2018 West Edge Festival Brochure

The 2018

West Edge Festival August 4-19 Craneway Conference Center

PellĂŠas & MĂŠlisande

Claude Debussy

Mata Hari Matt Marks & Paul Peers

Quartett

Luca Francesconi

Buy Series Tickets at WestEdgeOpera.org

West Edge Opera seasons come together in an organic sort of way.

Jonathan Khuner and I are proud of the balance of the festival operas and the incredibly talented artists that we attract to create and perform these productions. Actually, we haven’t quite developed a formula for a “balanced season,” but we feel like we know it when we see it.

Pelléas & Mélisande

Claude Debussy

Mata Hari Matt Marks & Paul Peers

Quartett

Luca Francesconi 2

This year, with the addition of Pelléas & Mélisande, the season became —as if by magic— focused on women. It couldn’t have happened at a more propitious time, as we find ourselves with a season with three female characters who don’t fit the usual typecast of women in opera—that is, as victims. Mata Hari is an exploration of love and survival of the famous woman whose exploits in espionage took her behind the battle lines in Europe during World War I. In Quartett, Marquise de Merteuil has rejected her former lover (Valmont in The Dangerous Liaisons), and now, without a hint of love or sentiment, plays a ruthless game of sexual chess with him. But the character that surprises the most is Mélisande. A refugee from unknown terrors, she married the wrong brother and is not at all passive in how she deals with that situation. She is usually played as an innocent ingénue; in our production, I am assured she will be anything but.

In this moment when gender equality has at last come front and center on the national stage, we note that the six directors of music and staging (not counting me this year; I’m taking a time out) are divided equally gender-wise. It wasn’t planned; we just went looking for talented people to work with, and came out perfectly balanced. In this year of welcome upheaval, it’s a great time for this kind of season.

Mark Streshinsky General Director

About our Next Alternative Venue

The historic location is home to the Rosie the Riveter Museum

The Craneway Conference Center sits on the waterfront near Point Richmond and is adjacent to the better known Craneway Pavillion. There is space for indoor picnicking by windows that provide a sweeping view of the harbor and bay, and the center gives us the ability to expand our popular VIP donor parking program! The building was a Ford Motor Assembly plant built in 1930 at the beginning of the Great Depression and is credited with bringing prosperity to the area. When World War II began it was quickly transformed to assemble the parts of tanks and other war vehicles. In the 1990s it was rehabilitated and now houses several businesses as well as the Pavillion, The Rosie The Riveter Museum and a popular restaurant fittingly called “Assemble.”

An Evening at The Craneway

Stunning view in the evening at the Craneway

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15 6:30PM

We are bringing our annual fundraiser to the stage once again. Join us for a party with the entire company and special guests. Mingle with your favorite artists, hear some of them sing and support West Edge Opera. It’s much more informal than your traditional gala. Arrive between 6:30-7:00PM for dessert and champagne, song and fun. We’ll take a few moments to appeal to your generosity, and we’ll make it worth your while. Special guests will be announced soon.

Entry to the event can be purchased with your ticket order using the form in this brochure, online at WestEdgeOpera.org or by calling (510) 841-1903.

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Pelléas & Mélisande (1902) Claude Debussy

Based on the play by Maurice Maeterlinck IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES

The Opera The only opera Debussy ever completed, Pelléas & Mélisande is considered a masterpiece of symbolist drama and a landmark of 20th century music. A mysterious woman comes between two half brothers in a far-off legendary kingdom. Director Keturah Stickan, who has created productions all over the country, tackles this enigmatic opera in a staging that will focus our thoughts on Mélisande’s situation and life.

The Artists Jonathan Khuner Conductor/Music Director Chad Owens Scenic Designer

Keturah Stickan Stage Director

Alina Bokovikova Costume Designer

David Blalock Pelléas

Kendra Broom Mélisande

Efrain Solis Golaud

Philip Skinner Arkel

Jeremy Knight Projection Designer

Malin Fritz Geneviève 5

Mata Hari

(2017) Matt Marks Composer Paul Peers Librettist

IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES

The Opera Mata Hari premiered in New York in January 2017 at the HERE arts center where the piece was created as part of their artist-in-residence program. The opera takes the music-theater art form to a new level with its genre-bending use of style and orchestration leading us on a journey through the life of one of the most fascinating women in history. Mata Hari is a story told in a series of memories as she faces the end of her life and looks back on it both with and without regret.

