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West Bay Opera

Founded in 1956 by Henry Holt, West Bay Opera is the second oldest opera company in California and one of America's leading regional companies. Performing both the familiar and the adventurous, West Bay Opera seeks to please and challenge singers and audiences with three productions per season, one each in October, February, and May.

The repertoire includes standard popular works, lesser-known operas and operettas, and occasionally operas by modern composers. Some of West Bay Opera’s greatest successes result from undertaking formidable artistic challenges. Past accomplishments include Bellini’s rarely-performed Norma, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin in the original Russian, and Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer. The principal consideration is always to give talented young opera singers an opportunity to perform challenging roles and, in turn, to give audiences the pleasure of hearing these singers on their way to fame.

Comic operas are performed in English translations, some expressly prepared for West Bay Opera. Dramatic operas are performed in the original language. All productions are accompanied by projected supertitles in English.

West Bay Opera has the loyal support of a large contingent of opera lovers throughout the Bay Area. The company performs to an estimated 20,000 audience members per year through regular performances and outreach activities.

Its mailing address is listed below, while its performances take place at the Lucie Stern Theatre at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto.

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• Contact Info

  West Bay Opera

  221 Lambert Avenue
  Palo Alto, CA 94306

  Phone: 650-424-9999

  Email

  Official Website

• Upcoming Events

  05/21/10- 05/30/10

  La Traviata Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center

• Member Reviews

  • Event Name: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci
    "A Dramatic Evening"
    Review posted by: Peter T. from San Jose, Oct 16, 2007
    

    West Bay did a great job on these two operas. My favorite was Pagliacci, though, with all the players doing an amazing job! Scott Six's Canio was exciting and will make you jump out of your seat! Big... Expand

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    West Bay did a great job on these two operas. My favorite was Pagliacci, though, with all the players doing an amazing job! Scott Six's Canio was exciting and will make you jump out of your seat! Big voice and acting. Sharon Maxwell's Nedda was so beautiful, her voice is gorgeous and she was very believable as the young wife of Canio. David Hodgson's Tonio was very moving and realistic - great prologue! Delightful chorus and sets, good orchestra. Tickets $$$ but worth it. Collapse

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  • Event Name: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci
    "Great Opera...Mostly!"
    Review posted by: PM from San Francisco, CA, Oct 15, 2007
    

    This Cav/Pag was really entertaining! Only thing I didn't like was Gail Sullivan's portrayal of Santuzza - too harsh and totally an unsympathetic character. Easy to see why Turiddu would dump her for... Expand

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    This Cav/Pag was really entertaining! Only thing I didn't like was Gail Sullivan's portrayal of Santuzza - too harsh and totally an unsympathetic character. Easy to see why Turiddu would dump her for pretty Lola! Opera is very forgiving about age, but in a small theatre, looks do matter and Ms. Sullivan looked more like Mama Lucia than Santuzza. Pagliacci was more interesting, dramatically, being multi-dimensional. The players characterized their roles well. Scott Six was born to be Canio, playing him with tremendous intensity and vocal drama. Sharon Maxwell's Nedda was sweet and attractive, with a lush velvety voice capable of great emotional beauty. Her Columbina was adorable, as was Jonathan Smucker's Beppe/Arlechino. Smucker's smooth voice was perfect in his role. David Hodgeson's Tonio was frightening, yet sad and one could really feel the humanity in the character. The chorus was great in both productions and loved the Juggler! Collapse

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  • Event Name: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci
    "Cav/Pag is a WINNER"
    Review posted by: OperaSlave from Palo Alto, CA USA, Oct 15, 2007
    

    The opening night cast did a phenomenal job, lending their wonderful voices to fabulous scores!! I've never cried at an opera before--but Gail Sullivan's Santuzza hits the mark and touches the soul.... Expand

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    The opening night cast did a phenomenal job, lending their wonderful voices to fabulous scores!! I've never cried at an opera before--but Gail Sullivan's Santuzza hits the mark and touches the soul. The staging, especially the Pagliacci play-within-the-play was creative, whimsical, and impossible not to smile, even though there is a murder afoot at the same time. There are only 3 shows left, October 19, 20 (opening night cast), 21 -- this is a great way to feed the musical soul! Collapse

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  • Event Name: The Merry Widow
    "A Banquet of Delights (Review of Sunday, 5/27 Peformance)"
    Review posted by: Anonymous from Palo Alto, CA USA, May 30, 2007
    

    This WBO production, if slightly cramped by the small Lucy Stern stage and a somewhat underpowered (though mellifluous) orchestra, presented a banquet of many delights. The young baritone Eugene Chan,... Expand

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    This WBO production, if slightly cramped by the small Lucy Stern stage and a somewhat underpowered (though mellifluous) orchestra, presented a banquet of many delights. The young baritone Eugene Chan, though fighting vocal problems that kept him from singing only a day before, has a rich voice and powerful presence -- a most convincing Count Danilo. Robin Fisher, as widow Hannah Glawari, complemented him ably, singing her many arias with a voice particularly impressive in its higher range, floating lovely high notes in “Vilia.” Others shone in lesser roles, including Elisabeth Russ as Valencienne, with a saucily impressive stage presence and lovely and penetrating soprano, wooed ardently by handsome tenor Adam Flowers as Count de Rosillon. Christopher Hawks nearly stole the show as Njegus (embassy secretary), complementing the more “straight” but excellent acting of Ross Halper (ambassador Zeta), Adam Meza (Cascada), Taber Dullea (Bogdanowitsch) and many others. Collapse

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  • Event Name: The Magic Flute
    "Stunning"
    Review posted by: Susan from Palo Alto, Oct 23, 2005
    

    Desiree Earl, Queen of the Night was outstanding. She hit all the high notes perfectly. Her stage persence dazzling.

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    Desiree Earl, Queen of the Night was outstanding. She hit all the high notes perfectly. Her stage persence dazzling.

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• Past Events

  02/19/10- 02/28/10	Der Freischütz Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/16/09- 10/25/09	La Bohème Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/22/09- 05/31/09	Madama Butterfly Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  02/20/09- 03/01/09	Orfeo ed Euridice Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/17/08- 10/26/08	Carmen Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/23/08- 06/01/08	Der Fliegende Hollander Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  02/15/08- 02/24/08	Cosi Fan Tutte Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/12/07- 10/21/07	Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/25/07- 06/03/07	The Merry Widow Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  02/16/07- 02/25/07	The Queen of Spades Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/13/06- 10/22/06	Macbeth Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/27/06- 06/04/06	The Rake’s Progress Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  03/25/06	Golden Opportunity Gala
  02/18/06- 02/26/06	Manon Lescaut Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/14/05- 10/23/05	The Magic Flute Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/27/05- 06/05/05	The Threepenny Opera Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  02/18/05- 02/27/05	Lucia di Lammermoor Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/23/04	West Bay Opera Superstar Competition Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/16/04- 10/24/04	La Clemenza di Tito Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/21/04- 05/30/04	Don Giovanni by Mozart Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  02/13/04- 02/22/04	The Barber of Seville by Rossini Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/19/03	Joint Recital Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/18/03	Gala Concert Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/11/03	WBO Superstar Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/10/03- 10/12/03	Viva la mamma, by Donizetti (semi-staged version) Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  05/23/03- 06/01/03	La Perichole Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  02/14/03- 02/23/03	Un Ballo in Maschera Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  10/11/02- 10/20/02	Tosca Lucie Stern Community Theatre and Center
  12/14/01- 05/28/02	Cinderella - Opera in the Schools