OPERA PARALLLE 2013-2014 SEASON HIGHLIGHTED BY NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF ADAM GORBS ANYA17 AND A UNIQUE DOUBLE BILL

INTERWEAVING WEILLS MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL AND POULENCS LES MAMELLES DE TIRSIAS Jake Heggies At The Statue of Venus Presented in Opera Parallles First Fundraising Event October 24 Partnership with Daniel Webster Elementary Brings to Life Peter Maxwell Davies The Spiders Revenge at California Academy Of Sciences SAN FRANCISCO, September 24, 2013 In keeping with the companys tradition of adventurous and visionary operatic presentations, Opera Parallles 2013-2014 season features the North American premiere of Adam Gorbs Anya17, a bold work addressing the brutal realities of modern slavery and human trafficking in addition to a unique double bill which interweaves Kurt Weills Mahagonny Songspiel with Francis Poulencs Les mamelles de Tirsias. In its new season, Opera Parallle continues to push the definition of contemporary opera by making it relevant to 21st century issues. As a contemporary opera company, we feel it is imperative to explore the role of opera as a vehicle for social change, said Artistic Director, Nicole Paiement. Our two major productions this year each shine light on significant social and environmental issues. Poulencs surreal overpopulated world in Les mamelles, combined with Weills utopic wishes of a better life, takes a innovative twist in the production and addresses the timely concerns of overpopulation, global warming and depleted natural resources. Composer Adam Gorb and his brilliant librettist Ben Kaye deal with conflict in a much more direct way. Their award-winning partnership is rooted in operas about extreme conditions and Anya17, which deals with human trafficking, is the latest in a series of highly socially- conscious operas. Concept Designer and Stage Director Brian Staufenbiel brings the Poulenc/Weill production to life with SteamPunk and Medieval Theatre inspired sets and video designs in performances April 25, 26 and 27 at San Franciscos Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Anya17s brutal tale will be told through a dramatic use of media projections inside a large half-dome representing Anyas mind and will be presented June 20, 21 and 22 at Marines Memorial Theater in conjunction with the 2014 Opera America conference.

An integral part of the Bay Area arts community, Opera Parallle presents its first official fundraising event, a presentation of Jake Heggies At the Statue of Venus, featuring soprano Kristin Clayton with the composer at the piano and concluding with a special performance by mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade, also accompanied by Mr. Heggie. The event takes place October 24 at the Generals Residence at Fort Mason in San Francisco and includes a reception and silent auction. Committed to nurturing a new generation of opera lovers, Opera Parallle continues its HandsOn-Opera community outreach program this year partnering with Daniel Webster Elementary School to prepare and present a family-friendly presentation of Peter Maxwell Davies The Spiders Revenge at 1 p.m. November 2 at the California Academy of Sciences. Opera Parallle will also continue its Opera-On-Display activities, where the public is invited to peek behind the scenes at events that serve as introductions to works currently in progress. This seasons activities will include a sneak preview in advance of the Poulenc/Weill double bill and an open staging rehearsal for Anya17. Each of these behind the scenes events offers insights into the productions and commentary from the artistic teams. As in past seasons, Opera Parallle will open its final dress rehearsals to an invited group of students from regional high schools and universities free of charge. Opera Parallle is a professional opera company, in residence at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the only organization in the Bay Area that presents contemporary opera exclusively. During the 2012-2013 season, Opera Parallle greatly expanded its footprint in the community, presenting many newly imagined educational and community outreach activities, as well as tripling its public performances. Undertaking a significant expansion, Opera Parallle presented critically acclaimed performances of three operas rather than one, including Osvaldo Golijovs Ainadamar, Leonard Bernsteins Trouble in Tahiti in a double bill with Samuel Barbers A Hand of Bridge and a public workshop reading of the companys first commission, Dante De Silvas Gesualdo, Prince of Madness, as part of its Opera Lab. Over the last few years, Opera Parallle has brought many superb productions of contemporary work to the community, including the award-winning world premiere of Jacques Desjardins reorchestration of John Harbisons The Great Gatsby, the Bay Area premiere of Philip Glass Orphe, the first West Coast performances of John Reas chamber version of Alban Bergs 20th century masterpiece Wozzeck and the world premiere of Lou Harrisons opera Young Caesar in conjunction with what would have been the late composers 90th birthday. Opera Parallle collaborated with SFMOMA to present an evening length production of the rarely performed Four Saints in Three Acts by composer Virgil Thomson and librettist Gertrude Stein, in combination with the world premiere of Luciano Chessas A Heavenly Act. In prior years, under the name Ensemble Parallle, with its mission more broadly focused on contemporary instrumental music, the company presented 125 performances including 28 world premieres, released 12 recordings and commissioned 19 new works.

