Trinity Lyric Opera

 

announces performances of

two Holiday Operas,

"Amahl and the Night Visitors,"

and

"The Gift of the Magi"

 

 

Breaking News:

Trinity Lyric Opera's 2008 season concludes with two Holiday one-act Operas,

December 20 - 22


Trinity Lyric Opera's
third season of professional opera performances concludes with a Holiday series of operas for the whole family, including Castro Valley's first performances
of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" by Gian Carlo Menotti, and the West Coast premiere of "The Gift of the Magi" by David Conte. Show dates are scheduled for December 20 - 21, in fully-staged performances at the Center for the Arts in Castro Valley. The program will be repeated on December 22 for one evening only, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in downtown San Francisco, marking our first series of performances outside our home area.

 

Tickets are now on sale for both locations, and will go fast for these performances. Both operas are touching settings of stories dealing with the difficulties of life, and the power of love during the Christmas season. Bring the entire family and enjoy an evening of great opera classics with a stellar cast and Trinity Lyric Opera's professionally designed sets and costumes.

A special lecture will be given free of charge one hour prior to curtain time at every performance by TLO Music Director, John Kendall Bailey. Maestro Bailey always offers wonderful insights into the music and the historical background of each opera; his comments will surely enhance our audience's appreciation of each performance.


Andrew Garland, as Jim


Marnie Breckenridge, as Della

"The Gift of the Magi" is a musical setting of one of the most touching short stories ever written, the beloved classic by O. Henry, a tale of giving and receiving.

Taking place on Christmas Eve, and set in the shabby apartment of a couple very much in love with each other, the dilemma of Jim and Della is to find the perfect gift for each other, a gift that neither one can afford. This moving opera is the perfect holiday stocking stuffer for all Opera-goers.

 


Torlef Borsting, as Henry


Lisa van der Ploeg, as Maggie


David Kerns, as Amahl


Lisa van der Ploeg, as The Mother


Gregory Stepp, as King Balthazar


Torlef Borsting, as King Melchior

In "Amahl and the Night Visitors," we become acquainted with the young boy, Amahl, disabled, and given to telling "tall tales," and his poor mother struggling to make ends meet. Suddenly, three splendidly-dressed kings, while on their journey to bring gifts to a wondrous Child, knock at the door of their humble residence and ask to spend the night. The wonder of the Christmas story unfolds as young Amahl is suddenly able to walk, and sets off to accompany the three kings on their journey to give homage to the Child.

Buy your tickets now for a first-ever operatic experience you and your family will not want to miss, and join us for what is sure to become an annual Holiday tradition!

For tickets for the Castro Valley Performances, call the Center Box Office at 510-889-8961. Click on our Box Office link above for more information on purchasing tickets on-line or in person at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts.

For tickets for our San Francisco performance, please call City Box Office at 415-392-4400, or visit the City Box Office website at: www.cityboxoffice.com, and click on the December calendar for our December 22nd performance.Casting will be announced shortly. We look forward to seeing you at the Opera!


Brian Thorsett, as King Kaspar


Martin Bell, The Page


Trinity Lyric Opera's first-ever

"Opera in the Park"

a huge success!

In California, the old saying "what a difference a day makes" is especially fitting: on Friday night and Saturday morning, Oct. 3rd and 4th, the first weather front of the season moved in to the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing with it some much needed rain to a drought-stricken land, and threatening to dampen operatic spirits as well for TLO's first-ever Opera in the Park. But on Sunday morning, October 5th, a beautiful, warm sun arose in Castro Valley, and continued to provide for a stunningly beautiful Fall afternoon, and a marvelous event for our greater Castro Valley community members. Trinity Lyric Opera's first outdoor event was planned as an outreach event to the many arts-minded residents of San Francisco's East Bay communities, and served to acquaint opera-goers with our plans for our Holiday season series of programs, and what it is that makes our Company unique. Opera in the Park is also TLO's way of giving back to our Community with the precious gift of music.

