Opera Parallèle to Present ‘Harvey Milk Reimagined’ with Michael Kelly

(© 2025 www.mattsimpkinsphotography.com) Opera Parallèle is set to conclude its 15th anniversary season presenting the West Coast debut of “Harvey Milk Reimagined,” a bold and timely refreshed version of the groundbreaking opera originally composed by Stewart Wallace and librettist Michael Korie. The newly conceived two-act production, presented in collaboration with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, will be performed from {…}

Feb 13, 2025

Opera Parallèle to Present World Premiere of ‘The Pigeon Keeper’

Opera Parallèle will present the World Premiere of a co-commissioned opera, “The Pigeon Keeper.” The work by composer David Hanlon and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann will be shown three times at the Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture on March 7 through 9, 2025. The opera will be presented in one act with multiple scenes and performed without intermission. {…}

Jan 23, 2025

Opera Parallèle to Celebrate 15th Anniversary & Jake Heggie

Opera Parallèle has announced details for its benefit evening, “In Pursuit of a Dream: A 15th Anniversary Celebration Honoring Composer Jake Heggie.” The event will be held on March 27 at the City Club of San Francisco and will feature legendary mezzo-sopranos Susan Graham and Frederica von Stade along with other artists. They will perform a program of musical selections {…}

Oct 16, 2024

‘Everest’ Graphic Novel Opera to Screen at Opera Steamboat

Opera Steamboat will present a screening of “Everest – A Graphic Novel Opera” on Oct. 22, 2024 at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. The screening will showcase the new film production by Opera Parallèle. The one-act opera by Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer focuses on the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster during which several mountaineers died after a severe storm hit {…}

Sep 24, 2024

Sasha Cooke, Nathan Granner, Sean Kelly, Angela Yam Headline Opera Parallèle’s 2024-25 Season

Opera Parallèle has announced its 2024-25 season. First up is “Everest,” which will be presented at the California Academy of Sciences, Morrison Planetarium. The immersive opera fuses graphic novel imagery and operatic storytelling to explore the 1996 famed expedition of the landmark. The opera stars Sasha Cooke, Nathan Granner, Kevin Burdette, Hadleigh Adams, Charlotte Fanvu, Shawnette Sulker, Whitney Steele, and {…}

Jul 29, 2024

Expansive: A Showcase of Transgender & Nonbinary Classical Artists’

On August 8 and 9, Opera Parallèle and The Transgender District is set to present “Expansive: A Showcase of Transgender & Nonbinary Classical Artists.” The showcase will feature baritone Lucas Bouk, bass-baritone Wilford Kelly, and violinist Queen Angelina as they take on music by such composers as Giordani, Brahms, R. Strauss, Vaughan Williams, Mozart, Verdi, Massanet, and Gershwin, among others. {…}

May 23, 2024

Opera Parallèle & The Transgender District to Present ‘Expansive’

Opera Parallèle will join forces with The Transgender District to present “Expansive.” The program, set for August 8 and 9 at the A.C.T. Strand Theater in San Francisco will feature nonbinary and transgender artists in concert. Among the performers are Lucas Bouk, Wilford Kelly, and Queen Angelina. Afrika America will accompany at the piano. Opera Parallèle has commissioned a song {…}

May 12, 2024

Opera Parallèle to Present ‘Fellow Travelers’ with Jonathan Pierce Rhodes & Joseph Lattanzi

Opera Parallèle and Presidio Theatre are set to present the West Coast premiere of “Fellow Travelers” by Gregory Spears. The company will salute LGBTQ+ Pride Month with the opera which will be performed three times between June 21 and 23 at the Presidio Theatre. The opera is based on award-winning author Thomas Mallon’s novel, which was recently adapted into a {…}

Mar 27, 2024

Q & A: Conductor Nicole Paiement on Championing Rare Works at San Francisco’s Opera Parallèle

Photo credit: Cory Weaver Opera Parallèle was founded in 2007 by conductor Nicole Paiement to develop and produce contemporary opera. It continues to pioneer the commissioning of new works and exploring underperformed musical creations and landscapes. Coming up in April 2024, Opera Parallèle (OP) joins with SFJAZZ to present “Birds & Balls,” a program of multimedia opera, pairing two short {…}

Feb 1, 2024

Opera Parallèle Awarded Three Major Grants, Announces New Administration Appointments

Opera Parallèle has announced that it has received three major grants to support its upcoming projects. First up, the organization was awarded $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in support of its upcoming performances. The grant supports the premiere of “Birds & Balls.” Additionally, the company received $21,250 from the California Arts Council to support its “Expansive: {…}

Jan 30, 2024

Nikola Printz to Perform at Opera Parallèle’s Annual Benefit Event

(Photo credit: Destiny Grace) Opera Parallèle has announced the details of its annual benefit event, “Boum!” taking place on March 14. Mezzo-soprano, activist, and current San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Nikola Printz previews the upcoming world premiere of “Birds and Balls,” singing the lead role of Billie Jean King. Printz is accompanied by pianist Keisuke Nakagoshi. This year Opera Parallèle {…}

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