A Celebration of Music ON THE DANUBE
Experience the rich musical heritage of the “Blue Danube” with an array of included excursions on AmaWaterways’ Celebration of Music river cruises. Walk in the footsteps of renowned composers during guided tours in Budapest and Bratislava. Visit the historic Mozart residence in charming Salzburg and find inspiration during an evening of live music at one of Vienna’s elegant venues.
Contact your travel advisor or scan the QR code for dates and details.
P1 Program
Cast, performances, who’s who, director’s notes, donors and more.
6 In the Wings
Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help at North Coast Rep; Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again at La Jolla Playhouse; Leslie Odom Jr. (pictured) at Jacobs Music Center; and more.
12 Feature:
San Diego Opera’s 60th Anniversary
A look inside San Diego Opera’s 60th anniversary season, featuring three mainstage productions at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
17 Dining
Your November “eat sheet,” including Leila, Civico 1845, Wilma’s Carousel Bar, Slowly Restaurant & Lounge, and Postino Wine Cafe.
32 Parting Thought
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PUBLISHER
Jeff Levy
EDITOR
Sarah Daoust
ART DIRE CTOR
Carol Wakano
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Glenda Mendez
PRODUCTION ARTIST
Diana Gonzalez
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Stephanie Saad
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Kerry Baggett
ACCOUNT DIRE CTORS
Walter Lewis, Jean Greene, Liz Moore
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Christine Noriega-Roessler
BUSINESS MANAGER
Leanne Killian Riggar
MARKETING/ PRODUCTION MANAGER
Dawn Kiko Cheng
DIGITAL PROGRAM MANAGER
Audrey Duncan Welch
DIGITAL MANAGER
Lorenzo Dela Rama
Contact Us
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CIRCULATION Christine.Roessler@ CaliforniaMediaGroup.com
HONORARY PRESIDENT
Ted Levy
NOTABLE IN NOVEMBER
WHO BETTER TO get us into the holiday spirit than the hairy, grumpy green guy? The Old Globe presents its long-beloved, familyfriendly musical, Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, based on the classic Dr. Seuss tale—with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin—Nov. 6-Dec. 31. Now in its 27th year, the production features fan favorite Andrew Polec returning as The Grinch, an endearing Who-ville cast, and popular songs such as “Welcome Christmas.” theoldglobe.org Continuing through Nov. 17 at North Coast Rep, the San Diego premiere of Katie Forgette’s Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help is an endearing comedy that takes us inside the 1970s working-class family home of the O’Shea clan. northcoastrep.org At La Jolla Playhouse Nov. 19-Dec. 15, Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again is a funny, heartwarming world-premiere play about “Christmas, but not as you know it,” written by Anna Ouyang Moench. lajollaplayhouse.org Lamb’s Players Theatre brings back last year’s sold-out smash, RESPECTFULLY Christmas, Nov. 26-Dec. 29—with 14 singers, actors and musicians performing holiday songs. lambsplayers.org
From left: David Rumley and Charles Evans, Jr. in RESPECTFULLY Christmas; the cast of The Old Globe’s Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 2023.
L-R: KEN JACQUES; JIM COX
Orchestral Anime
COMPOSED AND ARRANGED by Emmy Award-winning Jeremy Zuckerman, Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert comes to the San Diego Civic Theatre on Nov. 21, presented by Broadway San Diego and produced by Nickelodeon. The immersive concert experience comprises a recap of the animated
TV series’ three seasons (not to be confused with the James Cameron movie series)—displayed on a fullsize cinema screen—accompanied by a live orchestra performing the score in sync with each iconic scene. Avatar fans can experience some of the more memorable moments of the series’ popular characters, such as Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Zuko and more. Inspired by American cartoon styles, Chinese culture and anime, the orchestral accompaniment spotlights instruments from clarinets and violins, to taiko drums and erhus. Broadway World hails it as “a great multimedia entertainment experience.” broadwaysd.com
Broadway San Diego hosts Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024 · 3 PM
BALBOA THEATRE
Sing along to your favorite GRAMMY® Award-winning songs performed by the live band, Banda de la Casita, while watching the full film!
Joyce DiDonato and Kings Return with Craig Terry
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024 • 7:30 PM
THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL
A joyful blend of sacred and popular repertoire performed by an unforgettable collaboration of world-class talent.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2024 • 7:30 PM
BALBOA THEATRE
“They make you get up and dance...salsa at its timeless best.” — Los Angeles Times
© DISNEY
CraigTer
Joyce DiDonato
PICTURE THIS
THE WORLD’S leading award for photography and sustainability, Prix Pictet, presents the exhibition, Human—on view at MOPA@SDMA (Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art) through Dec. 15. Featuring works by 12 international photographers who were shortlisted for the 10th cycle of Prix Pictet, the exhibit comprises imagery that sheds light on global sustainability and its impact on the human experience. Spanning landscapes, portraiture, documentaries and more, the collection spotlights social issues such as industrial development, collapse of economic processes, gang violence, migration, borderlands and plights of indigenous people— captured by photographers in Iran, Ukraine, Iceland, Mexico, France and more. MOPA@SDMA is the only U.S. stop for Human as it embarks on an international tour. mopa.org
MUSEUM
Live in Concert
NOVEMBER IS BRIMMING with exciting concerts at the newly renovated and reopened Jacobs Music Center downtown. Among them, the San Diego Symphony presents “A New World Odyssey,” Nov. 16-17, as part of its Jacobs Masterworks programming. The repertoire includes works by John Adams, Thomas Adès and Dvorák; with Elena Schwarz conducting and special guest, violinist Leila Josefowicz. On Nov. 23, a special Jazz @ The Jacobs concert pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. Vocalists and musicians include Champian Fulton, Jane Monheit, Sherry Williams, Ricky Woodard, Sam Hirsh, John Clayton and Matt Wilson. On Nov. 30, get into the holiday spirit with Leslie Odom Jr. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and actor performs at Jacobs as part of his tour showcasing his release, The Christmas Album. See website for tickets and more details. sandiegosymphony.org
MUSIC
“Queensland Bottle Tree,” by Richard Renaldi, in Human. Top right, clockwise: Leslie Odom Jr.; violinist Leila Josefowicz; pianist and singer Champian Fulton.
Operatic Excellence
SAN DIEGO OPERA CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH THREE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS by
STEPHANIE SAAD
Like the doomed chevalier Cavaradossi in the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Tosca, San Diego Opera faced a death sentence 10 years ago. The outfit’s then-General Director made the shocking move to shut down the company. Thankfully, unlike Mario Cavaradossi, San Diego Opera lived to sing another day, in large part because of a valiant coalition of dedicated supporters and determined staffers. Now, preparing to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary season, General Director
David Bennett says he takes nothing for granted.
“A lot of people in San Diego want opera to be here. This season is selling very well,” Bennett says. “We’ve proven opera is alive and flourishing in San Diego, as it is in many places in the country post-Covid. There’s a sense of optimism we are seeing coming out of last season and continuing with this season. We’re very confident about where the company is right now, and that’s a terrific place to be as we’re entering our 60th season.”
SDO’s La bohème “drive-in” in 2020; Luciano Pavarotti in La bohème circa 1980.
San Diego Opera (SDO) launched as a company in 1965; its first production at the new Civic Theatre was the beloved Puccini opera La bohème—a tragic love story between the poor seamstress Mimì and the broke poet Rodolfo—set amid scenes of bohemian life in early 19th-century Paris. After that, it became a tradition for the outfit to produce La bohème every five years. In 2020, SDO became the first in the U.S. to perform before a live audience during the pandemic shutdown, with an innovative drivein opera production of La bohème. The musicians and singers were distanced from each other, and the audience listened in from their cars, which were parked in the Pechanga Arena parking lot. Projections
Feeling strong, passionate, and purposeful is easier to achieve in a stimulating and supportive setting. That’s where La Vida Del Mar shines—where premium amenities, gourmet dining, and innovative programs create an environment for abundant and immersive experiences. Book a tour and take it all in.
NOVEMBER 30
DECEMBER 9
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DECEMBER 10
Tickets Make Great Gifts!
FEBRUARY 22
MARCH 29
helped bring the production to life. With some adjustments, it returns to open this season, Nov. 1-3. Scenic Designer Tim Wallace employs a mix of projections and set pieces, including the panels from the drive-in production. Stage Director Keturah Stickann, who directed the drive-in La bohème and returns for the 60th anniversary production, says the restrictions of performing [during the pandemic] shaped her ideas for the opera. “The concepts grew out of the artists not being able to touch each other, having to stay 20 feet away from each other, which is a real issue when you’re dealing with a love story like La bohème,” she says. “My idea is that Rodolfo is remembering his past, in the role of storyteller, reliving these scenes while writing his memoirs 10 to 15 years into the future.
Our Lady
Andriana
We see everyone as a memory except for Mimì, who is a ghost who haunts him for the evening.”
Stickann continues, “Now that we can all be close to each other again and get into each other’s singing space, we’re updating the production to take place in 1939—with Rodolfo in his apartment in the early ‘50s. We have more leeway into how we tell the story and how deeply he can dive into some of his memories.”
Conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya in her San Diego Opera debut, La /CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
“A laugh-out-loud comedy with a heartwarming touch.”
BY KATIE FORGETTE
| DIRECTED BY JENNY
SULLIVAN
san diego premiere OCT 23-NOV 17
“Incredibly accomplished pianists and very funny comedic actors. The show is clearly made with
— BROADWAYWORLD
BY TED DYKSTRA AND RICHARD GREENBLATT
DIRECTED BY TOM FREY return engagement by popular demand dec 12-29
NORTHCOASTREP.ORG box office (858) 481-1055 group sales (858) 481-2155, ext. 202
Chuchman in a past production of La Traviata; Keturah Stickann.
Letter from the General Director/Carta del Director General
Welcome to this performance of La bohème and to the opening of our 60th anniversary season. We begin this year of celebration with a return to where we began. La bohème was the inaugural opera for our company, and is the opera that has been most produced in our history. Many of them were among our brightest moments, including the 1980 production starring Luciano Pavarotti and Diana Soviero. We are especially proud of our 2020 drive-in production, which was the first opera produced before a live audience in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the drive-in production, we discovered the dramatic impact of using memory as a storytelling device, which we return to in this production. You will see the events told from Rodolfo’s memory, a decade in the future.
Our anniversary season continues in December with Making Merry, a one-night-only concert at the Balboa Theatre that showcases the immense talents of the San Diego Opera Chorus in a fun and festive holiday performance. And we return to the Civic Theatre in the spring with exciting new productions of Salome and La traviata
All of this is only possible because of the generous support of so many. We are tremendously grateful.
Sincerely,
The mission of San Diego Opera is to deliver exceptional performances and exciting, accessible programs to diverse audiences, focusing on community partnerships and the transformative and expressive power of the human voice.
Bienvenidos a esta presentación de La bohème asi como la apertura de nuestra temporada de sesentavo aniversario.
Comenzamos este año de celebración regresando a donde comenzamos. La bohème fue la ópera con la cual inauguramos nuestra compañía y es la ópera que más veces se ha producido en nuestra historia. Varios de esos momentos fueron de los más brillantes, incluyendo la producción de 1980 protagonizada por Luciano Pavarotti y Diana Soviero. Estamos especialmente orgullosos de nuestra producción de 2020 en formato de autocinema, que fue la primera ópera presentada con público en vivo en EE. UU. durante la pandemia de COVID-19.
En la producción de autocinema, descubrimos el impacto dramático de utilizar la memoria como recurso narrativo, al cual regresamos en esta producción. Ustedes verán los eventos surgidos de la memoria de Rodolfo, una década en el futuro.
Nuestra temporada de aniversario continúa en diciembre con Making Merry, un concierto único en el Balboa Theatre que muestra el gran talento del Coro de la Ópera de San Diego en una divertida y festiva presentación navideña. Y regresamos al Teatro Cívico en la primavera con las nuevas y emocionantes producciones de Salome y La traviata
Todo esto es solo posible gracias al generoso apoyo de tantos. Estamos enormemente agradecidos.
Atentamente,
San Diego Opera will be recognized globally as a leading example of adaptability, innovation and sustainability, promoting diversity on stage, in our repertoire, and in our staff and leadership, with a commitment to world-class and emerging talent, and innovative use of technology.
David Bennett | General Director
Mission
Vision
David Bennett | Carta del Director General
ABOUT SAN DIEGO OPERA
DAVID BENNETT
Season Sponsors
CITY OF SAN DIEGO TERESA ** AND MERLE ** FISCHLOWITZ
Music by GIACOMO PUCCINI
Libretto by LUIGI ILLICA and GIUSEPPE GIACOSA
SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE
November 1 – 7:30 pm | November 2 – 7:30 pm | November 3 – 2:00 pm
Major Production Sponsor Lee and Frank ** Goldberg
Lead Production Sponsor James Silberrad Brown Foundation
Sung in Italian with English and Spanish text projected above the stage. Costumes designed for Utah Symphony and Opera by Susan Allred.
CAST
Rodolfo (Nov. 1 and 3) ...................................... Joshua Blue*
Rodolfo (Nov. 2)
César Delgado*
Mimì (Nov. 1 and 3) Kathleen O’Mara*
Mimì (Nov. 2) ........................................................Sarah Tucker
Marcello Leroy Davis*
Musetta Latonia Moore
Colline.................................................................. Harold Wilson*
Schaunard
Søren Pedersen
Alcindoro Michael Sokol
*San Diego Opera debut
**In memoriam
^Program subject to change.
CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor............................................. Lidiya Yankovskaya*
Director Keturah Stickann
Assistant Director Nicolás A. Garcia
Chorus Master ................................................ Bruce Stasyna
Musical Preparation Bruce Stasyna
Italian Diction Emanuela Patroncini
Supertitle Caller ........................................ Oxana Bulgakova
Scenic Design Tim Wallace
Projection Design
Tim Wallace
Costume Design.................................................. Susan Allred
Lighting Design Chris Rynne
Wig and Make-up Designer Peter Herman
Stage Manager ................................................. Peter Nictakis
Synopsis
PROLOGUE
In his Paris study, Rodolfo struggles to write between daydreams. He finds himself reflecting on bittersweet memories of his not-so-distant past.
ACT I
He is reminded of Christmas Eve in a Latin Quarter garret ten years earlier when he and painter Marcello, both near-destitute, try to keep warm using the pages of his latest drama as kindling for the stove. They are soon joined by their roommates, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who brings food, fuel, and funds he has collected from an eccentric student. As his three friends leave to celebrate their new fortune at Café Momus, Rodolfo remains behind to finish
ACT II
Rodolfo remembers introducing Mimì to his friends that night at Café Momus. Marcello’s former sweetheart, Musetta, makes a noisy entrance, in the company of the wealthy Alcindoro. The ensuing mayhem reaches its peak
ACT III
Rodolfo’s memory then wanders to a snowy morning on the outskirts of Paris, a few months after Christmas Eve. Mimì meets up with Marcello at a tavern where he is living. She tells him of her distress over Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy, and says she believes it is best that they part. When Rodolfo appears from the tavern, Mimì hides nearby, though Marcello thinks she has gone. The poet tells Marcello that he wants to separate from his sweetheart, citing her fickleness; pressed
ACT IV
Rodolfo’s final memory is of his garret that following spring, where he and Marcello pine for Mimì and Musetta. As Colline and Schaunard return, all are quickly interrupted by Musetta who bursts in to tell them that Mimì is outside, too weak to come upstairs. Rodolfo sees to Mimì, while Musetta asks Marcello to sell her earrings
an article. There is a knock at the door; the visitor is a neighbor, Mimì, whose candle has gone out on the stairway. Rodolfo relights it. Mimì realizes she has lost her key, and in the confusion, both candles are blown out again. As the two search for the key in the moonlight, their hands touch. Rodolfo tells Mimì his dreams. She then recounts her life alone in a lofty garret, embroidering flowers and waiting for the spring. Expressing their joy in finding each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave to join his friends.
when, trying to regain Marcello’s attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity. Sending Alcindoro off on an errand, she comes back to Marcello in dramatic fashion, and tells the waiter to charge everything to Alcindoro.
for the real reason, he breaks down, saying that her coughing can only grow worse in the poverty they share; he’s desperately afraid she will die from her illness. Overcome with sadness, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover farewell. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall past happiness, Musetta quarrels with Marcello, who has caught her flirting. The painter and his mistress part, hurling insults at each other, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to remain together until spring.
for medicine and Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat. Left alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first meeting and their happy days, but she is seized with violent coughing. The others return as Mimì is drifting into her final slumber. As Rodolfo recalls his grief and loss, he calls out Mimì’s name despairingly.
PRÓLOGO
En su estudio de París, Rodolfo tiene dificultades para escribir mientras sueña despierto. Él se encuentra reflexionando sobre sus dulces y amargos recuerdos de un pasado no muy lejano.
PRIMER ACTO
Él se está acordando de la Nochebuena en la guardilla del Barrio Latino hace diez años cuando él y el pintor Marcello, ambos casi al borde de la ruina, trataban de mantenerse calientes usando las páginas de su última obra dramática como leña para el fogón. Pero pronto se les unen sus compañeros que habitan en la misma casa, Colline un fotógrafo, y Schaunard un músico, quien les trae comida, combustible, y dinero que ha cobrado de un estudiante excéntrico. Mientras que sus tres amigos salen para celebrar su buena suerte en el Café Momus, Rodolfo se queda atrás
SEGUNDO ACTO
Esa noche en el Café Momus, Rodolfo les presenta a Mimí a sus amigos. La ex-novia de Marcello, Musetta hace una estruendosa entrada y viene acompañada del millonario Alcindoro. De pronto el escándalo llega a su clímax cuando
TERCER ACTO
Los recuerdos de Rodolfo lo llevan a una mañana nevada en las afueras de París, algunos meses después de la Noche Buena. Mimí se encuentra con Marcello en la posada donde vive. Le plática del sufrimiento que le causan los celos constantes de Rodolfo y le dice que cree que es mejor que se separen. Cuando Rodolfo sale de la posada, Mimí se esconde cerca, aunque Marcello piensa que se ha ido. El poeta le dice a Marcello que quiere separarse de su novia alegando que es caprichosa, pero presionado por la verdadera
CUARTO ACTO
El último recuerdo de Rodolfo es el de su guardilla esa primavera, donde él y Marcello languidecen por Mimí y Musetta. A medida que Colline y Schaunard regresan, de repente son interrumpidos por Musetta quien les dice que Mimí está afuera pero está muy débil para subir. Rodolfo atiende a Mimí, mientras Musetta le pide a Marcello que venda sus aretes para comprar
para terminar un artículo. Entonces alguien toca a la puerta; el visitante es una vecina, Mimí, cuya vela se ha apagado en las escaleras. Rodolfo la vuelve a encender. Mimí se da cuenta que ha perdido su llave, y en la confusión, las dos velas se han vuelto a apagar. Mientras que ambos buscan la llave a la luz de la luna, sus manos se tocan. Rodolfo le platica a Mimí sus sueños. Entonces ella le relata su vida solitaria en una elevada guardilla, bordando flores y esperando la primavera. Expresando su júbilo por haberse encontrado, Mimí y Rodolfo salen para unirse a sus amigos.
trata de atraer la atención de Marcello de nuevo, cantando un vals que habla de su popularidad. Envía a Alcindoro a hacer un mandado y ella se acerca a Marcello en forma dramática y le dice al mesero que le mande la cuenta a Alcindoro.
razón, comienza a lamentarse diciendo que su tos sólo puede empeorar en la pobreza que comparten; él está aterrado de que ella muera a causa de su enfermedad. Agobiada por la tristeza, Mimí vacilante sale de su escondite para despedirse de su amado. Mientras Mimí y Rodolfo recuerdan que tal felices fueron en el pasado, Musetta pelea con Marcello, quien se dio cuenta que estaba coqueteando. El pintor y su amante se van, gritándose mutuamente insultos, pero Mimí y Rodolfo deciden quedarse juntos hasta la primavera.
medicinas y Colline sale para empeñar su abrigo. Ya solos, Mimí y Rodolfo se acuerdan de la primera vez que se conocieron y de sus días felices, pero le entra un violento ataque de tos. Los demás regresan mientras Mimí desvariando se va hacia su último sueño. En tanto Rodolfo hace alusión a su duelo y pérdida, él pronuncia el nombre de Mimí desesperadamente.
Director’s Notes/Nota del Director
This production of La boh è me was born out of the strict COVID regulations during our season in 2020, in which none of the singers could get within 15 feet of one another without a mask. This meant I had to figure out how to tell this story of friendship, love and mortality without physical touch. The concept of setting the piece in Rodolfo’s memory grew from there.
Henri Murger wrote “ Sc è nes de la vie de Boh è me” in 1845 as a series of short tales that would later be adapted by Giacosa and Illica into the libretto for La boh è me. In the book, Murger cast himself as the protagonist, a writer by the name of Rodolphe, and so I’ve set our production of La boh è me in Rodolfo’s (Murger’s alter ego) study approximately twelve years after the action of the opera has ended. As he writes these tales of his misspent
youth, he is surrounded by his memories of the garret, Marcello’s feverish affair with Musetta, Café Momus, and his beloved Mimì. Sometimes they flit by him with histrionic joy, sometimes he finds himself falling deep inside of them, and in the case of Mimì, she weighs on him so heavily that she nearly becomes manifest in his study. Her ghost is still with him, as the dead usually are when they are taken from us so suddenly.
This COVID -mandated lens allowed us to probe deeper into Rodolfo’s emotional space as he wrestles with the exuberance of carefree youth running headlong into the deep pain and guilt of true love and untimely death. In the years following 2020, I’ve been able to tease out this concept further while, once again, the singers are able to be close to one another on stage. I believe that telling the story this way gives us a deeper connection to these brilliant, well-rounded characters as they struggle with the universal, timeless pains of being human.
Esta producción de La bohème surgió debido a las estrictas regulaciones del COVID durante nuestra temporada en 2020, en la que ninguno de los cantantes podìa acercarse al menos 5 metros de distancia sin cubrebocas, lo cual significó buscar la manera para contar esta historia de amistad amor y mortalidad sin el contacto fìsico. El concepto de ubicar la pieza en la memoria de Rodolfo creció a partir de ahì.
Henri Murger escribió “ Scènes de la vie de bohème” en 1845 como una serie de cuentos cortos que más tarde serìan adaptados por Giacosa e Illica en el libreto de La bohème. En el libro, Murger se presenta como el protagonista, un escritor llamado Rodolphe, es asì como he ambientado nuestra producción de La bohème, en el estudio de Rodolfo (el álter ego de Murger) aproximadamente doce años después de que la ópera habìa terminado. Mientras escribe estos relatos de su juventud malgastada, se encuentra rodeado de sus recuerdos del desván, el febril romance de
Marcello con Musetta, el Café Momus y su amada Mimí. A veces, estos recuerdos vuelan a su lado con alegrìa histriónica, otras veces se siente sumergido en ellos, y en el caso de Mimí, ella le pesa tanto, que siente su presencia en su estudio. Su fantasma sigue con él, como suelen estar los muertos cuando nos son arrebatados de forma tan abrupta.
Este enfoque obligado por el COVID, nos permitió profundizar en el espacio emocional de Rodolfo mientras lucha con la exuberancia de la juventud despreocupada que se enfrenta al profundo dolor y la culpa del verdadero amor y la muerte prematura. En los años posteriores a 2020, he podido desarrollar aún más este concepto, ahora que nuevamente, podemos estar cerca unos de otros en el escenario. Creo que contar la historia de esta manera nos brinda una conexión más profunda con estos brillantes y bien definidos personajes que luchan contra el dolor universal y eterno que comprende el ser humano.
KETURAH STICKANN
Artists
JOSHUA BLUE
Rodolfo (Nov. 1 and 3), Tenor
San Diego Opera debut
Recent and Upcoming: Wilson in Intelligence (Houston Grand Opera); Tamino in The Magic Flute (Metropolitan Opera); Dvořák’s Requiem (Carnegie Hall); Brahms’ Rinaldo (The Fisher Center at Bard); the final movement of Beethoven’s Symphony #9 (Oratorio Society of New York); Wendell Logan’s Runagate, Runagate (Oberlin Sinfonietta); Moravec’s Sanctuary Road (Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Princeton Pro Musica); tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony #9 (Hollywood Bowl); Royal Herald in Don Carlo (Metropolitan Opera); Rodolfo in La bohème (Opera Philadelphia).
LEROY DAVIS
Marcello, Baritone
San Diego Opera debut
Recent and Upcoming: Blue Dove/Dr. Undertow in Ruinous Gods (Spoleto Festival); Schaunard in the Bronzeville La bohème (Florentine Opera); Benny Paret in Champion (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Charlie in Three Decembers (Opera on the Avalon); John O’Mara in February (Opera on the Avalon); Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (Cedar Rapids Opera); The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (Nashville Opera); Figaro in The Barber of Seville (Florentine Opera).
CÉSAR DELGADO
Rodolfo (Nov. 2), Tenor
San Diego Opera debut
Recent and Upcoming: Alfredo in La traviata (Portland Opera in the Park); title role in Zorro (Fort Worth Opera, Opera Southwest); Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas (Nashville Opera, Opera San José); Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor (Theater Regensburg); Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto (New Orleans Opera); Mr. Rodriguez in Awakenings (Odyssey Opera of Boston/ Boston Modern Opera Project); Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas).
LATONIA MOORE
Musetta, Soprano
San Diego Opera Highlights: Title role in Aida; Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly; Soloist in GRAMMY® Greats Unite – Latonia Moore and J’Nai Bridges in Concert.
Recent and Upcoming: Title role in Tosca (Oklahoma City Philharmonic); Billie in Fire Shut Up In My Bones (The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lincoln Center); Margherita in Mefistofele (Teatro Lirico di Cagliari); Sister Rose in Dead Man Walking (The Metropolitan Opera); Emelda Griffith in Champion (Müpa Budapest, The Metropolitan Opera); Musetta in La bohème (The Metropolitan Opera); Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly (Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, The Dallas Opera); title role in Aida (The Metropolitan Opera, Arena di Verona Opera Festival, Los Angeles Opera); Serena in Porgy and Bess (Mostly Mozart, The Metropolitan Opera).
KATHLEEN O’MARA
Mimì (Nov. 1 and 3), Soprano
San Diego Opera debut
Recent and Upcoming: Berta in The Barber of Seville (Los Angeles Opera); First Maid in The Dwarf (Los Angeles Opera); Duchess Christina in Galileo Galilei (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (Juilliard School); Zemire in Zemire et Azor (Westminster Opera Theater).
