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About
West Bay Opera
a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation
“California’s
most consistently satisfying small opera company.”
- Opera News
“The performance confirmed West Bay’s reputation as the foremost semiprofessional regional opera company in Northern California.”
- Opera News
History and Mission
West Bay Opera’s history begins in Vienna in the 1930’s, where founder Henry Holt received his training as a concert pianist and conductor. After a successful touring career, Mr. Holt gave a final performance in Europe as a soloist with Toscanini and the Vienna Philharmonic, and then left for the United States. He began as an accompanist and vocal coach for many well-known opera singers, working in New York and on tour throughout the United States. Mr. Holt settled in Palo Alto in 1955, and formed an opera workshop called the “Little Opera Guild.” From presentations of operatic excerpts with piano accompaniment, Mr. Holt’s workshops soon developed into fully staged performances. While local residents participated in the chorus, leading singers from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area appeared in the principal roles. Thus West Bay Opera was born.Following Henry Holt’s death in 1969, his wife, the late Maria Holt, guided the company as General Director for nearly three decades. Under Maria Holt’s leadership, West Bay Opera grew significantly in prominence and distinction. The West Bay Opera Orchestra was founded in 1974, and in 1983, as a result of the efforts of the entire West Bay Opera community, the Holt Building was constructed. Today this facility provides space for rehearsals, administrative offices, a costume shop, and set and properties storage.
Under the direction of Maria Holt, David Sloss, and now current General Director José Luis Moscovich, West Bay Opera has strengthened its commitment to the mission first articulated by Henry Holt:
To offer audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area operatic productions of the highest quality while providing for the professional growth of emerging artists, as well as experienced directors, designers, and other artistic personnel, and maintaining the traditions of community participation and education
The Season
Performing both the familiar and the adventurous, West Bay Opera seeks to please and challenge singers and audiences with three productions per season, one each in October, February, and May. The repertoire includes standard popular works, lesser-known operas and operettas, and occasionally operas by modern composers. Some of West Bay Opera’s greatest successes result from undertaking formidable artistic challenges. Past accomplishments include Bellini’s rarely-performed Norma, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin in the original Russian, and Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer. The principal consideration is always to give talented young opera singers an opportunity to perform challenging roles and, in turn, to give audiences the pleasure of hearing these singers on their way to fame.Comic operas are performed in English translations, some expressly prepared for West Bay Opera. Dramatic operas are performed in the original language. All productions are accompanied by projected supertitles in English.
The Audience
West Bay Opera has the loyal support of a large contingent of opera lovers throughout the Bay Area. The company performs to an estimated 20,000 audience members per year through regular performances and outreach activities. Most live on the San Francisco Peninsula, although many come from Sacramento, the Monterey Peninsula and even further.One of West Bay Opera’s greatest assets is the site of its performances: Palo Alto’s Lucie Stern Theatre. Popular with audiences for its intimacy, the theatre has excellent acoustics.
Tickets for performances are less than one-third the cost of similar seats at the San Francisco Opera, and parking is free. Season subscriptions are available and guarantee prime seating for productions. West Bay Opera encourages the attendance of young audiences, students, and seniors by offering tickets at reduced prices. Before each production, West Bay Opera brings outreach performances to schools, corporations, shopping malls, community centers, colleges, universities, and retirement communities.
Directors
West Bay Opera’s musical and stage directors are highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals. Some have national and international reputations of long standing, among them Pierrette Alarie, Samuel Cristler, Anne Catherine Ewers, Matthew Farruggio, Jonathon Field, Daniel Helfgot, Ernest Frederic Knell, Yefim Maizel, Henry Mollicone, David Ostwald, Stewart Robinson, Kenneth Tigar, Barbara Day Turner, and the late Jan Popper and Henry Holt (nephew of West Bay Opera’s founder). Others are emerging professionals who, through their work with the company, gain valuable experience.The Artists
No amount of private coaching and vocal training can sufficiently prepare a young artist for the rigors of the operatic stage. The on-stage performance experience offered by singing principal roles with West Bay Opera is of immeasurable value to a young singer’s operatic career. Our performers are selected in open auditions which attract singers from throughout Northern California. Under the coaching, direction, and inspiration of outstanding music and stage directors, these singers enjoy the rare opportunity to study and perform solo roles.Many of West Bay Opera’s young artists have subsequently won recognition in prestigious vocal competitions such as the San Francisco Merola Auditions and the Metropolitan Opera Finals. A number have gone on to sing with major American and European opera companies. The list of these performers includes Luana DeVol, who sang Leonora in Fidelio, first with West Bay Opera and thereafter with major opera houses in Germany; Monte Pederson, who sang the title role in Der Fliegende Holländer at West Bay Opera and then with the San Francisco Opera and the Deutsche Oper Berlin; and Patricia Schuman, who sang the title role of Carmen with West Bay Opera, went on to sing it in the Peter Brooks production on Broadway, and is now a star at the Metropolitan Opera.
