Festival Opera

Festival Opera Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Festival Opera, Performance & Event Venue, 1630 N Main Street, # 61, Walnut Creek, CA.

Festival Opera strives to advance the operatic art form, and to build community by producing culturally rich and diverse programming to enlighten, educate, and entertain at the highest artistic standard. - Our Vision -
We believe in a world where the historic barriers of our theatre are broken down, a world in which we provide the community with an invitation and a safe space for all people to g

ather and experience the power of music. We continue to care for our artists by providing a venue where their gifts are nurtured and their collaboration is encouraged to make the most meaningful performance experience possible. We strive through our orchestra, the unamplified human voice, and the culmination of all the artistic disciplines involved in our productions to convey the deeply human stories that the operatic repertoire uniquely embodies.

- Our Values -
We commit to:
- Community building through culturally rich and diverse programming.
- Increased equity and access for underrepresented communities.
- Producing operatic and vocal masterworks with the highest artistic standards.
- Creating a safe space for all artists and audience members to create and experience the transformative power of opera.
- Providing exceptional emerging talent with the roles and resources to advance their careers.
- Collaborating with local educational institutions, creating opportunities for artist development and cultural enrichment.
- Creating new works, reviving old repertoire, and to be a driving force for the future of operatic expression.

📣 Casting Call 📣 : Festival Opera announces online auditions NOW for an upcoming public master class on Friday, August 2...
08/18/2026

📣 Casting Call 📣 : Festival Opera announces online auditions NOW for an upcoming public master class on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM presented by the Opera Club of Rossmoor - Walnut Creek, CA. We are seeking 2-3 emerging Bay Area opera artists - preference for tenor, baritone, bass - who would like to perform in this master class with Zachary Gordin coaching and Chun Mei Wilson at the piano. The event will take place in the Diablo Room at Rossmoor, with an audience Q&A and refreshments to follow. Each singer chosen for the event will perform an aria pre-selected from the artists’ list of offered repertoire followed by a short working session with Festival Opera’s General Director. This fun and informative event will give the participants useful insights into presentation, history, and technical aspects, while offering the audience a behind the scenes look at what goes into a singer’s preparation for a career on the stage.

To Apply: Please send an email indicating your interest in this master class, and attach a resume, website URL, and/or YouTube links to recent video recordings. Please also list 4 arias (title, opera, composer) you would like to offer should you be selected to participate. This master class is free of charge for participants.
No fees will be charged for these auditions or participation.

Artist submission deadline: Monday, August 24, 2026.
Please submit materials to [email protected] - artists selected will be notified by August 25.

Thirteen Northern California opera companies andproducers have joined forces to present Opera Day in the Bay, an unprece...
08/08/2026

Thirteen Northern California opera companies and
producers have joined forces to present Opera Day in the Bay, an unprecedented collaborative concert
celebrating the richness, diversity, and enduring power of opera. The free public performance will take
place on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. in the majestic Transamerica Pyramid Center Redwood Park at the
base of San Francisco’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid Center, featuring music spanning several centuries —from Baroque-era masterpieces to compelling contemporary operas.

Producing organizations include ARS MINERVA, Festival Opera, GK Works LLC, Lamplighters Music
Theatre, Livermore Valley Opera, Mercury Theater, Opera Parallèle, Opera San José, Pocket Opera,
Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, San Francisco Opera Guild, Upspark ProducFons, and West Edge Opera.

From the rustic outdoor stage, internaFonally acclaimed Bay Area composer Carla Lucero will serve as the concert emcee. The performance will also honor the life and extraordinary legacy of beloved soprano, educator, and mentor, the late-Erie Mills, whose artistry and leadership left an indelible mark on the Bay Area opera community and the international operatic stage.

While admission is free, the public is encouraged to reserve tickets in advance via
Eventbrite online at https://tinyurl.com/OperaDay2026

Shots from our Elixir of Love performance in Walnut Creek, last Sunday. What a great time with perfect weather for our a...
07/28/2026

Shots from our Elixir of Love performance in Walnut Creek, last Sunday. What a great time with perfect weather for our audience to picnic and enjoy a whole opera on a Sunday afternoon! We also performed Thursday at Orinda’s Community Park to a robust crowd with food trucks and even warmer weather. Many thanks to Orinda Rotary Club and Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation for sponsoring these events, and to Mayor Kevin Wilk for his welcome speech on Sunday!

CAST
Spencer Greene as Nemorino
Liam Daley as Belcore
Marielle Leiboff as Adina
Rachel Nelson as Gianetta
with Igor Vieira as Dulcamara
and pianist Chun Mei Wilson

Join us as we wrap this season with our Salon Series in Piedmont this fall. www.festivalopera.org

07/28/2026

Here’s a short clip from our Sunday performance of ELIXIR in Civic Park, Walnut Creek! Thanks to all who came out to support us, and to Mayor Kevin Wilk for his wonderful speech welcoming the crowd.

