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April 28, 2015

Festival Opera Lite: A Musical Journey

Walnut Creek Marriott ~ Thursday, May 28

Christopher Bengochea

Sara Duchovnay

Festival Opera Lite is back by popular demand for a second engagement at the Walnut Creek Marriott, with "A Musical Journey" of songs from around the world. Festival Opera Lite presents familiar opera arias, popular songs and Broadway show tunes. Designed to be both an introduction to opera for newbies and fun for opera enthusiasts, Opera Lite events are a laid-back social environment with music, food, wines, and good company. The second Opera Lite is on Thursday, may 28, at 7 p.m. at the Walnut Creek Marriott, 2355 North Main St., Walnut Creek.

Featured Bay Area opera stars Sara Duchovnay and Christopher Bengochea will be joined by piano accompanist, Danielle Naler. A wonderful menu for dinner and appetizers is available, and wine specials will also be offered in Atrio Restaurant in the hotel lobby. There is no cover charge, however a one-drink minimum is requested.

Christopher Bengochea is a critically-acclaimed and prize-winning international opera tenor who appeared in Festival Opera's 2014 season production of The Emperor of Atlantis, as well as previous productions. A former resident artist of Opera San José, he is currently appearing in Livermore Valley Opera's production of Lucia di Lammermoor.

Sara Duchovnay originated the role of Dorothea in Allen Shearer's opera Middlemarch in Spring, which premiered in San Francisco in March 2015. In May, Sara returns to Pacific Opera Project, where she will sing Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, followed by her debut with Festival Opera singing the role of Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos. She has sung principal roles in West Edge Opera's production of Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg's opera Hydrogen Jukebox and Nannetta in Falstaff for Opera José, among others.

For more information and reservations for dinner during "A Musical Journey" in Atrio, call the Walnut Creek Marriott at 925.934.2000.

Tickets On Sale May 1
R. Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos

Tickets go on sale May 1 for Festival Opera's 2015 production of Richard Strauss'

Ariadne auf Naxos, Friday, July 10 and Sunday, July 12 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

* Opening Night Dinner at Prima

Join us for a special opening-night experience: good food, good wine, and good company at an elegant pre-opera dinner at Prima Ristorante, just a block from the Lesher Center. Just $120 per person, reserve your place at the same time you order your opera tickets.

* Premiere Seating

You can reserve some of the best seats in the house - Premiere Seating - on either orchestra or balcony levels. Seats previously reserved for invited guests only are now available in this exclusive section.

* Student Tickets

$20 Standard-category seating is available for students with valid identification at both performances.

There are a few ways to order tickets for

Ariadne auf Naxos:

Click here for complete ticketing information.
Tickets go on sale May 1, 2015.

Contact Us

Festival Opera

1630 North Main Street, #61

Walnut Creek, California 94596

925.944.9610

www.festivalopera.org

Sara Nealy - General Director

Dick Brundage, CBC - Marketing Director

______________________

Board of Directors

Susie Hanson, Chair

Peter Johnson, Vice Chair

David Baer, Secretary

Nina Bancroft Dickerson

Jennifer Kwock-Lau

Diane Heald

2015 Calendar

FRI May 1 Tickets Go On Sale for
Ariadne auf Naxos

THU May 28 7:00 pm	Festival Opera Lite "A Musical Journey" Walnut Creek Marriott Featuring: Christopher Bengochea & Sara Duchovnay
SUN June 21	Opera in the Park Father's Day Tribute to Dads Civic Park, Walnut Creek Featuring: Shawnette Sulker Daniel Cilli Betany Coffland Jose Hernandez
FRI July 10	Opening Night Party Prima Ristorante, Walnut Creek
FRI July 10 SUN July 12	Ariadne auf Naxos Lesher Center for the Arts Walnut Creek
Nov 13-14	Chamber operas: Holst's Savitri and Perla's *River of Light*
Nov 15	Chamber operas: Performance in San Jose Venue TBA
Dec 10 6:30 pm	2015 Holiday Gala Round Hill Country Club Alamo

Be Seen at Opera in the Park Father's Day - Sunday, June 21
Join the Tribute to Dads and Families

Sponsor booths at Opera in the Park's Community Fair

Opera in the Park is only months away, and you can join our community partners for this popular public event. Held in Walnut Creek's Civic Park, this free concert and fair features acclaimed singers and music in a

Tenor Zachary Gordin singing at 2012
Opera in the Park.
Photo credit:
Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group

relaxed picnic environment.

   This year, featured artists include opera singers Betany Coffland, Jose Hernandez, Shawnette Sulker and Daniel Cilli. Music Director and host is John Kendall Bailey.

   A special performance of Indian Bollywood dance will be presented to get everyone in the mood for Festival Opera's fall chamber operas with Indian cultural themes.

   Because Opera in the Park sponsors are in the spotlight before a diverse base of patrons and community supporters, your organization can stand out as a partner in the arts. To become a sponsor, contact Sunshine Deffner, Community Fair Manager by email.

2015 Season Grant Award by the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation

Festival Opera gratefully acknowledges the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation for support of our 2015 season.

The $40,000 award facilitates the programs and productions of 2015, and supports ongoing progress of the community-based opera company.

Thank you.