The Artists Emily Senturia Conductor/Music Director Neal Wilkinson Scenic Designer

Paul Peers Stage Director

Oana Botez Costume Designer

Tina Mitchell Mata Hari

Molly Mahoney Sister Leonide

Nikolas Nackley Cpt. Bouchardon

Samuel Faustine Vadime Spirit of Norman

David Palmer Projection Designer

Daniel Cilli Cpt. Ladoux 7

Quartett

(2011) Luca Francesconi Based on the play by Heiner Müller IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES

The Opera Luca Francesconi describes the piece as a challenge to our ideas of opera, of society, of the dominance of Western thinking: “Don’t dare to come if you can't accept that you need to analyze what you do and who you are. This piece is violent, it’s sex, it’s blasphemy, it’s the absence of mercy.” Sounds like a perfect way for Elkhanah Pulitzer, creator of our landmark productions of Lulu and Powder Her Face, to round out a trio of operas that employ decadence and debauchery to expose a more profound reality. We are thrilled to welcome both the incredible soprano Heather Buck and noted conductor John Kennedy to our family and expect Quartett to be our wildest yet.

Warning: This opera is recommended for mature audiences only.

The Artists John Kennedy Conductor/Music Director

Elkhanah Pulitzer Stage Director

Chad Owens Scenic Designer

Christine Crook Costume Designer

Jeremy Wagner Sound & Electronics

Heather Buck Marquise de Merteuil

Hadleigh Adams Vicomte de Valmont

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Opera for All! We want as many people as possible to enjoy our productions.

SILVER TICKET

SILVER TICKETS PRICE DROP We are reducing the prices of our Silver Tickets by $10.

Buy tickets for all three operas for an even lower price.

NEW SERIES TICKET

NEW SERIES TICKET BUYER SPECIAL* Special offer for new subscribers who purchase weekday tickets.

Tickets as low as $24 per opera. That’s a full half off of the price! * This series is available only to new series ticket buyers by phone.

YES! WE HAVE A FREE SHUTTLEBUS! Beat the traffic and hassle. Take our free shuttle from the Richmond BART station, a mere 7 minutes from the Craneway.

Shuttles depart every 20 minutes starting two hours before curtain.

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Come Picnic with Us! This year, our festival tent will be replaced with indoor table seating along the windows that look out onto the bay. Once again, we will provide pre-ordered boxed meals from Poulet, or bring your own.

The space will open two hours before curtain. Food may be ordered in advance (until 3 days before your show) through our website or by calling (510) 841-1903.

Your Food. Your Choice. $16 PER MEAL No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

Fried Chicken Sandwich with Kale Salad Roast Beef Sandwich with Potato Salad Seasonal Frittata with Side Salad and Roll (Vegetarian) Trio of Seasonal Salads

About Poulet Poulet was co-founded in 1979 by Marilyn Rinzler and Bruce Aidells.

Inspired by Marilyn who was a single parent of two, Poulet began as take-out only, designed for people who didn’t have the time to cook and wanted to take home fresh, healthy, gourmet food. Poulet has always had a simple philosophy: Food is very basic, let’s enjoy it.

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August 4-19 Craneway Conference Center 1414 Harbour Way South Richmond, CA 94804

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Saturday

5

Sunday

10

Friday

Saturday

12

Sunday

15

Wednesday

16

Thursday

17

Friday

18

Saturday

19

Sunday

12

Pelléas & Mélisande 8PM Mata Hari 3PM Mata Hari 8PM Quartett 8PM Pelléas & Mélisande 3PM An Evening at the Craneway 7PM Quartett 8PM Pelléas & Mélisande 8PM Mata Hari 8PM Quartett 3PM

SAVE MONEY BUY A SERIES Big News! We want to introduce the amazing art form that is opera to a wider audience by reducing our price on the Silver Section, dropping it below the normally discounted price for seniors and youth.

PLUS! Series tickets are as much as 10% less than single tickets which will be available on June 1. Series tickets are on sale April 1. Purchase ASAP for best options.