SØREN PEDERSEN
Schaunard, Baritone
San Diego Opera Highlights: Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly; chorus member and soloist in El último sueño de Frida y Diego; chorus member in Tosca.
Recent and Upcoming: Marcello in La bohème (Opera À la Carte); l’Horloge and Le Chat Noir in L’enfant et les sortilèges (Chautauqua Opera Conservatory); Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia (Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music); Dr. Rappaccini in La hija de Rappaccini (Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music).
CHRIS RYNNE
Lighting Designer
San Diego Opera Highlights: Lighting Design - La traviata; La bohème; Aida; Madama Butterfly; As One; Carmen; The Barber of Seville; Tosca. Assistant lighting designer (2000-2008) .
Recent and Upcoming: Lighting Design - Madison Opera; Michigan Opera Theatre; Houston Grand Opera; The Old Globe; San Diego Rep; Berkeley Rep; Pasadena Playhouse; South Coast Rep; Laguna Playhouse; Geffen Playhouse; Cygnet Theatre; North Coast Rep; Diversionary Playhouse; Starlight Theatre; San Diego Musical Theatre (Regional).
Artists
MICHAEL SOKOL
Alcindoro, Baritone
San Diego Opera Highlights:
Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance; Ensemble in All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914; soloist in One Amazing Night: When I See Your Face Again; Sergeant in The Barber of Seville; Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi; A Sacristan in Tosca; Mr. Costello in Ghosts.
Recent and Upcoming: Giuseppe in La traviata (Pacific Lyric Association); soloist in All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (New York City Opera).
BRUCE STASYNA
Chorus Master
San Diego Opera Highlights:
Conductor - As One; Maria de Buenos Aires; One Amazing Night with Stephen Costello and Stephen Powell; All is Calm Holiday Concert; One Amazing Night: When I See Your Face Again; The Barber of Seville; Così fan tutte; GRAMMY® Greats Unite with Latonia Moore and J’Nai Bridges.
Recent and Upcoming: Chorus Master - New York City Opera, Minnesota Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Des Moines Opera; Conductor - New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Amalfi Coast Music Festival; Artistic Director, Principal Conductor - Green Mountain Opera Festival; Head of Music, Director of the Young Artist Program - Palm Beach Opera; Music Director - Vero Beach Opera.
KETURAH STICKANN
Stage Director
San Diego Opera Highlights:
Choreographer/Assistant Director in Pagliacci; Rigoletto; Peter Grimes; Romeo and Juliet; Moby-Dick; Cruzar la Cara de la Luna; Stage Director - Don Quixote; Turandot; La bohème Drive-in Opera; The Barber of Seville Drive-In Opera.
Recent and Upcoming: As One (Eugene Opera); Candide (Michigan Opera Theatre); Rusalka (Madison Opera); It’s A Wonderful Life (San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera); Pelléas et Mélisande (West Edge Opera); Orfeo ed Euridice (Florida Grand Opera); Norma (Opera Southwest); L’Orfeo (Chautauqua Opera), Lucia di Lammermoor (Opera Colorado), The Seven Deadly Sins and Pagliacci (Virginia Opera).
SARAH TUCKER
Mimì (Nov. 2), Soprano
San Diego Opera Highlights: Micaëla in Carmen; Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte.
Recent and Upcoming: Micaëla in Carmen (Sarasota Opera); Liù in Turandot (Gulfshore Opera); Mimì in La bohème (Fargo Moorhead Opera, Gulfshore Opera); Volunteer Girl in Another City (Houston Grand Opera); Tatyana in selections from Eugene Onegin (Vallejo Center for the Arts); My Sister’s Voice (Dayton Philharmonic); Verdi’s Requiem (Dallas Symphony); Freia in Das Rheingold (Virginia Opera); Adina in L’elisir d’amore (Dayton Opera, Opera Maine); Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (North Carolina Opera).
TIM WALLACE
Set/Projection Designer
San Diego Opera Highlights:
Set design – All Is Calm; The Barber of Seville; Così fan tutte; Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi; Don Giovanni.
Recent and Upcoming: San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, San Diego Comic-Con, Glenner Town Square, Drake-Jungle Tour, KidVentures, New Village Arts and Scripps Ranch Theatre. Member of the IATSE Local 800 Art Directors Guild.
HAROLD WILSON
Colline, Bass
San Diego Opera debut
Recent and Upcoming: Zacharie in Le prophète (Bard Summerscape); soloist in Mozart’s Requiem (The Philadelphia Orchestra); Daland in The Flying Dutchman (Opera Colorado); Reinmar von Zweter in Tannhäuser (The Metropolitan Opera); the Duke of Norfolk in Henry VIII (Fisher Center at Bard); Speaker in The Magic Flute (The Metropolitan Opera); Timur in Turandot (Opera Colorado); Ramfis in Aida (The Metropolitan Opera); Hobson in Peter Grimes (The Metropolitan Opera).
LIDIYA YANKOVSKAYA Conductor
San Diego Opera debut
Recent and Upcoming: Conductor - Il Trittico (Opera Australia); The Nose, Op. 15 (Chicago Opera Theater); Soldier Songs (Chicago Opera Theater); Rusalka (Santa Fe Opera); The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Chicago Opera Theater); Eugene Onegin (Staatsoper Hamburg); King Roger (Chicago Opera Theater); Edward Tulane (Minnesota Opera); Taking Up Serpents and Holy Ground (Glimmerglass Festival); Der Freischütz, op. 77 (Wolf Trap Opera); Becoming Santa Claus (Chicago Opera Theater).
Conductor’s Notes/Nota del Conductor
LIDIYA YANKOVSKAYA
One hundred and twenty-eight years after its premiere, La bohème continues to be one of the most performed works in the operatic repertoire. La bohème is filled with soaring melodies and exquisite orchestrations, but ultimately, the opera’s strength is in its reminder that the most profound aspects of life arise from the seemingly mundane.
The characters are human, down to earth, and poor. They live entirely unremarkable lives. But Puccini’s music elevates and expands each shade of their emotional world tenfold, using music’s superpower—its ability to express emotions poignantly, with great specificity, and yet universally—to transform the mundane lives of the Parisian friends into a wild, youthful adventure. Their experiences echo our own joy, love, revelry,
anger, and sorrow. We grow up with them, mourning our carefree selves.
The Bohemian dreamers are not judged, but neither are they idealized. And while the opera has a throughline of romantic love (with its pitfalls as well as its joys), the work is ultimately about friendship. The kind of friendship that accepts fully, shares openly and without reservation, gives selflessly while maintaining a sense of self, and builds community.
Over a century later, the things that matter most to human beings are still our loved ones, the memories we build with them, and the sorrow when they leave us. La bohème takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the most ordinary, and simultaneously most beautiful, aspects of any human life—community, creativity, love, and death. Throughout, Puccini’s music reminds us that the ordinary can be the most transcendently, remarkably beautiful.
Ciento veintiocho años después de su estreno, La bohème continúa siendo una de las obras que más se presentan en el repertorio operístico. La bohème está llena de melodías elevadas y orquestaciones exquisitas; pero, al final, la fuerza de la ópera radica en que es un recordatorio de que los aspectos más profundos de la vida surgen de lo aparentemente mundano.
Los personajes son humanos, con los pies en la tierra y pobres. Sus vidas completamente ordinarias, pero la música de Puccini eleva y expande cada matiz de su mundo emocional diez veces más, utilizando el superpoder de la música: su capacidad para expresar emociones de manera conmovedora, con gran especificidad, incluso, de forma universal, para transformar las vidas mundanas de los amigos parisinos en una aventura salvaje y juvenil. Sus experiencias son eco de nuestra propia alegría, amor, rebeldía, ira y tristeza. Crecemos con ellos, lamentándonos por nuestra vida sin sentido.
Los bohemios idealistas no son juzgados, ni tampoco idealizados. Y aunque la ópera lleva una línea directa hacia amor romántico (con sus caídas y alegrías), la obra trata, básicamente, sobre la amistad. La clase de amistad que acepta enteramente y comparte abiertamente y sin reservación, se entrega sin egoísmo mientras mantiene su ser y construye una comunidad.
Más de un siglo después, las cosas que más importan a los seres humanos siguen siendo nuestros seres queridos, los recuerdos que construimos con ellos y la tristeza cuando nos dejan. La bohème nos lleva en una montaña rusa a través de los aspectos más ordinarios y, al mismo tiempo, los más bellos de cualquier vida humana: la comunidad, la creatividad, el amor y la muerte. A lo largo de la obra, la música de Puccini nos recuerda que lo ordinario puede ser lo más trascendental y extraordinariamente bello.
Chorus Artists
SOPRANO
Carly Cummings
Laynee Dell
Amy Mein
Maria Miller
Lisa Parente
Katie Polit
ALTO
Abigail Allwein
Mary Boles
Laura Bueno
Sarah-Nicole Carter
Leslie Leytham
Karin Wilcox
TENOR
Alexis Alfaro
Andrew Bennett
Frank Napolitano
Felipe Prado
Timmy Simpson
Cole Tornberg
BASS
Joshua Cavanugh
Jeong Sang Lyu
David Marshman
Timothy Marshall
Jonathan Nussman
James Schindler
Artists and Production Staff are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO, the labor union that represents musical artists in opera, concert, and dance in the United States.
SUPERNUMERARY
Louis Perez
THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF LA BOHÈME
SEASON SPONSORS
CITY OF SAN DIEGO TERESA* AND MERLE* FISCHLOWITZ
MAJOR PRODUCTION SPONSOR LEE AND FRANK* GOLDBERG
LEAD PRODUCTION SPONSOR
JAMES SILBERRAD BROWN FOUNDATION
ARTIST SPONSORS
Eleanor and Ric Charlton for Latonia Moore
Elisabeth Crouch for Leroy Davis
Anne and Andy McCammon for Kathleen O’Mara
Bill and Clarice Perkins for Joshua Blue
SPECIAL A RTIST UNDERWRITERS FOR LAT ONIA MOORE Dr. Benjamin Ramirez and Ross Russell
PRE-OPERA LECTURE SPONSOR Jo Bobbie Showley*
*In memoriam
Go deeper with San Diego Opera productions at Opera Uncorked, a new series exploring everything you need to know about the operas in our season.
Opera Uncorked
Park & Market in East Village
60 th Anniversary Tuesday, January 28, 2025 @ 6:00PM
Salome Tuesday, February 25, 2025 @ 6:00PM La traviata Thursday, March 27, 2025 @ 6:00PM
To learn more, visit: sdopera.org/opera-uncorked
MEET
SAN DIEGO OPERA’S NEW DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT
BERNARDO BERMUDEZ
You’ve seen him on our stages in El Milagro del Recuerdo, Aida, Carmen, All is Calm, and many other San Diego Opera productions. He’s also performed with companies such as Los Angeles Opera, Long Beach Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and Opera Orlando, and with San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, and Music Academy of the West.
And now, we are so pleased that baritenor Bernardo Bermudez recently joined the San Diego Opera staff as our new Director of Learning and Engagement.
An opera educator as well as an accomplished performer, Bernardo is a co-founder and leader of Opera4Kids, a nonprofit organization that inspires young minds through live vocal and classical music performances. He holds a degree in cognitive psychology, specializing in child development, from the University of California, Irvine. For four years, he was a family support
and rehabilitation specialist for foster youth in San Diego County, and he continues to work part-time with children as a master voice faculty member at the Claremont Community School of Music and North County Vocal Arts in Oceanside. As a performer and teaching artist, he has worked for the education programs of Los Angeles Opera, Long Beach Opera, and Palm Springs Opera Guild.
“I am thrilled to join the wonderful team at San Diego Opera, supporting the inspired leadership of David Bennett and the Board of Directors,” says Bernardo.
“Together, we’ll craft innovative programs that not only inspire a passion for opera, but also resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We will continue to build strong, equitable partnerships with other organizations, engaging communities and broadening access to the transformative power of opera.”
To speak with Bernardo or for more information about San Diego Opera’s Learning and Engagement programs, please contact us at (619) 232-7636 or educate@sdopera.org.
COMING UP NEXT
DECEMBER 7, 2024 @ San Diego Balboa Theatre
Start your holiday season with this festive evening for the whole family. The celebrated San Diego Opera Chorus and special guest artists star in this irresistible holiday concert that features music spanning centuries and styles. Filled with songs of the season, carols, modern favorites and surprises, holiday classics, and even a chance to sing along!
SALOME
by RICHARD STRAUSS
MARCH 21 – 23, 2025 @ San Diego Civic Theatre
Strauss’s provocative, intriguing Salome, based on Oscar Wilde’s play of the same name, tells the biblical story of Princess Salome, who becomes infatuated with John the Baptist, a prisoner in her stepfather King Herod’s court. When she is promised anything she wants by King Herod, Salome demands the head of John the Baptist, which Herod delivers to her—at a price.
