The Julia Morgan (Berkeley, CA)
San Francisco's Pocket Opera presents Donald Pippin's translation of Rossini's The Barber of Seville, the first chapter of The Marriage of Figaro. Aided by the ever resourceful Figaro, the impassioned Count Almaviva sets out to rescue lovely Rosina from the tightened clutches of irascible old Doctor Bartola.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Rossini's The Barber of Seville was Sunday June 7, 2009 / 2:00pm. (view all dates)
Currently at The Julia Morgan:
Berkeley Playhouse travels back in time to the magic of a 1920s Hollywood soundstage during a time of high stakes, big egos, and unforgettable show tunes. Singin' in the Rain will touch hearts and tickle funny-bones, as well as seduce the imagination with its illusions. A witty script, acrobatic antics and unbeatable dance routines make this a must-see family musical. Learn More
This is the first live Opera I've ever attended. I never knew what a pocket opera was. The performers and the music were outstanding. It was done in English and I was able to understand every word. And they flashed the words up on the wall for those who were hearing-impaired. I had brought in a libretto, not knowing it was in English. The hall was too dark for me to use it anyway. The fellow who played Dr. Bartolo was just terrific.
I was surprised to find this opera so much like an Italian Gilbert and Sullivan right down to the patter songs.
My only complaint is not with the show but with the exceedingly uncomfortable seats in the Julia Morgan. If you have a low back or hip problem I strongly suggest you bring a small pillow or a rolled up towel for the support you won't otherwise have.
I brought a group of 13, most of whom had never seen an opera before, to the performance on Sunday. It started off a little slow, but it progressed very nicely to the point where everyone seemed to enjoy it very much. The voices were mostly amazing for a small production, and the huge sets of a regular opera were not missed at all. Very enjoyable. Everyone was giggling by the end.
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Renowned architect Julia Morgan designed this building in 1908 as the St. John's Presbyterian Church. Working with a budget of two dollars per square foot, Morgan used natural redwood paneling, once affordable and abundant, for the interior and exterior of the building.
<p>Donald Pippin's distinctive and elegant English renderings of well-known and rarely performed operas are considered among the finest in the world. The productions are staged with minimalist scene stylings without compromising on a high qualityperformance value.</p>
Hailed by the press as "triumphant," "thrilling" and "funny," Pocket Opera enchants audiences with innovative, unpredictable productions that aim for the heart, challenge the mind and tickle the funny bone. Superb professional singers perform original English translations of classic and lesser known operas, accompanied by the Pocket Philharmonic. Dr. Pippin's vibrant and witty translations are also available to other companies and educational institutional.
