OPERA PARALLLES FIRST FUNDRAISING EVENT FEATURES JAKE HEGGIES AT THE STATUE OF VENUS Up Close and Parallle: An Intimate

Evening with Jake Heggie October 24 at the Generals Residence in Fort Mason SAN FRANCISCO, October 1, 2013 For its first major fundraising event, Opera Parallle will present an exclusive, private performance of At the Statue of Venus, written by Jake Heggie together with librettist Terrence McNally. Up Close and Parallle: An Intimate Evening with Jake Heggie, chaired by board members Pamela George and Bill Kwan, will be held October 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Generals Residence at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Tickets are priced $125 and $200 and available by phoning (415) 626-6279 or email roma@operaparallele.org. More information is available at www.operaparallele.org. The composer himself will accompany soprano Kristin Clayton in this humorous portrayal of a woman waiting for her blind date at a statue of Venus. Live music will be played throughout the evening and wine and hors doeuvres will be served before and after the main performance. The fundraiser includes silent and live auctions featuring such items as a trip to New Mexico; tickets to Opera Parallle performances in addition to other Bay Area adventures and events; gift cards to local restaurants; among many other items. The evening concludes with a special performance by mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade, also accompanied by Mr. Heggie. We believe that Opera Parallle makes an essential contribution to the well-being and harmony of our society through presenting contemporary operas that are accessible, meaningful and rewarding to a diverse public, said event co-chairs Pamela George and Bill Kwan. As board members of Opera Parallle, we are honored to work with musicians and artists who embrace contemporary aesthetics, progressive social values, cutting-edge technology and innovative design. On behalf of the entire organization, we wish to thank Jake Heggie for his generous participation with us as we continue to build this amazing company.

Proceeds from Up Close and Parallle: An Intimate Evening with Jake Heggie will be directed toward support for Opera Parallles 2013-2014 season. The season is highlighted by 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 interwoven double bill of Kurt Weills Mahagonny Songspiel and Francis Poulencs Les Mamelles de Tirsias. Proceeds from the evening will also make possible the continuation of Opera Paralleles Hands-On-Opera community outreach program, designed to nurture a new audience for opera. This year Opera Parallle partners with Daniel Webster Elementary to prepare and present a family-friendly presentation of Peter Maxwell Davies The Spider's Revenge November 2 at the California Academy of Sciences. 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. Over the last few years, Opera Parallle has brought many superb productions of contemporary works to the community. These include: Osvaldo Golijovs Ainadamar; Leonard Bernsteins Trouble in Tahiti in a double bill with Samuel Barbers A Hand of Bridge; a public workshop reading of the companys first commission, Dante De Silvas Gesualdo, Prince of Madness; the award-winning world premiere of Jacques Desjardins re-orchestration 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; the world premiere of Lou Harrisons opera Young Caesar in conjunction with what wou ld have been the late composers 90th birthday; and 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 a collaboration with SFMOMA. 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.operaparallele.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: 5:30 p.m. October 24, 2013

Tickets: $125, $200. Purchase tickets by phoning Roma Olvera at (415) 626-6279 or email roma@operaparallele.org or online at www.operaparallele.org. PHOTO CREDIT Jake Heggie and Kristin Clayton Performing At the Statue of Venus / Courtesy of Kristin Clayton Jake Heggie and Kristin Clayton / Karen Kriendler-Nelson MEDIA CONTACT Karen Ames Communications Kristin Schellinger: kristin@karenames.com Karen Ames: karen@karenames.com (415) 641-7474 ###