LA TRAVIATA
APRIL 25 – 27, 2025 @ San Diego Civic Theatre Featuring the SAN DIEGO OPERA CHORUS A
by GIUSEPPE VERDI
LEAD PRODUCTION SPONSOR: DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY
Verdi’s timeless masterpiece transports you to the dazzling world of 19th-century Paris, where Violetta Valéry, a courtesan, falls in love with the young nobleman Alfredo Germont. Despite their passionate affair, societal conventions and family interference threaten their happiness, and Violetta is forced to make a heartbreaking choice. With its emotionally charged music, memorable arias, and thrilling duets, La traviata remains one of the most beloved operas of all time.
60 YEARS OF OPERA MAGIC WITH SAN DIEGO OPERA
In 2025, San Diego Opera will celebrate its 60th Anniversary as one of the nation’s most creative regional opera companies and as a leader in the commissioning of new works and the introduction of thrilling new talent to Southern California audiences. Our 60th Anniversary Season will be a year-long celebration of our three score years of operatic excellence.
Walter Herbert was named General Director, a role in which he served until his death in 1975.
The company produced Mefistofele directed by Tito Capobianco of New York City Opera.
The San Diego Opera Guild was formed to facilitate ticket purchases and hotel reservations for San Diegans to attend San Francisco Opera performances in Los Angeles, but ended up resulting in tours of SFO productions to San Diego’s Fox Theatre (now the Jacobs Music Center). 1950 1965 1969 1973 1975
MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY
The Guild incorporated as San Diego Opera Association to produce its own operas. La bohème, which opened on May 5, 1965 at the brand-new San Diego Civic Theatre, was the first production.
, 1965.
cast of La bohème takes a curtain call, 1965.
Tito Capobianco is named Artistic Director in 1975 and General Director in 1977. He ended the English-only policy, and instituted the practice of performing operatic works in the original languages.
The
Maralin Niska in La bohème
Marking a Milestone
The company opened the San Diego Opera Center, a fall six-week training program in which singers received coaching and participated in master classes with vocalists Licia Albanese and Sherrill Milnes, as well as actors Burt Lancaster and Lee Strasberg. The Center opened offshoots like San Diego Street Opera in 1978 and Young American Opera Conductors Program in 1980. Karen Keltner enrolled in the Conductors Program and was eventually named Resident Conductor, a position she held until 2015.
Ian Campbell was named General Director, a role which he would hold until 2014. His high artistic standards and strong managerial leadership created financial stability and left an indelible mark on the culture of San Diego Opera.
1984 1983 1977 1978
Capobianco inaugurated the Verdi Festival in the summer, which ran until 1984. The goal was to do all of Verdi’s works within 10 years, which proved to be financially unsustainable. After the Board voted to disband the festival, Capobianco tendered his resignation.
Supertitles were first introduced, for a production of La traviata
2014 1994
San Diego Opera was the first professional producer of an opera written by a Mexican composer with the premiere of Rappaccini’s Daughter by Daniel Catán.
After a vote of the Board to disband San Diego Opera, a community of determined opera lovers formed an ad-hoc coalition to raise the money needed to save the company. A little over a month later, the Board rescinded the decision and voted to keep the company open. The campaign to keep the Opera open resulted in a search committee for a new General Director. The committee selected David Bennett, who hailed from Gotham Chamber Opera, and he took the reins of San Diego Opera in May of 2015.
Renée Fleming in Rusalka, 1995.
Scenic artist Catherine Hand paints a scenic background for the 1990 La bohème, parts of which are on stage in our current production.
Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills with Tito Capobianco, during Die Fledermaus, 1980.
The 2022 world premiere of El último sueño de Frida y Diego/ The Last Dream of Frida and Diego
Audience Memories
We’ve asked our audience to tell us their favorite San Diego Opera memories. Here are just a few.
SUSAN CHAMBLISS SPOTO
Susan was introduced to opera by her father, Capt. Joe Chambliss, USN (Ret) who became a San Diego Opera subscriber after retiring from his 37-year career as a Navy officer. In 1977, while Susan was in high school, Joe introduced her to her first opera with San Diego Opera’s production of The Merry Widow, featuring the magnificent Beverly Sills. Susan recalls seeing Joan Sutherland in Die Fledermaus (1980) and even going backstage to meet Luciano Pavarotti after a dress rehearsal of La bohème (1980). Her father renewed his subscription every year until his death at 98, and Susan and her husband Gary continue the family tradition to this day as loyal subscribers and donors to San Diego Opera.
MATTHEW KILMAN
CAROL JEAN SPICER
A native of San Diego, Carol Jean Spicer was 17 years old when she saw her first opera, Faust, starring Jan Peerce, at the Fox Theatre performed by the San Francisco Opera which then toured to San Diego. She was given two free tickets by members of the San Diego Opera Guild when they visited San Diego High School, and it made such an impression on her that she remembers the exact date of the opera: November 3, 1955. Throughout high school and college, she watched the operas from the balcony or standing room. After getting a teaching position with San Diego City Schools, she used her first paycheck to buy a season subscription. She has been a subscriber, generous donor, and active volunteer ever since, with especially fond memories of chairing the 28th Annual Dinner and Business Meeting at the Bahia Hotel in 1978 under the leadership of Tito Capobianco.
Matt Kilman grew up with a love for the performing arts, inspired by his parents — longtime season ticket holders with the San Diego Opera. Beginning in 1973, when Matt was eight, the family started attending the San Diego Opera and continued the tradition, as season ticket holders, for more than 50 years. As an adult, Matt and his wife Angela have maintained the tradition as Opera subscribers and generous donors for many years. Matt recently joined the Board of Directors of San Diego Opera.
“I have had the pleasure of seeing every San Diego Opera production for the past 51 years. I would love for everyone to have the opportunity to experience the same kind of inspiration and enjoyment that the San Diego Opera has given me. By joining the Board of Directors, I hope to advocate for the organization’s continued innovation, accessibility, and sustainability to ensure a thriving future for San Diego Opera.”
Tribute to Season Sponsors Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz
San Diego Opera’s 60th anniversary season is dedicated to the memory of Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz. During their lifetimes, Teresa and Merle’s gifts sponsored many memorable San Diego Opera productions and supported student ticket discounts and other important programs. With their passing in 2023 and 2024, respectively, their generous legacy gift will sustain and nurture our beloved art form for future San Diegans to enjoy.
After a harrowing childhood as a Holocaust survivor, Teresa enjoyed a brief career as a mezzo-soprano with New York City Opera and taught elementary school in California for 30 years. Merle had a long career as a counselor and psychologist in public schools, a community college, and in private practice in St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Honolulu.
Retiring in San Diego, Teresa and Merle became deeply involved in the local Jewish community and supported classical music organizations. Merle also published books of poetry, short stories, and a memoir, while Teresa became a longtime member of San Diego Opera’s Board of Directors and was among a select group of patrons to be named an Honorary Life Director in recognition of her dedicated service. The San Diego Opera community is indebted to Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz for their commitment, vision, and generosity.
OPERA STARS
San Diego Opera is deeply grateful to the following individuals who have helped to ensure the future of opera in San Diego by including San Diego Opera in their estate plans.
Anonymous (10)
Robert and Meredith Alcock
Jim Algert*
Robin L. Allgren
Murray* and Anne-Marie Anker
Alfred* and Sara Antonicelli
Bobbie Ball-Bradley
Mr. and Mrs.* Doug Bekkedahl
Maurice and Olga Bernard
Joan E. Bowes in memory of Evelyn Raff Roth
Margaret L. Boyce*
Mr.* and Mrs. Marlin Brossart
Sarah Blakely Brown
Esther J. Burnham*
Robert and Linda Cain
Richard and Stephanie Coutts
Elisabeth H. Crouch
Gwyn Enright*
Hester Evans
Elsa* and George* Feher (of blessed memory)
Daryl E. Ferguson
Dr. Merle* and Teresa* Fischlowitz
Mr.* and Mrs. David C. Fletcher
Dr. William and Judith Friedel
Dr. Michael and Barbara Gerber
Lee and Frank* Goldberg
Bruce* and Barbara Goldreyer
David and Claire Guggenheim
Kathryn Hattox*
Dr.* and Mrs.* Jerome Heard
Dr.* and Mrs. P. Kahler Hench
Joan Henkelmann
John Hermann*
Mr.* and Mrs. Joseph W. Hibben
Teresa and Harry Hixson
Shirley and Gene* Hoggatt
Karl and Greet Hostetler
Dr. Steve and Nancy Howard
Lulu Hsu
Ronald Ignelzi
George* and Marlene Imbsen
Thomas Jroski
Marilyn* and Bill* Kneeland
Miriam and Peter* Krippl
Dr. Seth Krosner
Regina Kurtz
Mr.* and Mrs. Jack Landale
Mrs. Charlotte Laverents*
Carol Lazier
Belina L.* and Paul L.* Lazzar
Ruth I. Ledermann
Lester Lefkowitz*
Ruth Leonardi
Michael O. Lynch and Cheri B. Briccio
Sara Manyak
Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo, G.G. and John G. Rebelo
Kenneth C. McMillen
Merikay and Ron* McQuoid
Elinor and Charles Merideth
James A. Merritt
Elizabeth B. Meyer*
Sam and Mona Morebello
Barbara and Maury Mortensen
Jerome* and Jacqueline* Niederman
Elizabeth A. Otten*
Mr. Bernard Paul
John* and Ernie Peak
William Purves
Daniel and Feliza Reed
Bruce S. Ross and Eileen F. Gallo-Ross*
Jukka Saukkonen and Velva Wood
Mr. and Mrs. Christof E. Schwab
Mr.* and Mrs. John Shumaker
Drs. Gloria and Joseph Shurman
John S. Sieh
Sandra Silvers*
Paul Slysh*
Sylvia M. Smith
Carol Jean Spicer
Linda P. Spuck
Joseph Sundstrom* and Rosemary Lyttleton
Marlene Roedde Swall
Robert* and Aysegul Underhill
Karen Valentino
Arlene and Peter Way
Janet and Jonathan White
Mary Ann White
Jean Winslow*
Raymond* and Erika* Wright
Eugene Yee
Philip and Phyllis Ziring
Donor Listings
SAN DIEGO OPERA IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE DONORS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
SEASON SPONSOR
$300,000+
City of San Diego
Teresa* and Dr. Merle* Fischlowitz
LEAD PRODUCTION SPONSOR
$100,000 – $299,999
Jim Algert* and Maurine Beinbrink
James Silberrad Brown Foundation
The Estate of Lynda Fox
Lee and Frank* Goldberg
Kathryn Hattox Charitable Trust
Eleanor Hutchinson Parker Foundation Prebys Foundation
Nicolas Reveles*
Darlene Marcos Shiley
Jo Bobbie Showley*
Sopranos Investment Group
PRODUCTION SPONSOR
$50,000 – $99,999
Anonymous
The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Leon Lachman*
Bill and Clarice Perkins
Price Philanthropies
Allison and Robert Price Family Foundation
Qualcomm Inc.
ARTIST SPONSOR
$25,000 – $49,999
Warren and Eloise Batts
Mary Ellen Clark
Candace Carroll Esq.* and Len Simon Esq.
Ric and Eleanor Charlton
Elisabeth Crouch
Sally and Einar Gall
Joan Henkelmann, in memory of Dr. Charles Henkelmann
Karl and Greet Hostetler
Dr. Steve and Nancy Howard
Robert H. Kaplan, Ph.D. and Marina Baroff
Carol Anne Lazier
Veronica and Miguel Leff
Jacqueline B. Mars
Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo, G.G. and John G. Rebelo
Anne and Andy McCammon
National Endowment for the Arts
Dr. Benjamin Ramirez and Ross Russell
Sue Sesnon Salt
Cynthia Walk
Mary L. Walshok, Ph.D.
GENERAL DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
$10,000 – $24,999
Anonymous (2)
Robin L. Allgren
Lou Alpinieri
Bobbie Ball-Bradley
Ingrid Benirschke and Gordon Perkins
Carolyn and Giovanni Bertussi
Sigrid Pate Butler
California Arts Council
Susan H. and Stephen Childs
Joann Clark
County of San Diego
David C. Copley Foundation
Steve and Lorraine Doering
David Duthu
The Estate of Leo Fitzsimmons
Gertrude Fletcher
Hallie and Brian Guiltinan
Beau and Brittany Haugh
Ann and Andy Irwin
David K. Jordan
Angela and Matt Kilman
Ruth I. Ledermann
Dr. and Mrs. Ronald G. Leonardi
Diana and Eliezer Lombrozo
The Matthews Foundation
Jane Polgar in memory of
Peter Polgar
Peter and Peggy Preuss
ResMed Foundation
Stacy and Don Rosenberg
Bruce S. Ross and Eileen F. Gallo-Ross*
Patricia A. Rutledge
Barbara and Scott Scott
Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation
Debra Shannon
Sharp HealthCare
Maureen and Thomas Shiftan, M.D.
Heidi Munzinger and John Shott
Drs. Gloria and Joseph Shurman
Sylvia M. Smith
William D. Smith and Carol A. Harter
Linda P. Spuck
Stainrook Foundation
Jeanette R. Stevens
U.S. Bank
University of San Diego
Karen Valentino
Shirli, Damien, and Justin Weiss
Janet and Jonathan White
Armi and Al Williams
Ms. Francine Wolpe
Carmen Figueroa Young
GOLD PATRON
$5,000 – $9,999
Sherry and Kevin Ahern
Patrick Anderson and Ron Koren
Leslie Bassett
Jane and Bob Bell
David Bennett
Biocom California
Wallace Brithinee and Bernadette Belleci
Judith V. Brucker
Michael and Jane Burke
Salvatore Capizzi
Bill Carrick
Martha and Edward Dennis
Jill Esterbrooks and James Robbins
Forsyth Leonard Fund at Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Joyce M. Gattas, Ph.D.
