West Bay Opera

West Bay Opera is a distinguished cultural institution with a rich history that spans over six decades, making it the oldest opera company in continuous operation in the West, following the San Francisco Opera. Based in Palo Alto and serving the San Francisco Peninsula, West Bay Opera has been dedicated to bringing the intricate and multi-layered art form of opera to its community. The company's mission extends beyond mere entertainment; it views opera as a reflection of life itself. With each performance, West Bay Opera aims to take its audience on an emotional and intellectual journey, fostering greater awareness, empathy, and appreciation for life and human connections. Through its productions, the company showcases some of the most powerful and beautiful music ever composed, while also providing valuable opportunities for talented singers, designers, directors, and musicians. These opportunities often serve as crucial stepping stones for artists pursuing careers in major opera houses around the world. West Bay Opera has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous well-known singers. The company prides itself on its high-quality performances, which have consistently garnered positive reviews. To ensure accessibility and enhance the audience experience, West Bay Opera uses projected English titles in all its productions, allowing attendees to follow the narrative regardless of the language in which the opera is sung. As part of its commitment to education and community engagement, West Bay Opera runs programs such as "Opera in the Schools," which provides educational materials to teachers and introduces children to the art form. The company also offers an initiative called "Opera DEI" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), which includes an application process for interested instructors and participants. West Bay Opera's 68th season features a lineup of renowned operas, including "Madama Butterfly," "Corpus Evita," "Der fliegende Holländer" (The Flying Dutchman), "Don Giovanni," "La traviata," "Pique Dame," and past productions such as "Macbeth," "Falstaff," "Nabucco," "I due Foscari," "Carmen," "La bohème," "Fidelio," "Norma," and "Otello." The company maintains a comprehensive archive of media and materials related to its past seasons, including cast bios, creative teams' bios, and production staff details. The organization encourages support from the community through donations and ticket purchases, acknowledging that its productions are made possible in part by the generous support of key partners. West Bay Opera invites both longtime opera enthusiasts and newcomers to experience the transformative power of opera at one of their live performances, offering the chance to become lifelong fans of the art form. For more information about West Bay Opera, its current season, educational programs, or to join their mailing list, audition, or contact them, please visit their official website.