avenue, a block from the downtown Berkeley BART station. Price is $10.
Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m. Buy tickets to the 30th Anniversary Concert
or order by phone at 925-798-1300
DON'T MISS BERKELEY OPERA'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
One night only—Sunday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way (entrance on Dana Street), Berkeley. Soprano Ruth Ann Swenson* is our special guest artist, San Francisco Opera's Kip Cranna is Master of Ceremonies, and Jonathan Khuner conducts the Berkeley Opera Orchestra. This delightful evening of highlights from Berkeley Opera's 30-year history, including works by Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner and more, also features an array of wonderful singers who have appeared on the Berkeley Opera stage over the years—sopranos Marie Plette, Annalisa Winberg, Marcelle Dronkers and Duana Demus, mezzo-sopranos Catherine Cook and Donna Olson, tenors Benjamin Bongers, Pedro Rodelas and Roy Stevens, baritone Richard Goodman and bass-baritones Philip Skinner, John Minágro and Torlef Borsting. Wrap up the evening with a post-concert champagne reception. Please Note: reserved premium seating is available to patrons wishing to make an additional tax-deductible contribution in support of Berkeley Opera. CALL FOR TICKETS: (925) 798-1300 or on-line at www.willowstickets.org $58 special reserved section (not available on-line; order by phone at 925-798-1300), $48 general, $18 youth & wheelchair seating. $24 senior/$12 student rush as available. Discounts for groups of 10 or more. Pre-concert Dinner at The Musical Offering Join fellow opera lovers for a delicious three-course dinner with wine in the welcoming atmosphere of the classical CD shop and café-bistro at 2430 Bancroft Way, only a block-and-a-half from the concert. Seating is at 5:00 p.m. $50 per person. Please reserve by Saturday, March 21, by calling 510-841-1903. * Ruth Ann Swenson is recognized as one of the leading artists of our day and has won critical and public accolades internationally in theaters including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Opera National de Paris, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Berlin State Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Hamburg State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, among many others. She is praised as an artist with an instrument of uncommon warmth and beauty matched by dazzling technical abilities. A favorite with San Francisco audiences, Ms. Swenson made her professional debut with the San Francisco Opera as Despina in Così fan Tutte, and has been a frequent visitor to the company in most of her signature roles: Lucia, Gilda, Juliette, Adina, Pamina, Manon, Cleopatra, Countess, and Violetta, as well as in productions of rarely performed works including Handel's Orlando, Meyerbeer's L'Africaine, Ophelia in Hamlet, the title role in Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe, and, most recently as Ginevra in Handel's Ariodante, at which time she received the San Francisco Opera Medal in honor of her 25th season with the company. "For sheer vocal beauty, Ruth Ann Swenson's singing was hard to top." —New York Times
by Douglas Moore
In English with English supertitles
Music and Stage Director: Jonathan Khuner Sets and Projections: Jeremy Knight Associate Music Director: Emily Senturia Chorus Director: Susan Swerdlow Production Manager / Stage Manager: Alexander Kort Assistant Stage Director: Rachel Erickson CAST
Baby Doe ........ Jillian Khuner Augusta Tabor ........ Lisa Houston Mama McCourt ........ Marney Margules Horace Tabor ........ Torlef Borsting William Jennings Bryan / A Politician ........ John Bischoff President Chester A. Arthur ........ Ross Halper Also featuring Elizabeth Wells, Angela Hayes, Cary Ann Rosko, Elizabeth Gentner, Cass Mann, Kelcey Poe, Darcy Krasne, Adria Swan, George Arana, Wayne Wong, Michael Crozier, Alex Taite, Kenny Louis, Michael Beetham Saturday, July 11, 8:00 p.m. Buy tickets to The Ballad of Baby Doe
or order by phone at 925-798-1300
The names of Baby Doe, Horace Tabor, and Augusta Tabor have become mythical, but they are actual figures in Colorado history. An exquisite period piece of Americana, The Ballad of Baby Doe is based on their story of love, honor and politics, set against the boom times in Colorado in the 1880s when silver was king. Douglas Moore's lush score depicts this gripping riches-to-rags epic through lyricism of irresistible beauty, soaring arias and rousing chorus scenes. A star vehicle for the late Beverly Sills, the role of Baby Doe will be sung by soprano Jillian Khuner.
Historical information: Baby Doe lore; Baby Doe photos Berkeley Public Library Events 
SPECIAL FREE EVENTS AT THE BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Berkeley Public Library is at 2090 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck) in downtown Berkeley. Annual Gala  
Sunday, May 31, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m
Chapel of the Chimes A delightful afternoon of food, wine, music, silent and live auctions and special guests. Details are here. co-sponsored by 
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