This young, tiny, daring company, as Janos Gereben of the SF Classical Voice puts it, assembled a cast comprised of the finest singers in the Bay Area to present works ranging from the classical to contemporary time periods. The afternoon put the spotlight on professional singers from our area and out-of-town, and included: Heather McFadden, Zachary Gordin, Lisa van der Ploeg, Jason Detwiler, Ellen St. Thomas, Ashley Knight, Gail Simpson, Dalyte Kodzis, and J. Raymond Meyers who stepped in at the last minute to sing in the Pearl Fishers duet, and the Rigoletto quartet. Detwiler, Meyers and Knight are veterans of previous Trinity Lyric Opera productions, "The Pilgrim's Progress," by Vaughan Williams, and Aaron Copland's "The Tender Land." Jason Detwiler, who sang the pivotal role of the Pilgrim in "The Pilgrim's Progress," and who is now a resident of Boise, Idaho, was able to participate while in town for rehearsals for an upcoming presentation across the Bay. His rendition of "Some Enchanted Evening" was a particularly poignant addition to our afternoon.

Trinity's Music Director, John Kendall Bailey emcee'd the program with his insightful notes and biographical sketches on each singer, and the noted accompanist, Ron Valentino provided a sensitive and rock-solid accompaniment from the keyboard. Handsome, printed programs were made available to all who attended, many of whom also enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch on the many picnic tables at the Park site. Deep gratitude goes to Pat Brandon, TLO's Technical Director, and to Neighborhood Church, in Castro Valley, for providing the sound equipment and a handsome platform stage for the program in the Footbridge picnic area of Cull Canyon Park.

Carmen Rusca of the VALLEY TIMES and Insidebayarea.com wrote: "Happy music aficionados such as Sal and Sylvia Tedesco brought along low chairs and refreshments and enjoyed solos, duets, some trios in a variety of languages — Italian, French, German and English. The eclectic music menu included Puccini and Rodgers and Hammerstein and Verdi performed by singers from around the Bay Area." Carmen continues: "A highlight of the show was mezzo-soprano Lisa van der Ploeg who sang a selection from 'Amahl and the Night Visitors.' Expect more opera later in the year when Alan Thayer and Trinity Lyric Opera presents a classic Christmas presentation, "The Gift of the Magi" and "Amahl and the Night Visitors" at the Performing Arts Center on Dec. 20 and 21."

Alan Thayer, Founder and Executive Director of TLO noted: "What a special afternoon we all enjoyed, and everything was truly memorable... the setting was beautiful and the singing was superb. We were especially thrilled to welcome all our local community members who attended and it was particularly heart-warming to chat with many of them as i was handing out programs. Events like this are crucial to fostering a personal and continuing bond with those who support TLO with their presence and in telling others about this wonderful Company, and for our first-ever event, I am tremendously encouraged."

The Board of Directors and Staff of TLO wish to thank all those who made our first-ever Opera in the Park event so succesful by their attendance and telling others of this event. It is our hope to double our attendance next year with more wonderful excerpts from the world of opera. Check our website regularly for information on our second annual Opera in the Park next Fall!

 

TLO's Staff Grateful for the Many Talented Singers Heard during its Auditions

 

 

Help Trinity Lyric Opera

 

The Staff and Board of Directors are hard at work on planning for Trinity Lyric Opera's Second Annual Gala Fund Raiser ...more

 

TLO's Artistic Staff salutes the many fine singers who auditioned for its upcoming 2008 Season!

Three full days were devoted to the Company's general auditions for its 2008 season, and over 60 wonderful singers were heard... . ...more

 
 
Volunteers Needed

If you have ever thought of working with an opera company, we are actively looking for a prop master and a seamstress to work with costumes. ...more

 
 

Trinity Lyric Opera has a New Home!

The new Center for the Arts in Castro Valley, California is now Trinity Lyric Opera's new home. This state-of-the-art facility offers premium seating, convenient parking, nearby eateries and ...more

 

Trinity Lyric Opera's Founder and Executive Director, Alan Thayer, walks for Trinity! By participating in the first annual Arts Walk ...more

 


TLO currently has openings in its Chorus for Tenors

... we are seeking experienced tenors for participation in our Opera Chorus ...more.


Our attractive poster for "The Gift of the Magi" and "Amahl and the Night Visitors,"
is available for download. Posters are a great way to remember presentations from previous years ...more