Death of Klinghoffer
The opera is inspired by the dramatic real-life events of October 1985: the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro by terrorists from the Palestine Liberation Front. The incident, which drew worldwide attention, ended with the murder of one of the passengers, Leonard Klinghoffer — an American citizen of Jewish faith, who used a wheelchair — whose body was thrown into the sea by the terrorists.
“Solaris” Workshop # 2
In Solaris, Dr. Kris Kelvin arrives at a space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris in response to a distress signal, only to find the crew in psychological turmoil. He soon learns that the planet has the ability to materialize physical manifestations from the subconscious minds of those aboard. When Kelvin is confronted by a replica of his deceased wife, Rheya, he is forced to relive buried trauma and question the boundaries between memory and reality. As the station’s crew grapples with the moral and existential implications of these “visitors,” tensions escalate, culminating in a haunting exploration of grief, perception, and the unknown forces of the universe.
L’Italiania in Algeri
Rossini’s comic opera L’italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) is the highlight of this year’s festival. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Full orchestra, sets, and costumes.
This contemporary update pits clever Italian girl Isabella against the lecherous Mustafa. She must use her wits to escape his clutches, rescue her lover, and return home triumphant. Rossini’s sparkling farce is a whirlwind of wit, romance, and irresistible melodies.
Don Giovanni
Back after 12 years, Opera San Jose builds a new production of Don Giovanni, Mozart’s dark psychological thriller. Seduction, rebellion, and supernatural justice collide in a thrilling look at a notorious libertine’s downfall. The production follows a charismatic anti-hero who pursues pleasure without remorse, leaving a trail of broken hearts and vengeful spirits in a world re-examining the limits of entitlement. Maria Brea returns as the cheated and furious Donna Elvira, with Jonghyun Park as the naive, well-intentioned Don Ottavio. Music Director Joseph Marcheso and stage director Alek Schrader collaborate to bring this visceral inquiry into power and conscience to the heart of Silicon Valley.
Doctor Atomic
The gripping intensity of John Adams’s Doctor Atomic arrives in an all-new production at the California Theatre, led by visionary General Director Shawna Lucey. Chronicling the moral and emotional turmoil surrounding the Manhattan Project, this opera dramatizes the highstakes days when J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team confronted the ethical weight of unleashing unprecedented destructive power. Haunting choruses and pulsating rhythms capture the tension between scientific breakthrough and human conscience. In the heart of Silicon Valley, where ideas become forces that shape the globe, this landmark work lands not only as history, but as a reflection of our own innovation and its enduring consequence. Maestro Joseph Marcheso returns to the podium to conduct this essential inquiry into the soul of the machine.