Conductor

Chorus Director

On a magical island, the sorceress Alcina lures men with beauty and desire, using them for pleasure before discarding them—transforming former lovers into the stones, animals, trees, and other objects that populate her enchanted world. Her allure, like her palace, is sustained by powerful spells that conceal the truth: both Alcina and her island are in ruins. When her latest conquest is given a magical ring that reveals this reality, the illusion begins to collapse. As Alcina’s powers fade, she loses her hold—and ultimately her conquest—to the force of true love.

EPSG:4326

Alcina

University of California, Berkeley

Lesher Center for the Arts

UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra 2026

UC Berkeley Department of Music

With a small baroque ensemble, featuring soprano voice and trumpet, this event explores the themes of love through early music composers, both famous and lesser known. A set of Purcell songs chronicle romantic love and loss, a Pepusch English cantata explores love of country, and a riotous Handel cantata joyfully exclaims a love of life.  Showcasing music that moves from mournful to bombastic, this concert features early music specialist performers.

Morgan Balfour – Soprano – Love in Many Forms

The 222

What do art song and Halloween have in common? Well… monsters! Beasts without and within, love gone horribly wrong, generalized anxiety and existential crises, conversations with death… The world of classical music is rife with horrors, and contralto Sara Couden is excited to introduce as many of them as possible to the audience this October. She will be working with the fabulous and multi-talented pianist Derek Tam, presenting works by a list of composers including Schubert, Strauss, Wieck, and Weill, as well as modern composers Jordan Rutter-Covatto, Erika Oba, and Chris Castro. Don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear, but fear itself!

Artist Recital Series

Piedmont Center for the Arts

Festival Opera

Conductor, Chorus Director

Derek Tam

Events

Upcoming events

13 - 19 Jun, 2026

Alcina · Festival Opera

Past events

13 - 19 Jun, 2026

Alcina · Festival Opera

Feb 20 - May 9, 2026

UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra 2026 · UC Berkeley Department of Music

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Alcina by Händel

Festival Opera

About

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