The Orchestra
Performances are accompanied by the West Bay Opera Orchestra. The players are selected from professional ensembles and orchestras throughout Northern California. The chance to play under the baton of noted guest conductors attracts many of the area’s most gifted musicians to the Orchestra.Designers and Production Staff
West Bay Opera employs talented professionals to design sets, lighting, and costumes for each production. Like the young opera singers with whom they work, the costumers, technicians, and crew gain valuable career experience while working on productions. The company draws upon the resources in the community as well as from Bay Area colleges and universities to fill these positions for each production.Community Participation
Community involvement is one of the company’s most important and cherished traditions. Over 100 volunteers are actively engaged in diverse aspects of each production, including set construction, costumes, make-up, properties, and more. The all-volunteer West Bay Opera Chorus is composed of talented Bay Area singers who enjoy the opportunity to participate in significant artistic endeavors.Volunteers also play an important role in assisting West Bay Opera with various fundraising activities such as special events, mailings, and phonathons. A support organization, the West Bay Opera Guild, provides ushers, ticket takers, and concessions for the performances. Prior to the opening of each opera, the Guild holds a Preview at which the conductor and principal singers discuss and perform highlights from the forthcoming opera. The Villagers (volunteers from the WBO chorus and orchestra) organize a Halloween Costume Rental each year to raise funds for the company.
Support
West Bay Opera is sponsored by the West Bay Opera Association, Inc., a non-profit corporation governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. As ticket sales make up less than half the cost of productions, the company depends on individual donors, foundation support, corporate underwriting, and fundraising events to meet its expenses. Contributions are sought and encouraged in all areas. For more information, please visit the WBO Board Page and the Donor Benefits Page.Guild Volunteers
The West Bay Opera Guild, a volunteer community organization, provides ushers, ticket takers, and concessions for performances. Guild volunteers also assist with costume rental and other fundraising activities. Opera Guild members have the privilege of attending free dress rehearsals, general meetings with dynamic guest speakers or entertainers, the Opening Night Cast Party, and Holiday, Year-End and Overture parties. For more information, please visit the WBO Guild Page.Recognition
One of the oldest opera companies in California, West Bay Opera has an illustrious history of presenting opera for the enjoyment of Bay Area audiences. The company is critically acclaimed for its professional standards and has been recognized in national opera and music publications. Each production is widely covered by Bay Area media.West Bay Opera is proud of the training it offers gifted young singers and the opportunities it affords experienced artists to cultivate their talents. The company is equally proud of the extensive community involvement in every aspect of its productions. We seek to repay this support through performance excellence and a commitment to outreach education.
Corporate Partnerships
The support of the business community is a vital element in all of West Bay Opera’s endeavors. Through partnerships with West Bay Opera, companies demonstrate their commitment to the community’s cultural life in a prestigious and exceptional way: by fostering the careers of talented young singers, by bringing quality opera productions to enthusiastic audiences, and by bringing educational and outreach programs to schools and community centers. Through such partnerships, corporations also enjoy the publicity which surrounds each of West Bay Opera’s productions. Partnerships are structured to meet each corporation’s level of support and specific wishes in reaching the community.West Bay Opera receives major funding and support from The Hewlett Foundation, The Packard Foundation, and the City of Palo Alto, Division of Arts and Culture.
The West Bay Opera website is hosted by Lucinda Surber & Stan Ulrich.
