OPERA PARALLÈLE 2013-2014 SEASON HIGHLIGHTED BY
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF ADAM GORB’S ANYA17
AND A UNIQUE DOUBLE BILL INTERWEAVING
WEILL’S MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL AND
POULENC’S LES MAMELLES DE TIRÉSIAS
Jake Heggie’s At The Statue of Venus Presented in Opera Parallèle’s First Fundraising Event October 24
Partnership with Daniel Webster Elementary Brings to Life Peter Maxwell Davies’ The Spiders Revenge at California Academy Of Sciences
SAN FRANCISCO, September 24, 2013 – In keeping with the company’s tradition of adventurous and visionary operatic presentations, Opera Parallèle’s 2013-2014 season features the North American premiere of Adam Gorb’s Anya17, a bold work addressing the brutal realities of modern slavery and human trafficking in addition to a unique double bill which interweaves Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiel with Francis Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias.
In its new season, Opera Parallèle continues to push the definition of contemporary opera by making it relevant to 21st century issues. “As a contemporary opera company, we feel it is imperative to explore the role of opera as a vehicle for social change,” said Artistic Director, Nicole Paiement. “Our two major productions this year each shine light on significant social and environmental issues.”
Poulenc’s surreal overpopulated world in Les mamelles, combined with Weill’s utopic wishes of a better life, takes a innovative twist in the production and addresses the timely concerns of overpopulation, global warming and depleted natural resources. Composer Adam Gorb and his brilliant librettist Ben Kaye deal with conflict in a much more direct way. Their award-winning partnership is rooted in operas about extreme conditions and Anya17, which deals with human trafficking, is the latest in a series of highly socially- conscious operas.
Concept Designer and Stage Director Brian Staufenbiel brings the Poulenc/Weill production to life with SteamPunk and Medieval Theatre inspired sets and video designs in performances April 25, 26 and 27 at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Anya17’s brutal tale will be told through a dramatic use of media projections inside a large half-dome representing Anya’s mind and will be presented June 20, 21 and 22 at Marines’ Memorial Theater in conjunction with the 2014 Opera America conference.
An integral part of the Bay Area arts community, Opera Parallèle presents its first official fundraising event, a presentation of Jake Heggie’s At the Statue of Venus, featuring soprano Kristin Clayton with the composer at the piano and concluding with a special performance by mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade, also accompanied by Mr. Heggie. The event takes place October 24 at the General’s Residence at Fort Mason in San Francisco and includes a reception and silent auction.
Committed to nurturing a new generation of opera lovers, Opera Parallèle continues its Hands-On-Opera community outreach program – this year partnering with Daniel Webster Elementary School to prepare and present a family-friendly presentation of Peter Maxwell Davies’ The Spiders’ Revenge at 1 p.m. November 2 at the California Academy of Sciences.
Opera Parallèle will also continue its Opera-On-Display activities, where the public is invited to peek behind the scenes at events that serve as introductions to works currently in progress. This season’s activities will include a sneak preview in advance of the Poulenc/Weill double bill and an open staging rehearsal for Anya17. Each of these behind the scenes events offers insights into the productions and commentary from the artistic teams. As in past seasons, Opera Parallèle will open its final dress rehearsals to an invited group of students from regional high schools and universities free of charge.
Opera Parallèle is a professional opera company, in residence at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the only organization in the Bay Area that presents contemporary opera exclusively.
During the 2012-2013 season, Opera Parallèle greatly expanded its footprint in the community, presenting many newly imagined educational and community outreach activities, as well as tripling its public performances. Undertaking a significant expansion, Opera Parallèle presented critically acclaimed performances of three operas rather than one, including Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar, Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti in a double bill with Samuel Barber’s A Hand of Bridge and a public workshop reading of the company’s first commission, Dante De Silva’s Gesualdo, Prince of Madness, as part of its Opera Lab.
Over the last few years, Opera Parallèle has brought many superb productions of contemporary work to the community, including the award-winning world premiere of Jacques Desjardins’ re-orchestration of John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby, the Bay Area premiere of Philip Glass’ Orphée, the first West Coast performances of John Rea’s chamber version of Alban Berg’s 20th century masterpiece Wozzeck and the world premiere of Lou Harrison’s opera Young Caesar in conjunction with what would have been the late composer’s 90th birthday.
