Tag Archives: West Bay Opera

Elixir of Love Review – West Bay Opera produces another gem

It’s been a quiet couple of months on the opera scene in and near Palo Alto. Good thing for the Opera Nut, since I’m just back in circulation after a week in the hospital and another week under house arrest as I recuperated. Nothing serious, thank you, and I’m now fully recovered – in the nick of time, since I have just seen four different operas in five days!  Continue reading »

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GALA Review – West Bay Opera starts a tradition?

Sunday afternoon, December 7, 2013 Sara and I thoroughly enjoyed attending the very first West Bay Opera Gala, held at the Menlo-Atherton Center for the Performing Arts – also a first. In his introductory remarks, General Director JosÉ Luis Moscovich said that nowadays the third repetition of an event establishes a tradition, and he hoped that this was the first of those three. I heartily agree.  Continue reading »

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Otello Review – West Bay Opera does Moor with Less

Last night, May 23, 2013, West Bay Opera demonstrated again how a small opera company can present a big opera. Try as I may, I can’t think of anything negative to say about their production of Verdi’s Otello. But how do you begin to write a review when you want to rave about all aspects of the production? Continue reading »

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Lucia Review – And a Special Extra Treat at West Bay Opera

The curtain comes down on the fourth and final performance of WBO’s production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with tumultuous applause drowning out the last few chords of the orchestra.  Continue reading »

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Hoffmann Review – West Bay Opera presents a wonderfully integrated production

I never get tired of seeing Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann.  And a good thing, too, since in the space of three months I will have seen 6 performances of three quite different productions of the opera:  Continue reading »

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Aida Review – West Bay Opera presents a gem of a production

Last night, Friday May 25, 2012, I saw my third different production of Aida in three years.  In a sense, I can honestly say that each of them is the “best” that I have ever seen:   The MetHD in 2009 was the best HD, San Francisco Opera in 2010 was the best large-theatre, and last night’s West Bay Opera was the best small-theatre.  Continue reading »

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Don Giovanni Review – An old favorite in modern dress

Friday night, February 17, 2012, was the third and last production of Don Giovanni that I have seen and reviewed this season.  Continue reading »

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Samson and Delilah – An exciting opening for West Bay Opera’s 56th Season

Opening night of an opera has a special excitement to it; opening night of a season is extra-special; opening night for a company premier of an infrequently performed opera is extra-extra-special.  Continue reading »

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Dido and Aeneas and La Vida Breve – Two short tragic operas form an interesting combination

The evening of Friday, May 20, 2011 began with Dido and Aeneas, an opera written by the English composer Henry Purcell in the late 17th century. Although it is written in three acts with a total of 5 listed scenes, it takes only about an hour and is played without a break. Continue reading »

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Turandot – A small opera company takes on a big opera – and produces a masterpiece

I love West Bay Opera and was thrilled to find that their production of Turandot by Puccini more than held its own in comparison to the Met HD’s performance.

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