Donor Listings
Barbara and Joseph Giammona
Lee and Linda Gillard
Beth A. Goodman
David and Claire Guggenheim
T. George and Jeannie Harris
Karen and John Hayes
Becky and Larry Hunt
David S. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. John Kesser
John and Sandy Kim
Lynn Kirkhofer
The Krause Family Charitable Fund
Linda Levy and Edward McGrath
Kathleen Loftman
Elizabeth Wohlford MacLeod
Brett and Susan McClain
In memory of Elizabeth B. Meyer*
Drs. Roger Mills and Linda Robertson
Wendy Nash
James and Melanie Nickel
John and Diane W. Parks
Carolyn and Ed Parrish
Coreen and Kevin Petti, PhD
Ms. Kathleen Roche-Tansey
Mary B. Rose* and Len Pellettiri
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego Theatres, Inc.
San Diego State University Mission
Valley Innovation District
Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek
Susan and Fred Smith
Dave and Phyllis Snyder
Susan and Dr. Gary Spoto
FRIEND $2,000 – $3,499
Stephanie Stolarz-Fantino
Annalisa Storchi
Sycuan Casino
Deborah Szekely
Margaret C. Tessier and Robert J. Griffin
Robert and Tamara Thibodeau
Robert* and Aysegul Underhill
Bill and Shelley Wong
Sara Zaknoen, M.D.
Xinhua Zheng and Richard Studer
Leo and Emma Zuckerman
SILVER PATRON
$3,500 – $4,999
Anonymous
Richard R. Abello
Arlene and Michael Bardin
Mrs. Marlin W. Brossart
Constance Carroll, Ph.D.
Doug Carsten
Keith Chen
Ann Craig
Jon and Karen Dien
The Estate of Richard Dooley
Stephen and Roberta Edelstein
Drs. Milton and Susan Erman
Jennifer and Burke Fisher
Barbara Gross
Tamara Hauser-Espinoza
Herbert Hoffman and Janis Sammartino
Ronald Ignelzi
Gary Jacobson and Martha Blake Jacobson
Charles Johnson
Jeannette and Douglas Johnson
Sachiko Kohatsu
Nancy E. Kossan, Ph.D. and Deborah Macdonald
Paul Laikind, Lisa Stennes-Laikind, and Elle Marie Laikind
Dr. William and Evelyn Lamden
Grace E. Larsen
James Lasswell and Cindy Jensen
Ellen Lehman and Charles Kennel
Nancy Lyon
Neil Malmquist and Scott Crispell
Joseph Martinez
Beverly and Harold Martyn
Dr. Mark and Mrs. Amy Melden
Ilene Mittman in memory of Dr. Charles Mittman
David Morris
William and Jensine Nolan
Maxwell Paley
Rachel Peniche and Kevin Lomax
Kiffie and Chris Robbins
Marcelle Rossman
Dr. Ross and Nancy T. Rudolph
Dr. Peter Seymour and Susan Comden
Carol Jean Spicer
Susan and Richard Ulevitch
Robert and Ivonne Webb
Philip and Phyllis Ziring
Irene Abraham and Gabriel Vogeli • June and Daniel T. Allen • Laura Applegate • Atyr Pharma • Maurine Beinbrink • Jack* and Sue Ellen Benson • Dr. Fred and Mrs. Donna Berger • David Bevilaqua and Craig P. Caldwell • Nancy Laturno • Sevil and Johan Brahme • Drs. Craig and Joan Heller Brown • Cindy Bruecks and David Craig • Stephen Burgdorf • Raedel Calori and Backman Family • Janet Caulk • Thérèse Collins and Byron Georgiou • Elsian Contreras • Tracy Cooke • Barbara Corcega • Linda Dawson • Karen DeLaurier and Oliver McElroy • Wally and Linda Dieckmann • Robert Dotson • Drs. Brent and Sarita Eastman • Vicki and Chris Eddy • Roswitha Enright • Arlene Esgate • Becki Lamont-Etess • Dr. Barbara Favorito and Ms. Judith Hairston • M. Carr and Marian* Ferguson • Socorro Fimbres • Paul and Gayle Ganster • Steven Hadfield • Joanne C. Hutchinson and David Cooper* • Mrs. Phyllis Ingram • Mr. Jay Jeffcoat • Peter and Virginia Jensen • Thomas Jroski and Dinna Estrella • Gina Kakos • Amy and Richard Kronick • Irene Kuster McCann • Belina L.* and Paul L.* Lazzar • Carolyn LeVasseur and Dwight Kellogg • Carl B. and Janet Lind • Tom Liscum • Charles S.* and Robin Luby • Mark Mead • Sandra Miner • Chandra Mukerji • Marybeth Norgren and Per Cederstav • Teresa A. Norton • Bob Palmer • Bernard Paul and Maria Sardina • ResMed Inc. • Eberhard and Jessica Röhm • Ryde Family Memorial Foundation • Samuel I. and John Henry Fox Foundation • Evelyn and Corky Schauer • Doreen and Myron Schonbrun • Debbie Sigal • Robert J. Stall • Jr. and Katherine Nutting • Elise Streicher and David Huffman • Dr. Fred and Erika Torri • Captain Don Watkins, USN (Ret.)* and Mrs. Sharon Watkins • The Helene and Allan Ziman Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Donor Listings
FRIEND $1,000 – $1,999
Anonymous (2) • Mr. Ronald G. Allen and Mr. Lindsay R. Fong • Libby Andersen • J. David Archibald and Gloria E. Bader • Julie and Mark Burgess • Jui-Yuan Chang • Judy Churchill • Courtney Coyle and Steven McDonald • Anna M. Curren • Carolyn Davidson • Carolyn Elledge • Phyllis and Daniel Epstein • Antonio Espinosa • Jeffrey Essakow • Elsa* and George* Feher (of blessed memory) • Daryl E. Ferguson • Elissa and Richard Finerman • Julianne J. Larsen and James Forbes, Ph.D.* • Jean Fort • Esther and Dr. William Fraser • Catherine R. Friedman • Colette O. Gerard-Kitnovski • Richard Ghalie • Marcia and David M. Gill • Michael and Brenda Goldbaum • Bill Gore • Katherine Greco • The Mae and Ed Hall Family Fund at the San Diego Foundation • Douglas and Gail Hall • John and Ann Hill • Michael Homan • Lulu Hsu • Jim and Carmen Hughes • Valentin Isacescu MD • Christie Iverson • Adrian Jaffer and Ann Laddon • Beverly Kelly • Thomas Kerl • Helen and Webster Kinnaird • Betty* and Dr. Leonard Kornreich • Carleen Kreider • Regina Kurtz • Steve Barbone • Jose Lau • Dennis C. and Kathleen Lees • Anthony W. Leonard and Jin-Soo Kim • Judy and Jack Leshefka • Larry and Trisha Liebermensch • Vicki Lindblade • Roxi and Fred Link • Mr. and Mrs. Alejandro Lombrozo • Brett MacLeod • Bill and Shenell Malloy • David Marshman • Eileen Mason • MaryAnn McCauley • Edward and Elizabeth McIntyre • Michael and Kimberly McSherry • Beate Menzel • Michael S. and Jessica Middleton • A. Fenner Milton • Rena Minisi and Rich Paul • Eugene and Rebecca Mitchell • John Mulvehill and Steve Land • Esther Nahama • Sara Napoli • National Charter Bus • Gregory Nesbitt • Ludvina and Sonny Nevarez • John Newsam and Sharon Wampler • Chuck and Ann Nickel • Rev. Raymond G. O’Donnell • Micki Olin • OPERA America • Michael Perkins* and Anne Turhollow • Mary Yankee Peters and John David Peters • Nelson D. Pewitt and Ellen Quinn • Sally Schwerdtfeger Ph.D. • Gary Jongeward and Vicki Pinkus • Carol L. Plantamura • William R. Pond • Ernest and Evelyn Rady • Audrey S. Ratner • Michael J. Rensink • Lois J. Richmond Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation • Patrick and Marti Ritto • Lynn Rockwell • Hermeen Scharaga • Carol Schrauzer • Sharry and Larry Seal • Craig Shadur • William Sherrard • Drs. Eleanor Smith and John Malone • Guadalupe Sobke • Elizabeth and Lester Stiel • Alamanita Ellis Stjerne and James Stjerne • Daniel and Holly Swanson • Ms. Elizabeth G. Taft • Gail and John Tauscher • Debra Thomas • Jonathan Tibbitts • Stephen and Patricia Tomlin • Dr. Phyllis Tyson • Helen Wagner • Jonathon and Vicky Webster • Nathan and Evette Weiss • Mary Ann White and Lee Margot • Janette Williams • Carole Wilson and Robert Brandt* • Joseph and Mary Witztum
FRIEND $600 – $999
Joseph Annese • Nancy Arnold • Angela Barioni • Gaylyn N. Boone and James R. Dorcy* • Corey J. Braun • Barbara Campbell • Richard J. Campione • Barbara Carlton • Lynne M. Champagne and Wilfred S. Kearse • June Chocheles • Steve and Cathy Constable • Rilla and Denis M. Crane • Mrs. Mary Dawe • RayMonda Duvall • Robert and Ona Elliott • Brad Fox and Cliff Thrasher • Alison Gildred • Maxine* and James Hall • Edward S. Hand and Stanley C. Harazim • Monika M. and John Hardy • Bonifacio G. and Suzanne M. Hernandez • Gurdon Hornor • Elena Juarez • Frances and Jack Kyte • Ruth Landaal and Charles Simmons • Juan* and Alexis Lasheras • Nick Lupu • In Memory of Dave Schubert • Alfred Manaster • Tanya Mestechkina • Lynn and Trudy Mitchell • Mark and Stephanie Nielsen • Jeanette A. Ollivier • Pamela Parker • Bruce Ramet • Alan J. Schuyler • Bruce E. Shirer • M.D. • Anne and Ronald Simon • Rebecca Smith and Tom Tseng • Scott and Jan Steele • Mr. Eliot Weitz • Suhaila White • N E Wineberg • David Wood
FRIEND $300 - $599
Anonymous (2) • Kathleen and Charles Ables • Sarah Agler • Robert and Meredith Alcock • Gary Allard • Mireille Anderson • Steven and Shannon Ashburn • John Asmus* • Franklin Au • Dr. John Backman • Susan Barbey-Booth • Arthur J. and Darlene Bauer • Leland Beck and Marla J. English • Hulda Betts • Richard and Rosalie Bregante • Thomas Bui • Robert and Linda Cain • Dr. Mary Ann Calcott • Jeffrey and Katherine Calkins • Margarita Carmona Lillie • James M. and Lynn B. Caughey • Danielle Cervantes and Michelle Gilchrist • Lori Chamberlain • Chevron • Angela Chilcott • Cyrus Choobineh • Frank and Marivon Christine • Brendan and Royce Clifford • Patricia Coffey • Judith H. Collier • L. Renee Comeau and Terry Gulden • Sandi and Jim Courtney • Drs. Robert and Julie Cowan Novak,Robert Croke • Richard Crosland • Audrey Doherty • William and Maxine Donlon • Margot and Dennis Doucette • Tim Downs • Dr. and Mrs. Edward J. Doyle • Jo-Lind Eckstein • Henry Eimstad • Patricia and Jack Eldon • Ofelia Elf • Beth Epperson • David J. Erikson • Nicole Figueroa-Espinoza • Alfred F. and Karin Esser • Joseph Fannella • Kevin Faulconer • Dieter Fischers’ Mercedes Srv. Inc. • Dr. William and Judith Friedel • Peter C. Gernold and Brian J. McGoldrick • Douglas and Ellen Goepfert • Jim Greene • Joleen Guckian • Andrea Hales and Bill Brown • Robert and Christine Hatch • Mary Hazzard • Megan Heine • Joanna and Brooks Herman • Anne Hoiberg • Peter and Cheryl Holzer • Patrick J. Hurley • Antoinette Ingrassia • Linda P. Ivor and Chris Steinhardt • Ken Jackson • Geraldine Jenkins • Bryan Jones • Jeffrey Jordan • Zella Kahn-Jetter • Linda Kass • Miriam Kastner • Patricia Keller Living Trust • Jo Kiernan and Bjorn Bjerede* • Thomas Klimisch • Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Knipstein • Ned Krumrey • Roberto and Elena Kucinski • Richard and Barbara LaRocca • Marilyn A. Lamb • Richard Lansing • Elizabeth B. Leech • Elizabeth and James Leighton • Maria-Cristina Leon • Rosemary and Scott Leonard • Jean Lim • Virginia Lloyd • Helga Lupu • Nahid Mahdavi • Susan Marberry • Edward Marsh • Douglas M. and Paula A. McGraime Charitable Foundation • Kimberly McKewon • Victor Cardello and Robert Melton • Grant Miller • Joan and Alex Mincks • Cheryl Morabito • Ellen and Jim Moxham • Faith Much • Leslie and Robin Mukau • Anthony Napoli • Prof. Bruce Stephen Naschak • Peter Navarra • Rhoda Nevins • Katherine and Matthew Nowak • Sally Orr • Neil Osborne • P18 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Donor Listings
FRIEND $300 – $599 (continued)