SERIES A

Openings

August 4: Pelléas & Mélisande August 5: Mata Hari August 11: Quartett

SERIES B

Saturday Nights

August 4: Pelléas & Mélisande August 11: Quartett August 18: Mata Hari

SERIES C

Sunday Matinees

August 5: Mata Hari August 12: Pelléas & Mélisande August 19: Quartett

SERIES D

Second Weekend

August 10: Mata Hari August 11: Quartett August 12: Pelléas & Mélisande

SERIES E

Third Weekend

August 17: Pelléas & Mélisande August 18: Mata Hari August 19: Quartett

SERIES F

Make Your Own

SERIES G*

Weeknights for New Series Ticket Buyers

August 10: Mata Hari August 16: Quartett August 17: Pelléas & Mélisande

* This series is available only to first-time series ticket buyers by phone.

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PRICING Platinum Reserved Seats Gold Reserved Seats Silver General Admission

3 Operas for $339 3 Operas for $258 3 Operas for $129

BIG SAVINGS EXCLUSIVELY FOR NEW SERIES TICKET BUYERS* * Weeknights. This series is available only to first-time series ticket buyers by phone.

Series G Platinum 3 Operas for $189 $63 per opera Series G Gold 3 Operas for $144 $48 per opera Series G Silver 3 Operas for $72 $24 per opera PLATINUM SERIES PERKS Aisle and front row of the front/center section. Comfortable padded chairs.

Ability to choose your own seats if you order online. Easy ticket exchange via phone!

GOLD SERIES PERKS Front center section. Comfortable padded chairs. Ability to choose your own seats if you order online. Easy ticket exchange via phone!

SILVER SERIES PERKS Easy ticket exchange via phone!

THREE WAYS TO ORDER ONLINE

WestEdgeOpera.org

PHONE

(510) 841-1903

MAIL

1700 Shattuck Avenue #312 Berkeley, CA 94709 Please fill out the form on the right.

Fees waived for mail orders.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM THE SF BAY BRIDGE, BERKELEY & THE REST OF THE EAST BAY Take 80 east towards Sacramento. Merge onto I-580 W towards Point Richmond, San Rafael.

Take Exit 9A towards Harbor Way South. Turn right on Cutting Blvd then right on Harbour Way. Drive one mile until you see our flags.

FROM MARIN: Take the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Take Exit 9 Harbour Way. Turn left on Cutting Blvd and go over the freeway. Turn right on Harbour Way at the Arco station and go over the freeway again.

Drive one mile until you see our flags.

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Thank you for being part of the West Edge family.

Ticket sales account for only about 40% of the cost to mount these productions.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to West Edge Opera with your ticket order.

Season Tickets

Series Letter

Quantity

An Evening at The Craneway

FUNDRAISING EVENT

____________

x $100

=

$ ____________

____________

x

$339

=

$ ____________

Platinum

____________

x

$ Amount

O Best available in section O Call me for my seating preference

Gold

____________

x

____________

x

$258

=

$ ____________

O Best available in section O Call me for my seating preference

Silver

____________

x

Total Poulet Meals Total Poulet Meals

____________

x

$129

=

$ ____________

____________

x

$16

=

$ ____________

=

$ ____________

TOTAL=

$ ____________

We will contact you for meal selections.

Deductible Gift (Thank you!)

Tax DeductibleTax Gift For Series F patrons, please select dates: PellĂŠas & MĂŠlisande Mata Hari Quartett

O Saturday 8/4 O Sunday 8/5 O Saturday 8/11

O Sunday 8/12 O Friday 8/10 O Thursday 8/16

O Friday 8/17 O Saturday 8/18 O Sunday 8/19

Series G Tickets available by phone only.

Payment Information O Check Enclosed

Payable to West Edge Opera

O Visa O Mastercard O AmEx Please write card information below.

Name Address

Phone

City

State

Card No.

Exp

Email I hereby authorize West Edge Opera to charge my card accordingly.

Zip

Signature

O Discover

Jonathan Khuner Music Director

© 2018 West Edge Opera • Images for Pelléas & Mélisande and Quartett by Cory Weaver Image for Mata Hari by Paula Court • Designed by PEPEcreatives.com

WestEdgeOpera.org

Order now and get the best seats.

Mark Streshinsky General Director 1700 Shattuck Avenue, #312 Berkeley, CA 94709

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