Festival Opera

Name: Festival Opera
Address: 1630 N Main Street, # 61, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596, US
Telephone: +19259449610
Price range: $
Rating: 5

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Festival Opera

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Festival Opera strives to advance the operatic art form, and to build community by producing culturally rich and diverse programming to enlighten, educate, and entertain at the highest artistic standard. - Our Vision -
We believe in a world where the historic barriers of our theatre are broken down, a world in which we provide the community with an invitation and a safe space for all people to g

ather and experience the power of music. We continue to care for our artists by providing a venue where their gifts are nurtured and their collaboration is encouraged to make the most meaningful performance experience possible. We strive through our orchestra, the unamplified human voice, and the culmination of all the artistic disciplines involved in our productions to convey the deeply human stories that the operatic repertoire uniquely embodies.

- Our Values -
We commit to:
- Community building through culturally rich and diverse programming.
- Increased equity and access for underrepresented communities.
- Producing operatic and vocal masterworks with the highest artistic standards.
- Creating a safe space for all artists and audience members to create and experience the transformative power of opera.
- Providing exceptional emerging talent with the roles and resources to advance their careers.
- Collaborating with local educational institutions, creating opportunities for artist development and cultural enrichment.
- Creating new works, reviving old repertoire, and to be a driving force for the future of operatic expression.

11/09/2024

Festival Opera’s General & Artistic Director, Zachary Gordin joins forces with the incomparable Daniel Lockert in a recital of repertoire and anecdotes that will tell a story of his journey and muses in a life of music. Songs of composers so influential to his path: Handel, Schumann, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Reynaldo Hahn, and Jake Heggie. Surprise guests to be announced, and a birthday reception (his 45th!) will follow the program. Join us for an afternoon of beauty, stories, and celebration!

Tickets $40, available online or at the door.
More info & advance tickets available at festivalopera.org

10/30/2024

FABULOUS recital by Sara Couden and Derek Tam last Sunday at the Piedmont Center for the Arts. Thanks to these incredible artists and our wonderful audience for a memorable afternoon!

10/25/2024

Festival Opera celebrates World Opera Day! Creating beautiful operatic productions, nurturing artists, and building community is what we do! Join us in celebration OPERA, which is a culmination of all the arts, centering the human voice and orchestra to tell stories in a way that moves us viscerally.

10/20/2024

One week away! Join us for this fun, Halloween themed recital, and come in costume if you dare! Sara Couden and Derek Tam are SENSATIONAL. Don’t miss this music, and be sure to stay for the reception!

Tickets available online or at the door.

Info/tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nothing-to-fear-tickets-913718355197

Festival Opera
Piedmont Center for the Arts

10/16/2024

The Festival Opera family mourns the loss of soprano Aimée Puentes, who graced us with her warm spirit and beautiful artistry in many performances. You’ll forever be remembered and missed, dear Aimée. We are grateful for the beautiful memories you gave us.

A statement from her family:

It is with broken hearts, that we share the passing of our beloved and beautiful sister, Aimée Patrice Puentes. Aimée passed on Sunday morning, October 13th.

Aimée was an internationally recognized lyric coloratura soprano. She could sing in any language with incredible diction and clarity. Aimée spent many years working with the San Francisco Opera as well as the San Francisco Symphony and coaching students from Santa Clara University.

Her former vocal coach of 19 years, the late and incredible, Kathryn Harvey said: “Aimée had a beautiful velvety quality in her singing voice with an incredible range of three octaves and the ability to transition between those octaves with seamless effort and flawless intonation. ”

Her voice will live forever in our hearts.

10/16/2024

So saddened to hear of the passing of the lovely Aimee Puentes. Talented, generous, kind and a joy to have in our life.

10/03/2024

Join us for this spectacular duo in recital on October 27th at 4:00pm! Piedmont Center for the Arts -
801 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA

What do art song and Halloween have in common? Well… monsters! Beasts without and within, love gone horribly wrong, generalized anxiety and existential crises, conversations with death… The world of classical music is rife with horrors, and contralto Sara Couden is excited to introduce as many of them as possible to the audience this October. She will be working with the fabulous and multi-talented pianist Derek Tam, presenting works by a list of composers including Schubert, Strauss, Wieck, and Weill, as well as modern composers Jordan Rutter-Covatto, Erika Oba, and Chris Castro. Don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear, but fear itself!