CAST
Spencer Greene as Nemorino
Liam Daley as Belcore
Marielle Leiboff as Adina
Rachel Nelson as Gianetta
with Igor Vieira as Dulcamara
and pianist Chun Mei Wilson

Join us as we wrap this season with our Salon Series in Piedmont this fall. www.festivalopera.org

🚨📣 Catch us on the KPIX 5 Morning News broadcast Wednesday starting at 7:00 am - we’ll be LIVE on air at about 7:45! Joi...
07/22/2026

🚨📣 Catch us on the KPIX 5 Morning News broadcast Wednesday starting at 7:00 am - we’ll be LIVE on air at about 7:45! Joined by tenor Spencer Greene who’ll sing a teaser, Zachary Gordin will preview Festival Opera’s Opera in the Park performances of ELIXIR happening in the East Bay this Thursday and Sunday!

Performance info at festivalopera.org

05/19/2026

Musical highlights from our ALCINA preview 5/17 featuring Courtney Miller, Nikola Printz, and Zachary Gordin. Performing at the Lesher Center June 19 & 21! Info and tickets at festivalopera.org

🤩 MEET THE CAST! 🤩 These sensational artists bring the tale of ALCINA and her enchanted island to life June 19 & 21 at t...
05/11/2026

🤩 MEET THE CAST! 🤩
These sensational artists bring the tale of ALCINA and her enchanted island to life June 19 & 21 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Alcina: Nikola Printz
Ruggiero: Courtney Miller
Morgana: Shawnette Sulker
Bradamante: Sara Couden
Oronte: Spencer Greene
Oberto: Nina Jones
Melisso: Isaiah Musik-Ayala

Conductor: Derek Tam
Director: Zachary Gordin
With the Festival Opera Chorus & Orchestra
​​​​​​​
🎫 TICKETS $55-95, $20 student tix. Available at festivalopera.org or by calling the Lesher Center Ticket Office at (925) 943-7469. ​

PERFORMANCES at the Lesher Center for the Arts
Friday, June 19 at 7:30 pm & Sunday, June 21 at 2:00 pm
1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA

Performed in Italian with English supertitles
Running time: approximately 2 hours 20 minutes

We are THRILLED to announce the inaugural class of Resident Artists at Festival Opera! They will be integral parts of ou...
05/04/2026

We are THRILLED to announce the inaugural class of Resident Artists at Festival Opera! They will be integral parts of our season, performing in Alcina, Elixir of Love, outreach events, and finally taking center stage in the showcase concert on September 27th.

Festival Opera’s Resident Artist Program is a comprehensive, season-long professional development initiative designed to support emerging opera singers at a pivotal stage in their careers. The program provides paid performance opportunities, individualized training, and practical business education - bridging the gap between the conservatory experience and a sustainable professional life in opera. Resident Artists are fully integrated into Festival Opera’s artistic and community presence, gaining experience both onstage and off.

For updates, performance calendar and more info, watch this space and our website at www.festivalopera.org

WE WILL BE BACK SOON! Taking a break from our monthly first Friday series while we ramp-up production for our exciting s...
04/24/2026

WE WILL BE BACK SOON! Taking a break from our monthly first Friday series while we ramp-up production for our exciting summer operas. Watch this space for info on upcoming dates and special events - and in the meantime keep supporting

Festival Opera announces auditions for chorus, and cover roles for ALCINA (Handel, performed in Italian) in collaboratio...
04/17/2026

Festival Opera announces auditions for chorus, and cover roles for ALCINA (Handel, performed in Italian) in collaboration with the San Francisco Early Music Society. Concert performances will take place at Hertz Hall, Berkeley on June 13 (7:30 pm) and June 14 (2:00 pm); with the fully staged production at the Lesher Center for the Arts performing June 19th (7:30 pm) and 21 (2:00 pm). We are only seeking Bay Area based artists for this opportunity. Chorus will perform on-book for concert performances and memorized for staging rehearsals/staged performances. Production/Cast info is online at: https://www.festivalopera.org/alcina

Interested singers should send an email with resume or short bio to [email protected] - if you have not sung with us in the past two seasons, please also include a recent video of a solo aria or art song and a resume or short bio for pre-screening. Callback auditions and auditions for cover roles will be arranged as needed. Chorus participation is volunteer, small stipends are available for cover artists. Please share with anyone who may be a good fit, and feel free to message or email for more info.

Address

1630 N Main Street, # 61
Walnut Creek, CA
94596

Telephone

+19259449610

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Festival Opera posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Festival Opera:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category