Photo by Pat Mazzera/Alameda Magazine
It was rather rude, but probably accurate that I responded with a quote from M*A*S*H.: "Suicide is painless ..." What prompted it was Eileen Meredith's reply to my question about what she is up to. Her reply: "We are starting an opera company."
At a time of a general meltdown of companies, reaching into the heights of New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, and now even the mighty Metropolitan Opera in jeopardy (see next item), would you really want to start one? Meredith and her brave group of far fewer than 300 Spartans are doing exactly that.
The story of Island City Opera, named for its location of Alameda (which is, yes, an island city):
This past spring, our company was founded with a mission to promote the love of opera by producing great works in intimate settings. We have our roots in Virago Theatre's productions of beloved operas like Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, and Il trovatore. The success of these productions inspired the founding members of Island City Opera to create an organization exclusively devoted to the demands and rewards of opera.
The non-opera side of Virago Theatre continues to operate in Oakland, producing new and innovative plays. The first event for ICO is a free concert on Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. in Alameda's Franklin Park. On the program: "a range of favorite opera pieces performed in a relaxed, comfortable environment. This free event will be the perfect way for curious newcomers and longtime opera aficionados alike to enjoy fresh air and quality music."
The new company is led by Meredith as executive director, joined by Robert Boyd and Ellen St. Thomas. The artistic team includes Olivia Stapp, St. Thomas, and Erin Neff as stage directors; Robert Ashens and Michael Shahani as music directors. Next January, the company will presdent its first full-length opera, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, followed in March by a pairing of two one-act operas, Rossini’s comedy Il Signor Bruschino, and Puccini’s Il tabarro, all taking place in the 300-seat Elks Club Ballroom, 2255 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda.