2021 | 2022 Season
Opera Parallèle presents
Sophia’s Forest
Music by Lembit Beecher
Libretto by Hannah Moscovitch
An immigrant family’s story of hope & the healing power of imagination.
Performances
- February 24, 2022 – 8:00pm
- February 25, 2022 – 8:00pm
- February 26, 2022 – 5:00pm & 8:00pm
Sung in English with supertitles
Running time approx 60 minutes with no intermission


COVID HEALTH & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
All audience members, staff, and artists ages 5 and up must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Prior to entering the Grace Cathedral, you will be asked to provide proof of vaccination through a QR code generated by Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Website, or an original physical vaccination card or photograph of it, along with a valid government-issued photo ID (a Student ID for minors under the age of 18 is also acceptable).
With the rise of new variants such as Omicron, OP STRONGLY ENCOURAGES all audience members who are eligible to get a Vaccine Booster shot at least 10 days prior to your ticketed event.
OP requires wearing a non-vented N95, KN95, or KF94 mask at all times for maximum protection while inside Grace Cathedral.
Please be aware that singers will perform without masks.
Open Rehearsal
Join us on February 15, 2022, 6-7:30pm at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society for sneak peek behind the scenes of the rehearsal process for this brand new opera. Hear from the artists, creative team and the composer about their work on this exciting new production. Registration required.
Pre-Show Talks – Free for all ticket holders
Join Artistic & General Director Nicole Paiement, Creative Director Brian Staufenbiel, and composer Lembit Beecher 1 hour before each performance at Grace Cathedral for insights into the production.
Nine electronically-controlled sound sculptures, designed and operated by composer Lembit Beecher, placed across the stage are a direct outgrowth of Sophia’s memories: bike wheels recall Sophia’s youthful adventures with her sister Emma, and wine glasses become a central part of her mother Anna’s coping once the family moves to America.
Cast
Click on an artist below to learn more

Maggie Finnegan
'Sophia' - Soprano

Charlotte Fanvu
'Young Sophia' - Actor

Kindra Scharich
'Anna' - Mezzo-Soprano

Samantha Fung-Lee
'Emma' - Girl Soprano

Bradley Kynard
'Wes' - Baritone

Victoria Ko
'Emma' - Girl Soprano
Composer & Librettist

Lembit Beecher
Composer

Hannah Moscovitch
Librettist
Creative Team & MUSICIANS

Nicole Paiement
Conductor

Aaron Curry
Lighting Designer

Brian Staufenbiel
Director

Marisely Cortés Fonseca
Costume Designer

Jessica Bejarano
Assistant Conductor

Del Sol String Quartet
Instrumental Ensemble

Jon Altemus
Set Designer

Divesh Karamchandani
Percussion
Supporters
Major institutional and corporate support for Opera Parallèle has been provided by Adobe, JW & HM Goodman Family Foundation, Horizons Foundation, The Lemala Fund, Sam Mazza Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, City & County of San Francisco Grants for the Arts, and The Shenson Foundation.