Tosca at West Bay Opera

Grand Opera the way it is meant to be—shoe-horned into a community theater When all the elements come together, opera has an emotional impact that is unmatched among the arts. Those elements surely came together last Friday, Oct 11, for the opening of West Bay Opera’s Tosca. A talented cast, excellent musicians, and inspired conducting brought Giacomo Puccini’s dark celebration of passions to a boil in the intimate Lucie Stern...

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Gerard Schwarz conducts Berkeley Symphony

Resilience and depth at Zellerbach Under the gentle ministrations of a top conductor, the Berkeley Symphony pulled off an entirely satisfying concert last Thursday with a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 that would have been the envy of any major orchestra, along with a provocative premier and a surprisingly tender Wagner. ...

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