Opera Parallèle Season

Opera Parallèle has a surprisingly sparse season coming up; it's tasty, in more ways than one, but there is only one full-scale opera, a revival of Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie's Harvey Milk. I didn't have a really high opinion of the work when I saw it the first time - back when SF Opera performed it, in the out-of-opera-house season in the 90s - and it'll be interesting to see if I have a higher opinion of it now.

In addition to Harvey Milk, there's a recital, largely with the great William Burden and the great Fredica von Stade (keisuke Nakagoshi, piano); a gala benefit; and Lee Hoiby's Bon Appétit, which is a one-act opera starring Julia Child, wait, Catherine Cook as Julia Child. That should be something to see, because as I hope every reader of this blog knows, Cook is a wonderful singer, and hilarious, and will be a fantastic Julia!

Bill and Flicka: Generous SpiritsWilliam Burden, Tenor
Frederica von Stade, Mezzo-Soprano
Guest Christabel Nunoo, Soprano
Keisuke Nakagoshi, Piano

Venue:                  Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall at SFCM

Date and Time:      September 19, 2019, 7:30 pm

Tickets:                $35-$150  City Box Office            

Because of You
Annual Benefit Gala

Venue:                           The Green Room, San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center

Date and Time:               October 2, 2019, 5:30 cocktails, 6:30 dinner

Tickets:                          $300, $500 (individual)$5k, $10k, $15k (tables of 10)
Performers:                    Marnie Breckenridge, soprano

                                     Catherine Cook, mezzo soprano     

                                     Bojan Knezevic, baritone

                                     Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano

                 

Bon Appétit!
Music: Lee Hoiby
Libretto: Julia Child and Mark Shulgasser
Venue:                  Hayes Street Grill restaurant, San Francisco

Dates:                  February 16 (Cocktails 5pm, Dinner 6pm)

February 17 (Cocktails 6pm, Dinner 7pm), 2020

Tickets:                $200 (includes cocktails and dinner)

Performers:           Catherine Cook, mezzo-soprano, and Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano

Celebrating its 10th season, Opera Parallèle, in partnership with San Francisco’s legendary Hayes Street Grill restaurant, is pleased to present a two-night-only special event: the one-act opera Bon Appétit!, starring mezzo soprano Catherine Cook as culinary icon Julia Child. Taken from two episodes of Child’s popular TV series, this delightful one-woman opera focuses on the flamboyant master chef making a classic French chocolate cake — Le Gâteau au Chocolat L’Éminence Brune — which is then served to the audience as dessert after a delectable dinner complete with specially-paired wine. The evening includes cocktails and dinner.                          

Harvey Milk
Music: Stewart Wallace
Libretto: Michael Korie

Venue: The Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA
Dates: May 15-17, 2020
Tickets: $35-$120   City Box Office

Harvey Milk: Matthew Worth
Dan White: David Walton         
Scott Smith: Christian Sanders          
George Moscone: Matt Boehler                             
Messenger: Tai Oney               
Dianne Feinstein: Marnie Breckenridge                 
Mama: Catherine Cook             
Anne Kronenberg: Kindra Scharich    

[Color me annoyed at "The Blue Cross  Shield of California Theater at YBCA." I cannot f'ing stand corporate and personal naming rights unless you're Andrew Carnegie. If I had enough money, Avery Fisher David Geffen Hall would go back to Philharmonic Hall or, maybe, it could be named after one of the NYPO's deceased music directors, and I do not mean Masur or Maazel, either.]