09/27/2024

We’re grateful to our patrons and community of music lovers who were part of this lovely recital featuring Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano & Jeffrey LaDeur, pianist. Thanks for sharing a wonderful afternoon with these artists!

09/17/2024

More than artistic excellence and beauty, opera is about community and connection.

Thanks to San Francisco Classical Voice for this vote of confidence, and to our community for your support and presence.

The Walnut Creek company is looking to make a major comeback under General Director Zachary Gordin.

09/13/2024

Bay Area folks! Don’t miss this beautiful recital by Kindra Scharich and Jeff LaDeur on September 22 at Piedmont Center for the Arts. A gorgeous program with a set of German songs to start, followed by La Bonne Chanson to celebrate Gabriel Fauré!

Details and tickets at: https://www.festivalopera.org/artist-recital-series

Festival Opera

09/12/2024

Looking forward to a wonderful trio of Festival Opera Fall recitals at the Piedmont Center for the Arts: Sept. 22, Oct. 27. Nov. 17. Join us for these intimate afternoon concerts with a reception following. Tickets on sale now.

08/28/2024

“This year’s fall classical music season is cause for celebration. Even a brief survey of what’s to come signals optimism, with presenters offering the kind of ambitious programming we haven’t seen in several years.

Following Festival Opera’s delightful double bill of “Voix Humaine” and “Dido and Aeneas” in July, the company under Zachary Gordin is presenting a series of three vocal recitals: “Lucky in Love,” featuring mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich and pianist Jeffrey LaDeur (Sept. 22), followed by events featuring contralto Sara Couden and pianist Derek Tam (Oct. 27), and baritone Gordin, accompanied by pianist Daniel Lockert (Nov. 17).”

- Georgia Rowe, Bay Area News Group

Info & Tickets: https://www.festivalopera.org/artist-recital-series

High-profile productions and concerts, including ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ at SF Opera; ‘Magic Flute at Opera San Jose; Chanticleer’s new show; could signal a cause for optimi…

08/24/2024

Lucky in Love
Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano
Jeffrey LaDeur, pianist

Sunday, September 22, 2024 - 4:00 PM
Piedmont Center for the Arts
801 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA

Info & tickets at festivalopera.org

Lucky in Love celebrates the centennial anniversary of legendary French composer Gabriel Fauré by highlighting one of his most important song cycles: La Bonne Chanson. Inspired by his passionate love for soprano Emma Bardac and based on the exquisite poetry of Paul Verlaine, Fauré called La Bonne Chanson his “most exuberant writing.” Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich and pianist Jeffrey LaDeur present this work, alongside other beloved scores that explore l’amour!

Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich has been praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for her “fearless technical precision,” “deep-rooted pathos” and “irrepressible musical splendor.” As a dedicated recitalist, she has performed more than 250 art songs in 15 languages, and enjoys the full complement of recital, concert and opera engagements alike.

Jeffrey LaDeur is known for his rare blend of insight, spontaneity, and approachable, communicative stage presence. Clic Musique Magazine (France) lauded “…an irreproachable legato, a beautiful palette of nuances, and an always well-balanced sound.” Having inherited a rich tradition of pianism and interpretation from Annie Sherter, student of Vlado Perlemuter and Alfred Cortot, LaDeur has established himself as a compelling exponent of classic and new repertoire.

08/19/2024

THRILLED to announce this 🔥🔥🔥 lineup of artists for Festival Opera’s fall Recital Series!

LUCKY IN LOVE
September 22 - Kindra Scharich & Jeffrey LaDeur

NOTHING TO FEAR
October 27 - Sara Couden & Derek Tam

MUSES & MUSINGS OF AN IMPRESARIO
November 17 - Zachary Gordin & Daniel Lockert

Info & tickets at festivalopera.org

07/24/2024

Some gorgeous reviews for our La voix humaine / Dido & Aeneas at Festival Opera! Thanks to all of our beautiful community for coming out to support this work, and to all the artists and collaborators who made it possible.

https://cordellreports.com/2024/07/14/la-voix-humaine-and-dido-aeneas/

https://aisleseatreview.com/asr-opera-double-bill-double-thrill/

Onward and upward. It’s trying times (still!) for the arts. I’ll keep pushing. ❤️

Photo credit: Stefan Cohen
Production & cast info: https://www.festivalopera.org/la-voix-dido

Address

1630 N Main Street, # 61
Walnut Creek, CA
94596

Telephone

+19259449610

Website

http://www.festivalopera.org/

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