Kristen Overman • Jason Paguio and Rebecca Maxwell • Jim and Cynthia Park • Barbara and Harry Peacock • Richard and Patricia* Perlman • Charles L. Perrin • Dana Pizzuti • Ross Porter and Roy DeVries • Drs. Jenny Price and Tony Hunter • Eve Pritchard • Bill Purves and Donald Schmidt • Quigley Fine Wines • Martha Quinn • Matthew Quinn • Laura Ravine • Dr. and Mrs. H. Kent Reed • Sandra Reus • Patricia L. Richardson • Colin and Monica Ripley • Joyce and Lisa Ritz • Robert Rubenstein and Marie Raftery • Richard Salmon • Ellie Samadani and Bin Chada • Julie and Jay Sarno • Kathleen Savino • William and Dr. Christine Schindler • Bret and Sarah Sealey • Georgina Bien and Lu Sham • Michael and Sheila Sharpe • Rachael C. Smith • Maida Soghikian • Mr. Robert J. Sokolowski and Mr. John J. Winkelman • Mark and Marth Sottosanti • John Spencer • Roger G. Spragg • Valerie A. Stallings • Laurine Anne Stephens • Edward Stickgold and Steven Cande • Diane Stocker • John Stover • Sarah Strande • Pat Stromberg • Tony Su • Lisa Swaiman • Lynn H. and Elliot H. Tarson • Kay Teeters • Lynn Ten Eyck and Linda Swofford-Ten Eyck • Justin Tipp and Colleen Campbell-Tipp • William G. Tong • Frederique Vernhes • Kathleen C. and Thomas N. Volle • Carren Walker • Karen Walter • Nancy Ward • Carol and Tom Warschauer • Sandra Wawrytko • Peter Weady • John and Nalani Webster • Jennifer Werner • Vernon White • Joyce Williams • Karen Williamson • Dr. Ian A. Wilson • Deborha Wrighton Wex • Peggy Yamamoto • Capt. and Mrs. Herb Zoehrer
FRIEND $100 – $299
Anonymous (2) • Therese H. Adair • Diana Adam • Paulina Aguilar • Susana Ahern • Dianne Aker • Alana Albertson • Gail and R.C. Allen • Jennifer Anguiano • Erich and Catherine Aragon • In memory of Darlene Armstrong • Lisa and Ben Arnold • Richard Attiyeh • Corliss Baca • Richard Bachman • Alan Badger • David Baker and Melinda O’Brien • Kirby Baker • Barbara Bank • Peter Barakos • Barbara Bardtman • Roy Baroff • John Barron • Richard Barry • Capt. Joseph Bartel, USN • Teri Barwood • Lori Baxter • Leslia L. Belanger • Mina and Michael Bell • Alexander Belmont • Pat Berkebile • Kassie Betts • Jon Bibbins • Ms. Inge Bisconer • Lois Bloom • Dallas Boggs and Susan Fellows • Peter Bonavich • Giseke Bonitz • George Boomer and Caroline Chen • John and Rebecca Borg • Alejandro Borquez • Nada Borsa • Margaret L. Boyce* • Kate Boyd • Katie M. Boyer • Martha and Donald Bozulich • Mark Bradbeer • Dr. and Mrs. Adam Breslow • Christine Bristol • Barbara Brody • Mary Buchanan • Edwin and Bea Buchman • Robert Buchmann • Kenneth and Deanna Buhr • Delrae Stewart • Donna Burtch • Beverly and Dale Busch • Igor Cadez • Jeanne Campbell • Lisa and Colin Campbell • Hope Carlson Chen • Patricia Carrion • Monica Cendejas • Bill Cerny • Chip and Kay Certain • Lucile Cheng • Lily Chu • Marither Chuidian • Audrey Clark • Alice A. and Arthur Clawson • Todd Cloaninger • Anne Colburn • Donald Coleman • Dale Connelly • Edward G Constantino • Bruce and Jeanne Conyne • Alberto Coppel • Angelo J. and Christine Corpora • Brianna Costabile • Marguerite Cowles • Llewellyn Crain • John Crial • Tiko Crofoot • Patricia A. Crowley • Sarah Culver • Dorothy Curry • Angela D’Amico and Dale Barbour • Ann De Fields • Gastón De La Garza and Virginia Taracena • Antonio De Maio • Kevin Delgado • Brian and Kay Dempsey • Irene Devine and Hal Schneider • Matthew and Carolyn Dharm • Rose Marie Doyle • Claudia H Drake • Margaret Dunbar • Christine Dupont • Natalie Durgin • Chloe Edge • Stephen Egbert • Conchita Encinas • Judith and Ron Endeman • Jeffrey Esko • Dr. Connie J. Evashwick • Paul Fanfera • Gennadiy Farladanskiy • Linda Feldman • Marilyn and Clause Felfe • Christopher Ferreria • Arline M. Fisch • Elsie Fischer • Elizabeth Hubert • Carol Ann Flanagan • Elizabeth Fohrman Zorowitz • Damen Fong • Billie Frances • Terre Frank • Carol and Arthur Freeman • Roy Funk • Cynthia Furlong • Francis Gabbai • Elaine Galinson and Herbert Solomon • Carlos Garcia • Chris and Simone Gay • Paul and Sandra Gerard • Partho Ghosh and Stephanie Mel • Stephen Gibson • J.P. Gilbert • Sohini Manna and Tom Gillespie • Bar Giora Goldberg • Deborah Goldsmith • Charlotte Goldstein • Dan Goldzband • Michael Gonzales • Robyn Goodman • Sonya and Robert Googins • Dr. and Mrs. Schuyler Grant • William Green • Lori Gremel • Scott Grimes • Dr. Kurt Grimm • Tyler Grubenhoff • Anthony Gurrola • Jenna Guthmiller • Charles Gyselbrecht • Jeff Hall • Helga Halsey • John and Kaye Hambleton • Steven M. Hanson • Allan Harjala • Reno and Leslie Harnish • In honor of Mary Ellen Fleischli • Anne Charlotte Harvey • Brig General R.G. Head and Dr. Carole J. Hoover • James P. Healy • Jessica Heinz and Jerry Block • Andrew Helgerson • Barbara Henry • Yoshiko and Steven Higurashi-Jensen • Becky Hoang • Christiane J. Hoffman and Greg W. Frank • Erich Hoffmann • Lynn Edington-Hogg • Corinne Hollings • Jeffrey Holloway • Terry and Peter Holt • Stephen and Katherine Hon David Horn • Frederick Howden • Rudolf Hradecky • Sshannon Huang • Courtney Lynn Hudson • Rob Inglis • Camilla Ingram • Mr. and Mrs. Andris Inveiss • Mary C. Isbell • Gabrielle M. Ivany • Rob Jackson • Nora Jaffe • Edward and Linda Janon • Paul and Mary Jarrell • R F Jefferies • Jorgene and Dan Jensen • Andrew Johnson • Jaya Kaelberer • Ulrike Kamitter-Lobbia • Gilbert* and Mary Lou Kammerer • Kelly Kanaster • Melanie Kaplan and Anthony Grimaldo • Yasuko Karstens • Nancy Kaufman • Robert and Elizabeth Keenan • Norman Kenney • Jo Ann Kilty • Aline N. King • David and Martha King • Michael Kinnamon and Mardine Davis • Leean Knetzer • Larry Knight • Michael Kohn and Cynthia Kohn • Jane Kolar • Yury Kolesnikov • Nancy Kollisch, M.D. & Jeff Pressman, M.D. • Teresa Konopka • Loretta Kramer • Dr. Faith Kung • Anne Kuszynski • Drs. Stuart and Nora Laiken • Roderick and Annette Lamond • Laurie LehmannGray • Kathleen LeMieux • Drs. G.N. Lawrence and Y. Lin • Scott Linder • Gary A. Link • Ann and Gerald Lipschitz • John Lisowski • Guillermo Lizarraga • Marci Lizerbram • Alessandro Lobbia • Frances Lobman • Kathy Lockridge • Margarita Lopez-Martinez • Robert Lott • Stacey Love • Linda Lowman • Linda and Robert Lowry • Michael Lowry • Mary M. and Thomas* Lytle • Joseph H. MacDonald • Dominique Maciejewski-Lenoir • Lisa Madlensky • Pamela Mallory • Carol B. Mann • Sara Manyak • Kim and Scott Margolis • Daniel and Kieu Marnell • Dr. Araceli Martinez • Maryann Martone • Charles Marz • Thomas McAndrews • Peggy McCamey • Brian P. and Ann McDonald • Sean McGee • Mary McGrath • Mary H. McKee • Perry McLelland • Jayna and Deke McLeod •
Donor Listings
FRIEND $100 – $299
(continued)
Gloria McMillan • Jim and Patty McNeill • Susan and Philip Mekrut • Diego Mendoza • Dr. Alan Meyers • Dr. A-Lisa S Miles and Mr. Richard W Contreras • Evan Miller • Denise Mirabile • Anton Misleh • Daphne Mitchell • Samuel and Mona Morebello • Colleen Mullen • Sara Ines Murphy • Christine Musgrave • Helen Nagy • Joyce and Martin Nash • Nancy J. Neigus • Nam Nguyen • Inga Nielsen de Gonzalez • Christine Noble Power • Larry and Kristina Nuggent • Maureen O’Brien • Kathleen O’Classen • Ken Oleno • Marisela Olivas • Virginia Oliver • Robert Opliger • Arianna Opsvig • Eddie Ortiz • Miranda Ostler • Al and Marie Paparelli • Patricia C. Parent • Sally Parker • Barbara L. Parry, M.D. • Janet Parsons • Fereshteh Parviz • Ally Pawlicki • Alexandra C. E. Pearson and Paul A. Meschler • Carissa Peck • Norma Perea • Flavia Pernasetti • Virginia Perrin • Jantina Perry • Marianne Pfister • B. Noel and Patricia Phelan • Michael and Beverly Phyllips • Carol and Richard Phipps • Sallie Piccorillo • Bernadette Piffard • Janet C. Placido • Mrs. Viviana Polinsky • Nando Polo • Ann C. Posthill • Jessica Lynn Powell • Alberto L. Pulido • Michael Quan • Michael Quiniola • Peter Quinlan • Dennis Ragen and Christine Hickman • Bruce and Patricia Rasmussen • Louise Rehling • Ronald C. Reinsch • Deborah Renick • Jane Renninger • Diane Retallack • Laura Rey • Elizabeth Mott Reynolds • Chris Richards • Ronald and Susan Robboy • Joseph Robinson* • Trevor Roper • Linda M. Rose • Steven E. Rosenbaum • Norman M. and Barbara Rozansky • Alex Ruezga • Mr. and Mrs. John E. Rush • Robert and Sharon Russakoff • Vanya Russell • Rosalia Salinas • Gail Saucedo • Steven Schreier • Betty Schulman • Karin Schwab • Maria* and Dominick Scigliano • Kari Lorraine Scott • John Seal • Paul Seawell • Chelsea Seener • Ana Seitz • Linus A. Senhen • Peter Shapiro • Robert Sheaffer • William Shivell • Ben Shwachman and Karen Wren • Tali Schwartz • Teresa Silva • Mrs. Linda Silverman • Linda Simms • Carmela Simoncini • Ms. Bridget Slatten • Dorothea Smith and Austin Faricy • Joseph D. Smith • Katie Smith • CDR Ruth Helen Smith, USN (Ret.) • Miney Sneed • Olga Solovyeva • Steven and Kathleen Sorensen • Marsha Spitzer and Michael Nelson • Leland W. and Annemarie Sprinkle • Carroll Stewart • Janice and Mike Stewart • Harold and Lambertha Stier • James Strain and Angela Huff • Charles Stroyeck • Diane Strum • James Stuhlbarg and Christine Berger • Ida Rigby and John Sturla • Teresa Suarez • Michael and Julie Summers • Christina Sumpter • Ruth Anne Swiderski • Javier Tamayo • Dr. Faye and Alan Tassviri • Nancy J. Taylor • Elisabeth Terlouw • Kathryn A. Thickstun • Kathleen Thuner • George and Susan Timmons, In Memory of Mary Ellen Fleischli • Katrina Tjhung • Marilyn Todd • Enrique and Christian Tordahl • Hon. Victor M. Torres • Judith Trento and Michael Drummy • Richard Triglia • Hannelore Tucker • Cameron and Brie Turner • Tony Turner-Mercado • Judith Tweed • Craig and Polly Tyndall • Wendy Uncles • Andrew Utt • Gus Valdez • Tim Valine • Lorraine Van Cleave • Al Van Slyke • Ed and Gaby Veldin • John Vinson • Gail Voorhes • Sandra Voyce • Samuel Curtis Wagner • Stefani Walens • Daniel George Wales • Carol Wallace • Nancy Walters • Brandon Wander • Dr. Ken Ware • Marie T. Watson-Ching • Sandy Webb • Susan Weinberg-Harter • Gregory West • Timothy Whipple • Kathryn Whistler • Constance Wickens • Harry and Sandra Wilbur • Kristine Wilson • Sheila E. Wilson • Eileen S. Wingard • Caroline Wohl • Carolyn Woodbury • Bonnie Wright • Ms. Karen Wullich • John Yankee • Ms. Emel Yuceturk • Maria Romero Zadorozny • Joseph A. Zechman • Carole L. Ziegler • Shelley Zimmerman
* In memoriam
Listing as of September 13, 2024. We sincerely regret any errors or omissions. To make a correction, please contact philanthropy@sdopera.org or (619) 232-763 6.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 10am throughout
DIAMOND DONORS
San Diego Opera salutes and honors its Diamond Donors, those who have contributed $1 million or more to San Diego Opera^. Thank you for your extraordinary support and visionary leadership.