Opera Parallèle collaborated with SFMOMA to present an evening length production of the rarely performed Four Saints in Three Acts by composer Virgil Thomson and librettist Gertrude Stein, in combination with the world premiere of Luciano Chessa’s A Heavenly Act. In prior years, under the name Ensemble Parallèle, with its mission more broadly focused on contemporary instrumental music, the company presented 125 performances including 28 world premieres, released 12 recordings and commissioned 19 new works.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
Opera Parallèle Presents “Up Close and Parallèle: An Intimate Evening with Jake Heggie”
An integral part of the Bay Area arts community, Opera Parallèle presents its first official fundraising event, a presentation of Jake Heggie’s At the Statue of Venus, featuring soprano Kristin Clayton with the composer at the piano and concludes with a special performance by mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade, also accompanied by Mr. Heggie.
Where: The General’s Residence at Fort Mason
When: 6:30 p.m. October 24, 2013
Tickets: $125, $200. Tickets are available by phoning Roma Olvera at (415) 503-6279 or email roma@operaparallele.org
Opera Parallèle and California Academy of Sciences Present Peter Maxwell Davies’ The Spiders’ Revenge
In partnership with the Daniel Webster Elementary School, under the direction of Educational Programs Director Roma Olvera, and conducted by Opera Parallèle intern, William Long, Opera Parallèle will lead a group of fourth grade students from Daniel Webster Elementary School in Potrero Hill to perform Peter Maxwell Davies’ The Spiders’ Revenge.
Where: Forum Theater, California Academy of Sciences
When: 1 p.m. November 2, 2013
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Opera Parallèle Presents Sneak Preview of Mahagonny Songspiel with Les mamelles de Tirésias
Informal lecture by Artistic Director Nicole Paiement and Concept Designer Brian Staufenbiel with musical excerpts from cast members.
Where: Sol Joseph Recital Hall, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
When: 6 p.m. April 9, 2014
Tickets: Free and open to the public
NOTE: Casting and ticket information to be announced at a later date.
Opera Parallèle Presents Open Rehearsal of Mahagonny Songspiel with Les mamelles de Tirésias
Viewers are invited to watch the director, conductor and singers work together in an actual staging rehearsal in preparation for performances the following week. At the conclusion of the rehearsal, Nicole Paiement and Brian Staufenbiel will lead the cast and audience members in a lively question and answer session.
Where: Kanbar Performing Arts Center
When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 19, 2014
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Note: This event is offered in an intimate location. Pre-reserved seating is available for donors; the general public can attend on a first-come, first-served basis.
Opera Parallèle Presents Mahagonny Songspiel with Les mamelles de Tirésias
Mahagonny Songspiel Music by Kurt Weill and libretto by Bertolt Brecht
Les Mamelles de Tirésias Music by Francis Poulenc, based on the play by Guillaume Apollinaire
Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts’ Lam Research Theater
When: 8 p.m. April 25, 26, 2014 and 2 p.m. April 27, 2014
Tickets: $30 to $85 with a 10 percent discount for YBCA members and students
Opera Parallèle Presents Open Staging Rehearsal of Anya17
Viewers are invited to watch the director, conductor and singers work together in an actual staging rehearsal in preparation for performances the following week. At the conclusion of the rehearsal, Nicole Paiement and Brian Staufenbiel will lead the cast and audience members in a lively question and answer session.
Where: Marines’ Memorial Theater
When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 14, 2014
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Note: Pre-reserved seating is available for donors; the general public can attend on a first-come, first-served basis.
Opera Parallèle Presents Anya17
Music by Adam Gorb and libretto by Ben Kaye
Where: Marines’ Memorial Theater
When: 8 p.m. June 20, 21, 2014 and 4 p.m. June 22, 2014
Tickets: $35 to $100
*Casting and ticket information to be announced at a later date.
PHOTO CREDIT
Nicole Paiement / Roger Steen
MEDIA CONTACT
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Kristin Schellinger: kristin@karenames.com
Karen Ames: karen@karenames.com
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