Opera From the Edge
West Edge Opera is an East Bay treasure
Scandal! Fairy tales! Mariachi!
Not often can an opera season be touted that way—unless it’s one by groundbreaking West Edge Opera (WEO), truly an East Bay “Best Of.” Back this year at Oakland’s glorious Scottish Rites Temple, WEO will present four mainstage productions, in addition to a special presentation of excerpts from one of its first commissions.
The Coronation of Poppea (July 22 and 30, Aug. 3, in Italian with English surtitles) follows the plots of the mistress of Emperor Nero to get rid of his inconvenient current wife. According to director NJ Agwuna, “Poppea is full of characters that we love to hate… no one is immune to scandal.”
In Cruzar la Cara de la Luna/Mariachi Opera 2010 (July 23 and 28, Aug. 5, in Spanish and English with English surtitles), a dying man dreaming of life left behind in Mexico is gifted with a reunion. “Joyous, funny, touching and tragic,” WEO promises.
The double bill of The Nightingale (in Russian with English surtitles) and Erwartung (in German with English surtitles) gives audiences a look at Hans Christian Anderson’s prescient fairy tale, paired with an “ultra-expressionistic” early 20th-century one-woman piece. (July 29, Aug. 4 and 6).
On Aug. 13, in San Francisco, WEO presents the next phase in the development of Dolores, which explores a pivotal week in the life of American icon Dolores Huerta (in English with English subtitles).
For more information about West Edge Opera, and to book tickets, visit westedgeopera.org. — Janis Hashe
Readers’ Picks
Best Dance Company
AXIS Dance Company
Best Latin Music Club
La Peña Cultural Center
Best Art Gallery
SHOH Gallery
Best Large Music Venue
The Fox Theater
Best Performing Arts Center
Zellerbach Hall – Cal Performances
Best Dance Studio
Hipline Dance & Fitness Studio
Best Cover Band
Tammy’s Camaro
Best Small Music Venue
Freight and Salvage
Best Symphony
Oakland Symphony
Best Record/CD Store
Amoeba
Best Media Personality: TV, Radio, Print
Dallas Braden
Best LGBTQ Event
Oakland Pride Parade
Best Music Festival
Mosswood Meltdown
Best Festival
Black Joy Parade
Best Karaoke
Mel-O-Dee Cocktails
Best Ballet Company
Oakland Ballet
Best Dance Club
Ashkenaz
Best LGBTQ Dance Club
Que Rico Nightclub
Best Dance Instructor – Classic
Suzie Hardt, Hidden City Ballroom
Best Comedy Night
Comedy Oakland
Best Museum
Oakland Museum of CA
Best Theater Company
Berkeley Repertory Theater
Best Outdoor Music Venue
Greek Theatre
Best Jazz/Blues Club
Yoshi’s