$5 MILLION OR MORE
City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture
Muriel Gluck*/Max H. Gluck Foundation
Carol Anne Lazier
$3 MILLION OR MORE
Esther J. Burnham*
County of San Diego
The Joan* and Irwin Jacobs Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
$2 MILLION OR MORE
Teresa* and Merle* Fischlowitz
The James Irvine Foundation
Gary Jones*
National Endowment for the Arts
Conrad Prebys* and Debbie Turner
Claire Reiss
San Diego Foundation
Sycuan Casino-Resort
U.S. Small Business Administration
Anonymous
Audi of America, Inc.
California Arts Council
$1 MILLION OR MORE
David C. Copley*/David C. Copley Foundation
Audrey Geisel*/ San Diego Foundation/
Dr. Seuss Foundation
Lee and Frank* Goldberg
Kathryn* and John* Hattox/Kathryn Hattox
Charitable Trust
Mr.* and Mrs. Joseph W. Hibben
Harry and Teresa Hixson
Charmaine* and Maurice* Kaplan
*
Joan B. Kroc*
Willis Jerry Larkin*
Mr.* and Mrs.* Charles W. Lynds
Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo and John Rebelo
Mr.* and Mrs.* Ralph Thomas Moan
Victor* and Jane Ottenstein
The Prebys Foundation
Allison and Robert Price Family Foundation
Qualcomm Incorporated
Darlene Marcos Shiley
Iris and Matthew* Strauss
Dr. Andrew Viterbi and Erna Finci Viterbi*
San Diego Opera is grateful for our major institutional partners. Please support those who support us.
CORPORATE
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOUNDATION SPONSORS
Samuel I. and John Henry Fox Foundation
Ryde Family Memorial Foundation
Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation
GREENE MUSIC
San Diego Symphony
RAFAEL PAYARE
Music Director
VIOLIN
Jeff Thayer
Concertmaster
DEBORAH PATE AND JOHN FORREST CHAIR
Wesley Precourt
Associate Concertmaster
Jisun Yang Assistant Concertmaster
Alexander Palamidis
Principal Second Violin
Nick Grant
Principal Associate Concertmaster Emeritus
Cherry Choi Tung Yeung
Associate Principal Second Violin
Ai Nihira Awata
Jing Yan Bowcott
Yumi Cho
Hernan Constantino
Alicia Engley
Kathryn Hatmaker
Kenneth Liao
Igor Pandurski
Evan Pasternak
Julia Pautz
Yeh Shen
Xiaoxuan Shi
Edmund Stein
Hanah Stuart
John Stubbs
Pei-Chun Tsai
Han Xie
Tifanny Wee
Zou Yu
Melody Ye Yuan
Andrew Kwon*
Sarah Schwartz*
VIOLA
Chi-Yuan Chen Principal KAREN AND WARREN KESSLER CHAIR
Nancy Lochner
Associate Principal
Jason Karlyn
Wanda Law
Qing Liang
Ethan Pernela
Megan Wei
I-Hsuan Huang*
Sung-Jin Lee*
Rebecca Matayoshi*
CELLO
Yao Zhao Principal
Chia-Ling Chien
Associate Principal
Andrew Hayhurst
John Lee
Richard Levine
Nathan Walhout
Xian Zhuo
Youna Choi*
Nicole Chung*
Benjamin Solomonow *
BASS
Jeremy Kurtz-Harris Principal
SOPHIE AND ARTHUR BRODY FOUNDATION CHAIR
Susan Wulff
Associate Principal
Aaron Blick
P.J. Cinque
Kevin Gobetz
Samuel Hager
Michael Wais
Margaret Johnston+
FLUTE
Rose Lombardo Principal
Sarah Tuck
Lily Josefsberg
PICCOLO
Lily Josefsberg
OBOE
Sarah Skuster Principal
Rodion Belousov
Andrea Overturf
ENGLISH HORN
Andrea Overturf DR. WILLIAM AND EVELYN
LAMDEN ENGLISH HORN CHAIR
CLARINET
Sheryl Renk Principal
Max Opferkuch
Frank Renk
BASS CLARINET
Frank Renk
BASSOON
Valentin Martchev Principal
Ryan Simmons
Leyla Zamora
CONTRABASSOON
Leyla Zamora
HORN
Benjamin Jaber Principal
Darby Hinshaw
Assistant Principal and Utility
John Degnan
Tricia Skye
Douglas Hall
TRUMPET
Christopher Smith Principal
Jonah Levy *
Ray Nowak
TROMBONE
Kyle R. Covington Principal
Logan Chopyk
Kyle Mendiguchia
BASS TROMBONE
Kyle Mendiguchia
TUBA
Aaron McCalla Principal
HARP
Julie Smith Phillips Principal
TIMPANI
Ryan J. DiLisi Principal
Andrew Watkins Assistant Principal
PERCUSSION
Gregory Cohen Principal
Erin Douglas Dowrey
Andrew Watkins
Eduardo Meneses*
PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN
Courtney Secoy Cohen
LIBRARIAN
Rachel Fields
* Long Term Substitute Musician + Staff Opera Musician
The musicians of the San Diego Symphony are members of San Diego County, Local 325, American Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO.
San Diego Opera Board and Leadership
2024/25 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo, GG, MFA
Chair of the Board
Linda Spuck
President
Karl Hostetler, MD
Executive Vice President
Brett McClain, PhD
Vice President, Finance
Clarice Perkins
Secretary/Parliamentarian
General Director – David Bennett
Principal Conductor – Yves Abel
LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT
Director of Learning and EngagementBernardo Bermudez
Teaching Artists – Bill Caballero, Agustin
Castaneda, Devon Guthrie, Stephanie Jed, Joey Molina, Ricardo Rosales, Rebeca Tamez
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Director of Marketing and Communications –
Ed Hofmeister
Group Sales – Vanessa Dinning
Marketing Operations Director – Greg Watkins
Company Photographer – Karli Cadel
OPERATIONS AND FINANCE
Senior Accountant – Mario Adame
Staff Accountant – Claudia Diaz-Acevedo
IT Administrator – Joseph Huitzil
Executive Assistant/Operations Associate –
Angelica Mondragon
Operations Coordinator – Eduardo Saavedra
PATRON SERVICES
Patron Services Manager – Brad Fox
Box Office Manager – Erin Oleno
Patron Services Associates – Evey Beach, Matt Kissel
PHILANTHROPY
Director of Philanthropy – Llewellyn Crain
Data and Donor Operations Manager –Kevin Boudoin
Philanthropy Associate – Camryn Burton
Institutional Giving Director – Grace Chalmers
Major Gifts Officer – Elizabeth Fittro
Events Director – Bari Goldman
Senior Philanthropy Officer – Peter Shavitz
DIRECTORS
Robin Allgren, MD, PhD, MBA
Joann Clark
Beau Haugh
Joan Henkelmann
Matthew Kilman
Carol Lazier
Veronica Leff, MAM
Ronald Leonardi, PhD
Brett MacLeod
Joseph P. Martinez
Jason Paguio
Coreen G. Petti
SAN DIEGO OPERA STAFF
PRODUCTION AND ARTISTIC
Director of Production and Artistic
Administration – Joan T. Foster
Technical Director – Tim Wallace
Associate Production Director – Grace Herzog
Conductor-in-Residence and Chorus Master –
Bruce Stasyna
Artistic Administrator – Melody Moore
Lighting Director – Jason Bieber
Stage Manager – Peter Nictakis
Assistant Director – Nicolás A. Garcia
Assistant Stage Managers – Carmen Catherine
Alfaro, Hannah Holthaus
Intimacy Choreographer - Nora Winsler
Production Assistant – Holden Fox
Super Captain – Jesi Betancourt
COSTUME DEPARTMENT
Costume Directors – Christine Joly de Lotbiniere, Missy West
Assistant to Costume Director –
Spencer Tuchscher-Hart
SHOP
Milliner and Stitcher – Sharon Granieri
Assistant Draper – Susan Sachs
Stitchers – Laura Kozak, K-Joy Lehmann
Fitting and Stock Room Coordinator – Mary Harris
Assistant Fitting Coordinator – Ginny McClure
WARDROBE
Wardrobe Head – Peggy Harrison
Assistant to Wardrobe Head – Margaret Hagar
Dressers – Donna Couchman, Pam Medhurst, Anna Noll, Sue Noll, Maggie Jo Turner, Mike Rosensteel
Theatre Stitcher – K-Joy Lehmann
Gloria M. Shurman, PhD
Mary Lindenstein Walshok, PhD
Janet White, MA, MBA, CSci, FRSC
HONORARY LIFE DIRECTORS
Teresa Fischlowitz (in memoriam)
Lee Goldberg
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., PhD
Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo, GG, MFA
HONORARY DIRECTOR
Dame Zandra Rhodes
WIGS AND MAKE-UP
Designer – Peter Herman
Wig and Makeup Artists – Kathleen Kenna, Pam Stompoly Ericson, Raquel Trivino,
Danielle Nicole Evans
SCENIC STUDIO
Scenic Studio Office Coordinator –
Chase Lowary
Master Carpenter – Jack Hernandez
Lead Carpenter – Cory Klinge
Carpenters – Will Bender,
Anthony Chambers, Antonia Hogue
Lead Welder – Sergio Pinales
Charge Artist – Darin Hibi
Lead Scenic Artist – Jessica Harriman
Scenic Artists – Jessica Amador, Samantha Leon
TECHNICAL AND STAGEHANDS
Head Carpenter – Anthony Chambers
Assistant Carpenter – Eric Housh
Flyman – Ron Hogue
Head Electrician – Richard Bonin
Assistant Electrician – Leah Nellman
Light Board Operator – Mike Lowe
Head Props – Antonia Hogue
Assistant Props – Bradley Morrison
Head Audio – Michael Gustafson
Supertitles – Franklin Gray
VOLUNTEER COORDINATING COUNCIL
Kate Bower
Barbara Carlton
Norman Cullen
Brenda Hines
November Eat Sheet
From a Moroccan Oasis in North Park to Nostalgic “TV Dinners” in Point Loma / by
SARAH DAOUST /
Debuting its second
SoCal location, Blanco Cocina + Cantina is now open for business in Coronado. Known for its laidback party vibe, selection of tequilas and mezcals, and creative margaritas, the restaurant is also popular for its hearty Tuscan Chimichanga with fillings like chicken tinga
and short-rib machaca; slowcooked barbecue pork tacos; and selection of enchiladas, fajitas, burritos and cheese crisps. Start with the chicken-tortilla soup and grilled Mexican street corn; finish with the brown-sugar-caramel flan and Chocolate Impossible Cake with dulce de leche pudding and vanilla ice
cream; and wash it all down with the Smashed Watermelon margarita. The eatery’s decor is contemporary and warm— punctuated by live greenery, muted green seating and banquettes, and a large central wraparound bar. 1301 Orange Ave., Coronado, 858.399.4040, blancococinacantina.com
Dinner offerings at Leila in North Park
The team behind Puesto and Marisi debuts a cocktail bar at The Headquarters at Seaport: Roma Norte. Billed as “not a speakeasy” and inspired by the vibrant, culture-rich Mexico City neighborhood of the same name, the new venue features cocktails infused with Latin American flavors and ingredients, aimed at offering a truly immersive experience. Step inside the sophisticated, low-lit space and choose from concoctions such as the Nopal Spritz, Banana Daiquiri and Mango Milk Punch; classic vodka cocktails like the Moscow Mule; and gin-based offerings including the French 75 and Gimlet. Libations are complimented by Mexico-City-inspired bites by chef Erik Aronow, including scallop tostadas, yellowfin tuna, carne crudo, Torta de Milanesa, and churros. 789 W. Harbor Drive, Suite 155,
downtown, 619.600.5535, romanorte.bar
In North Park, venture inside Leila and be transported to a lush dining oasis inspired by the bustling night markets of Morocco, complete with a starry ceiling, water
features, two bars and an open kitchen anchored by a showpiece clay oven and Robata grill. On the menu: Middle Eastern dishes and libations that pay homage to CH Projects founder Arsalun Tafazoli’s roots and travels. Expect housemade spreads and sauces; kabobs and skewers with proteins such as chicken and salmon cooked over open fire; and specialties like “Whole Fish in a Cage” and braised, grilled lamb shank. On the cocktail menu, the Camel Clutch is described as “Tehran goes full tiki; life after death”; while Joon
is billed as “the ultimate Persian martini; slightly dirty; very Habibi.” There’s also a fun “For Sharing” section of cocktails that serve two to four people; try Date Night, Caravan 75, Tangier Twilight or Lion’s Milk. 3956 30th St., North Park, 619.550.5412, leilanorthpark.com
Known for its authentic Calabrian cuisine (including a separate full vegan menu), Civico 1845 has unveiled a new cocktail menu, centered on the herbal liqueur Amaro and other traditional Italian ingredients. New libations include the Martini
Desserts at Amaya; deviled eggs with
Ponyboy.