For more information on the company, visit www.operaparalelle.org. CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: Opera Parallle Presents Up Close and Parallle: An Intimate Evening with Jake Heggie An integral part of the Bay Area arts community, Opera Parallle presents its first official fundraising event, a presentation of Jake Heggies At the Statue of Venus, featuring soprano Kristin Clayton with the composer at the piano and concludes with a special performance by mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade, also accompanied by Mr. Heggie. Where: The Generals Residence at Fort Mason When: 6:30 p.m. October 24, 2013 Tickets: $125, $200. Tickets are available by phoning Roma Olvera at (415) 503-6279 or email roma@operaparallele.org or visit www.operaparallele.org. Opera Parallle and California Academy of Sciences Present Peter Maxwell Davies The Spiders Revenge In partnership with the Daniel Webster Elementary School, under the direction of Educational Programs Director Roma Olvera, and conducted by Opera Parallle intern, William Long, Opera Parallle will lead a group of fourth grade students from Daniel Webster Elementary School in Potrero Hill to perform Peter Maxwell Davies The Spiders' Revenge. Where: Forum Theater, California Academy of Sciences When: 1 p.m. November 2, 2013 Tickets: Free and open to the public Opera Parallle Presents Sneak Preview of Mahagonny Songspiel with Les mamelles de Tirsias Informal lecture by Artistic Director Nicole Paiement and Concept Designer Brian Staufenbiel with musical excerpts from cast members. Where: Sol Joseph Recital Hall, San Francisco Conservatory of Music When: 6 p.m. April 9, 2014 Tickets: Free and open to the public *Casting and ticket information to be announced at a later date. Opera Parallle Presents Open Rehearsal of Mahagonny Songspiel with Les mamelles de Tirsias Viewers are invited to watch the director, conductor and singers work together in an actual staging rehearsal in preparation for performances the following week. At the conclusion of the rehearsal, Nicole Paiement and Brian Staufenbiel will lead the cast and audience members in a lively question and answer session. Where: Kanbar Performing Arts Center When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 19, 2014 Tickets: Free and open to the public Note: This event is offered in an intimate location. Pre-reserved seating is available for donors; the general public can attend on a first-come, first-served basis. Opera Parallle Presents Mahagonny Songspiel with Les mamelles de Tirsias

Mahagonny Songspiel Music by Kurt Weill and libretto by Bertolt Brecht Les Mamelles de Tirsias Music by Francis Poulenc, based on the play by Guillaume Apollinaire Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts Lam Research Theater When: 8 p.m. April 25, 26, 2014 and 2 p.m. April 27, 2014 Tickets: $30 to $85 with a 10 percent discount for YBCA members and students Opera Parallle Presents Open Staging Rehearsal of Anya17 Viewers are invited to watch the director, conductor and singers work together in an actual staging rehearsal in preparation for performances the following week. At the conclusion of the rehearsal, Nicole Paiement and Brian Staufenbiel will lead the cast and audience members in a lively question and answer session. Where: Marines Memorial Theater When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 14, 2014 Tickets: Free and open to the public Note: Pre-reserved seating is available for donors; the general public can attend on a first-come, first-served basis. Opera Parallle Presents Anya17 Music by Adam Gorb and libretto by Ben Kaye Where: Marines Memorial Theater When: 8 p.m. June 20, 21, 2014 and 4 p.m. June 22, 2014 Tickets: $35 to $100 *Casting and ticket information to be announced at a later date. PHOTO CREDIT Nicole Paiement / Roger Steen MEDIA CONTACT Karen Ames Communications Kristin Schellinger: kristin@karenames.com Karen Ames: karen@karenames.com (415) 641-7474 ###