The Julia Morgan (Berkeley, CA)
An exquisite period piece of Americana, The Ballad of Baby Doe is based on a real-life story of love, honor and politics, set against the boom times in Colorado in the 1880s when silver was king. Douglas Moore's lush score depicts this riches-to-rags epic through lyricism of irresistible beauty, soaring arias and rousing chorus scenes.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for The Ballad of Baby Doe was Friday July 17, 2009 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
Currently at The Julia Morgan:
Join Dorothy and Toto and their friends on a wild and wonderful adventure over the rainbow and through the Land of Oz. Directed by award-winning Jon Tracy with musical direction by Phil Gorman, Berkeley Playhouse's The Wizard of Oz features bungee-jumping monkeys, glowing orbs, clowning and classic shadow play. Learn More
Mine is a mixed review. The talent was good but the first half of the show did not match that talent. The content was superficial and left me and my companion with eyes rolling and the feeling of "so what". Luckily, we stayed for the second half where the content began to match the talent. Here there was emotion, self-exploration, and internal conflict that made for interesting theater. So, don't expect much from the "set up" but be prepared to be surprised by the followup.
A thoroughly charming night out. The ever-lovable Berkely Opera has done it again. Strong principals (Jillain Khuner floats her top notes with exquisite control, and Lisa Houson's Augusta, the ditched-off wife, is as sympathetic, in the end, as she is forceful and stern throughout). Crisp diction from the the robust chorus, and also in the many smaller ensembles, add to the pleasure (though having supertitles is nice, too!). This is a fascinating piece of Americana, rich in emotion and history. Very satisfying night out. If Goldstar has sold out its ticket allotment, consider the senior-rush or the side tickets sold only at showtime -- or put on the dog and pay full freight; our local arts need support, this company is a treasure, and this offering is well worth full fare.
Best version I've ever seen of this opera. Being in a small theater adds to the story. Augusta & Baby Doe had world class voices. Horace was okay. Magical evening
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.
Website: http://www.berkeleyopera.org/season.html#BabyDoe
By Douglas Moore
In English with English supertitles
The names of Baby Doe, Horace Tabor, and Augusta Tabor have become mythical, but they are actual figures in Colorado history.
A star vehicle for the late Beverly Sills, the role of Baby Doe will be sung by soprano Jillian Khuner.
Berkeley Opera was founded in 1979 by baritone Richard Goodman, also an Engineering Professor at the University of California at Berkeley, who is now Artistic Director emeritus. Berkeley Opera's mission is to present opera as lively, compelling musical theater, fusing music and drama to delight, move, and challenge our audiences, while remaining accessible, affordable and engaging. To this end, its objectives include * providing quality performances that respect the unique spirit of each work while presenting it in a way that is fresh and meaningful to our audiences * appealing to a wide audience of all ages, ranging from seasoned opera lovers to those experiencing opera for the first time * promoting community involvement through education, outreach, and opportunities to participate in a variety of ways * and providing the opportunity for emerging talent to gain experience and exposure.