Puttanesca with Calabrian chili oil; the earthy ginbased Stromboli; the Calabra Fresca with spicy tequila, Campari, watermelon and lime; and the Old Fashioned with bourbon, Luxardo Bianco, Italian chartreuse and orange. 1845 India St., Little Italy, 619.431.5990, civico1845.com
The recently closed Wolfie’s Carousel Bar has reopened as Wilma’s Carousel Bar, now operated by SDCM Restaurant Group. Named after owner Matt Spencer’s grandmother, Wilma’s still houses the iconic
caviar at
DINING
carousel-turned bar with seating that slowly revolves around it—making it one of two carousel bars in the U.S. There's a new menu of FrenchCreole dishes by executive chef Brian Redzikowski; plus a new cocktail menu by beverage director Eric Johnson. Indulge in steak frites, shrimp ‘n' grits, the “Smashed Big Mac,” roasted eggplant lettuce wraps, and beignets with coffee-crème anglaise and chocolate sauce; along with cocktails like the Monaco Old Fashioned, mezcal-based C’est La Vida, Sazerac Split and signature Wilma’s
French 75; and a thoughtfully curated selection of French wines and bubbly. 2401 Kettner Blvd., Suite B, Little Italy, 619.255.7533, wilmascarouselbar.com
Point Loma’s midcentury Pearl Hotel brings us a new retro-style restaurant and bar: Ponyboy The brainchild of Service Animals—the hospitality outfit headed by seasoned cocktail ninja Ian Ward (Addison) and Danny Romero (Wormwood, Two Ducks)—is inspired by the character of the same name in the novel and film, The Outsiders Feast on nostalgic 1960s fare like fondue for two; potato-crusted tuna casserole; navy beans and
bone marrow; deviled eggs, grilled Oysters Rockefeller; pineapple tempura fritters; and “TV Dinners” (daily specials), such as fried chicken and Five-Alarm Chili. Also consider the “Juicy Lucy,” a wagyu beef patty stuffed with New School American cheese, topped with Alabama white sauce, and served on sesame-potato brioche, served with a side of Ponyboy fries; the Fishermen’s Catch with Parmesan grits; and the Barbacoa Beef Stroganoff. 1410 Rosecrans St., Point Loma, 619.226.6100, theponyboy.com
Taking a West Coast spin on a Parisian brasserie, Amaya at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar—helmed
by new executive chef Bryn McArthur and chef Roman Garcia—has debuted new menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sample French bistro classics such as escargots, duck cassoulet, steak tartare, roasted duck crown, French onion soup, Parisienne gnocchi and bouillabaisse; plus charcuterie boards, French cheeses and much more. We suggest dining on the shaded terrace. (The resort’s lobby lounge, library and bar also have undergone a stunning renovation. The refreshed spaces—designed by L.A. firm Bishop Pass—boast a rich palette of gold, green and burgundy; with Venetian glass chandeliers and neo-baroque
New cocktails at Postino Wine Cafe; aperitivo time at Civico 1845 (below).
and rococo-detailed furnishings. Slide up to the gleaming new bar— accented by a custom mural channeling the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve—where a new bar menu offers tapas, craft cocktails, wines and exclusive spirits.)
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar, 858.314.2000, granddelmar.com
Indulge in Bajainfluenced Mediterranean cuisine at Slowly Restaurant & Lounge
The newest culinary offering from Landini’s Restaurant Group, the quaint restaurant and bar features locally sourced fare and craft cocktails. Dishes include sea bass and clams with tri-color quinoa, veggies, saffron
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
sauce and house chili oil; grilled, marinated arrachera with roasted chambray onions, chimichurri sauce and fries; ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta, accompanied by pistachio cream, peas and Parmesan; branzino with citrus-butter-sage sauce; and house-made desserts like crème brulee. Come for “Martini vs. Mocktail Mondays,” from 4 p.m. to last call—featuring $9 martinis and $7 mocktails. 1520 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, 858.352.6080, slowlysd.com
Known for its CaliBaja cuisine and prime embarcadero views, InterContinental San Diego’s waterfront Vistal restaurant has launched a new menu—centered on hyper-local seafood from the Port of San Diego. (Vistal is one of just two San Diego restaurants to receive the prestigious “Smart Catch Leader” certification.) This means new fresh-catch offerings like the Seafarer’s Tower
The Christine at Slowly
loaded with oysters, shrimp, tuna tartare and more; local yellowfin tuna tartare; vermillion rockfish ceviche; Baja-style cioppino, grilled swordfish al pastor; and local sheephead “zarandeado.” To drink, Vistal has also launched a new “Seven Cocktails for the Seven Seas” menu. Offerings have fun names like The Sand Dollar, Stirred Not Shaken, the Big Bay Old Fashioned, Smoke on the Water, La Jolla Sea Lion, and Bird Across the Bay. Check out Vistal’s happy hour, Sunday through Wednesday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and enjoy $4 dorado fish tacos and select $8 cocktails and wines. 901 Bayfront Court, downtown, 619.535.0485, vistalsd.com
La Jolla Village welcomes casual daytime eatery Comedor Nishi, serving Mexican-inspired breakfast and lunch plates with subtle nods to Japan and Europe. Choose from breakfast dishes such as lamb-barbacoa sopes, cured-salmon tostadas with yuzu-kosho guacamole, and huevos rancheros with roasted turkey breast and green beans; and half-duck carnitas and short-rib braseada with veggies for lunch; plus sweets like the doublechocolate miso cookie, peaches with cream, and seasonal pies. The cozycute restaurant is outfitted
DINING
in warm woods, vibrant pops of turquoise and orange, and whitewashed brick walls. 1109 Wall St., La Jolla, 858.412.4269, comedornishi.com
Now open on Convoy Street, Yakitori Tsuta is touted as San Diego’s first omakase yakitori restaurant. Indulge in a multicourse menu crafted by chef Tatsuro Tsuchiya, devoted primarily to yakitori—which translates to "grilled chicken," comprising bite-sized pieces served on skewers. Expect to sample various chicken parts (gizzards, hearts, wings, thighs, chicken skin, etc.); as well as smoked duck, chicken meatballs, sesame tofu, grilled rice balls, Japanese egg custard, quail eggs and soups—all at the chef’s discretion and seating just 10 guests at a time. 3860 Convoy St., Suite 100, Kearny Mesa, exploretock. com/yakitori-tsuta
Weekend brunch is now served at Postino Wine Cafe, which recently opened new locations in Little Italy and at One Paseo in Del Mar. Choose from hot doughnut dots; focaccia-style French toast; focaccia toast with smashed avocado, crispy prosciutto, fried egg, feta, watermelon radish and spicy marcona almonds; meatball shakshuka; and more. To wash it all down,
Postino has also debuted a selection of spirits-based cocktails. 2100 Kettner Blvd., Suite 1800, Little Italy, 619.241.4700; 3745 Paseo Place, Suite 800, Del Mar Heights, 619.567.2111, postinowinecafe.com
The popular bakeshop SusieCakes—first founded by Susan Sarich in 2006 in Los Angeles—has opened its newest outpost at The Forum Carlsbad. The shop is known for its nostalgic, homestyle baked goods made from scratch onsite: cakes, cupcakes, cookies, traditional pies and seasonal treats. Choose from cupcakes with fun flavors like the limited-edition pumpkin-spice-latte, lemon, coconut, mocha and chocolate-mint; and cookies like iced molasses, classic chocolate chip, and the signature Susie’s Nutty Sandwich. 1935 Calle Barcelona, Suite 172, Carlsbad, 760.659.2253, susiecakes.com
Cupcakes at SusieCakes
FEATURE
CONT’D. FROM PAGE 15
bohème will see three performances over one weekend, with different singers in the roles of Mimì and Rodolfo on consecutive performances. On the Friday and Sunday, Mimì will be sung by soprano Kathleen O’Mara, who recently won both First Prize and the Birgit Nilsson Prize at Plácido Domingo’s prestigious international Operalia competition. In the role of Rodolfo will be tenor Joshua Blue, whom Bennett calls a young singer making a big name for himself singing this role in many places. Saturday’s Mimì is soprano Sarah Tucker, known to San Diego Opera audiences from past performances as Micaela in Carmen and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte; while Rodolfo will be César Delgado, a rising Mexican tenor.
La bohème is such a mainstay of opera stages worldwide that in every audience there are bound to be those who have seen it many times before; as well as those seeing it for the very first time. Stickann says it’s no wonder the opera has remained a favorite of opera audiences for more than a century. “It’s so theatrical, the characters are so well drawn and so thoroughly fleshed out in the way they deal
“This season we’re using scenic elements that are less heavy, scenery, lighting and costumes, but also using technology to aid us.”—
David Bennett
with each other and themselves that you can’t help but be drawn into their stories,” she says. “It has humor, but it’s also tragic—it has both sides of what opera can offer, the highs and lows, in a highly Bennett agrees. “La bohème is a beautifully crafted opera. The mechanism we are employing in
San Diego Opera presents Salome, March 21-23, 2025.
this production of telling the story through memory distills it, so that the dramatic intensity is actually greater,” he says. “People who have seen it before will find that a new and fresh approach. At the same time, what we all want to hear are beautiful voices singing these timeless tunes.”
In addition to La bohème, Bennett has programmed two other well-known operas for the 60th anniversary season, both also at the Civic Theatre. Save the dates for Richard Strauss’ Salome, March 21-23, 2025; and Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, April 25-27, 2025, considered one of the most beloved operas of all time.
“This season we’re using scenic elements that are less heavy, scenery, lighting and costumes
San Diego Holiday Classic!
Music by Vince Guaraldi, arranged by Peter Sprague
but also using technology to aid us,” says Bennett. “Every production will use projections and video to help with the storytelling. We saw the success of this sort of production with our recent Madama Butterfly. It allows artists to move more and have space, but we will still fill the Civic Theatre stage.”
In addition, the San Diego Opera Chorus will be showcased for the first time in a holiday concert, “Making Merry,” on Dec. 7 at Balboa Theatre. It will feature soprano Alisa Jordheim and San Diego’s civic organist, Raúl Prieto Ramírez, playing the theater’s historical organ.
Another San Diego Opera tradition that will be upheld with this production of La bohème will be the company’s track record of discovering and nurturing young talent.
FEATURE
Help Fund a New Bloodmobile
Help fund a brand new, state-of-the-art bloodmobile and make a lasting impact in our community.
All gifts this holiday season will be doubled — up to $100,000 — thanks to San Diego Self Storage and Managing Partner, Anthony R. Carr.
Together, we transform the lives of local patients like Avila.
“We’ve been known since the beginning as a place where very important singers come early in their careers,” Bennett says. “This season is no exception. You will see some very young but very upand-coming singers who have not appeared here before; as well as directors like Keturah who worked with us very early in their careers as assistants.”
In fact, Stickann made her debut with SDO onstage, as a dancer. After performing in 2004’s The Pearl Fishers and Turandot operas, she retired from dancing and got to know opera in another capacity, as a choreographer and assistant director. In 2014, she directed SDO’s Don Quixote, and has returned regularly to lead productions since then.
“It means a lot to be directing this milestone opera in the 60th anniversary season,” says Stickann, who now lives in Knoxville, Tenn., but previously made her home in San Diego for 10 years. “San Diego feels like home, and working at SDO feels like a homecoming every single time. It’s both humbling and a pleasure.”
For more details on San Diego Opera’s milestone season and for tickets, please visit sdopera.org
Leukemia survivor Avila with her mom at the 2023 Padres Summer Blood Drive.
reprogrammed !
Performances Magazine unveils a digital program platform for shows and concerts
DROP DOWN MENU Table of app contents.
REGISTER
Stay arts-engaged, access past programs.
THE ESSENTIALS Acts, scenes, synopses, repertory and notes.
CONTRIBUTORS
Donors and sponsors who make it all possible—you!
NO RUSTLING PAGES, no killing trees . . . The new Performances program platform, accessed on any digital device, is among the more enduring innovations to have come out of the pandemic. The platform provides the programs for 20 Southern California performing-arts organizations, from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Ahmanson Theatre to San Diego Opera, where the app made its debut.
The touchless platform provides cast and player bios, donor and season updates and numerous other
arts-centric features. Audiences receive a link and a code word that instantly activate the app; QR codes are posted, too.
Screens go dark when curtains go up and return when house lights come back on. Updates—such as repertory changes, understudy substitutions and significant new donations—can be made right up to showtime, no inserts necessary. Other features include video and audio streams, translations and expanded biographies.
For those who consider printed
SEARCH
Find whatever it is you want to know—easily.
SIGN IN
Link to your performing-arts companies and venues.
THE PLAYERS
Bios and background for cast, crew and creators.
WHAT’S ON
What’s coming at a glance and ticket information.
programs to be keepsakes, a limited number, as well as commemorative issues for special events, continue to be produced. Collectibles!
Meanwhile, there is less deforestation, consumption of petroleum inks and programs headed for landfills. For the ecologically minded, the platform gets a standing ovation.
When theaters and concert halls reopened after their long intermission, the digital Performances was but one more reason for audience excitement. Activate your link and enjoy the shows. —CALEB WACHS
PHOTO IS COURTESY OF THE OLD GLOBE
