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Two Operas, an Oratorio, and a FREE World Premiere!

The Opera Plus Series is an ideal choice for concertgoers who yearn for the dramatic, who appreciate both authentic productions and modern interpretations of opera classics, and who also enjoy new music performed by up-and-coming vocal superstars.

Through this exclusive introductory package, you’ll experience a Handel rarity brought back to life through the lens of award-winning director Christopher Alden; a triumphant Handel oratorio as it returns to the PBO stage after 27 years; and a lush, fully staged French Baroque opera performed with a dynamite cast along with the New York Baroque Dance Company. If that isn’t enough, you’ll also witness the World Premiere of a major vocal work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw absolutely FREE when you sign up for the Opera Plus Series–San Francisco.

The Opera Plus Series includes the following San Francisco performances

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A Cosmic Notion
World Premiere by Caroline Shaw

SHAW The Listeners
HANDEL Eternal Source of Light Divine

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Arwen Myers, soprano
Avery Amereau, contralto
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

Thursday October 17 | 8 PM
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
FREE IN THE OPERA PLUS SERIES!

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Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw returns to debut her most ambitious project yet for Philharmonia—a cosmic reflection for the otherworldly low-register voices of operatic stars contralto Avery Amereau and bass-baritone Dashon Burton. Perfectly paired with Handel’s expansive ode Eternal Source of Light Divine, the full forces of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale align with Nicholas McGegan at the helm as he opens his farewell season with a big bang of celestial proportions.

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Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus

HANDEL Judas Maccabaeus

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Robin Johannsen, soprano
Sara Couden, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan, tenor
William Berger, baritone
Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

Thursday December 5 | 7 PM
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

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Celebrate the triumph of perseverance and peace over oppressive adversity. Fire up the menorahs this holiday season—the conqu’ring hero comes! PBO favorite, tenor Nicholas Phan, rallies the troops in the title role of Handel’s heroic oratorio, one of the composer’s most enduringly popular works through his lifetime and since. Nic last brought this vital work to life in 1992, and he will conquer it again as only the foremost expert on Handel can! Nobody does Handel’s oratorios like Nic and Philharmonia.

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General Seating Included in the Opera Plus Series

Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo
JAN 24–FEB 1, 2020

HANDEL Aci, Galatea e Polifemo

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Lauren Snouffer, soprano
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor
Davóne Tines, bass-baritone
Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players

Christopher Alden, stage direction
Mark Grey, sound & video design
Seth Reiser, lighting design
Terese Wadden, costume design
Paul Tate dePoo III, set design

OPERA PLUS DATES
Choose one

Friday January 24 | 8 PM
Saturday January 25 | 8 PM
Wednesday January 29| 8 PM
Friday January 31 | 8 PM
Saturday February 1 | 8 PM
ODC Theater, San Francisco

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The original production met with critical acclaim when it premiered in New York City in 2017. Now the gender- and genre-bending operatic event that took New York City by storm in the summer of 2017 will make landfall in San Francisco in January. The New York Times calls it “A radical production of a Handel rarity” that “wrings every bit of unsettling darkness from this curious work.”

Co-produced with National Sawdust, this harrowingly intimate re-imagination stars original cast members Anthony Roth Costanzo as Galatea and Davóne Tines as Polifemo, with Lauren Snouffer joining as Aci.

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Leclair’s Scylla et Glaucus
Fully Staged Opera!

LECLAIR Scylla et Glaucus

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Chantal Santon, soprano (Scylla)
Aaron Sheehan, haute-contre (Glaucus)
Véronique Gens, soprano (Circé)
Judith van Wanroij, soprano (Vénus, Témire, Dorine)
Douglas Williams, baritone (Licas)

New York Baroque Dance Company
Les Chantres de la Maîtrise du
Centre de musique baroque de Versailles

Catherine Turocy, stage direction & choreography
Marie Anne Chiment, costume design
Pierre Dupouey, lighting & set design

Wednesday April 15 | 8 PM
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

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Glaucus the merman asks Circé the sea witch to introduce him to Scylla, the sea nymph. One problem: Circé is in love with Glaucus. The creative team from PBO’s celebrated Rameau opera production returns to create another fantastic project. The breathtaking soprano Véronique Gens, who “sends shivers down your spine” (The Guardian), makes her San Francisco debut as Circé.

All dates, venues, and programming subject to change.

The prepackaged Opera Plus Series is an introductory offer* with prices starting at just $139 and savings of up to 33%.

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VENUES

Choose your price section at Herbst Theatre using the map. NOTE: All price packages automatically include the best available seats at ODC in the General Seating (●) section on your selected date for Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. To upgrade to Premium Seating (★) at ODC, which includes a champagne reception with the artists, please call the PBO Box Office at (415) 295-1900.

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*The Opera Plus Series is a wonderful introductory offer designed for patrons who have not experienced Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale as a subscriber in the previous two seasons. If you are already a 2019/20 subscriber, we thank you for choosing PBO and appreciate your support of our efforts to attract new and past patrons to join the PBO family.

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Order Your Opera Plus Series Today!

Call (415) 295-1900

Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

Or Order Online Using the Form Below

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