The Opera Dukes perform a waltz from Die Walküre

Submitted by Thu, 2008/10/02 - 11:11

This from the latest San Francisco E-Opera newsletter:

[b]Adler Fellows and David Gockley Perform at Bluegrass Festival this Sunday[/b]

San Francisco Opera’s bluegrass band, The Opera Dukes, returns to Warren Hellman’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival this year on Sunday, October 5 at 3:20 pm on the Porch Stage at Golden Gate Park. Members of the Company’s Adler Fellowship Program join General Director David Gockley and bandleader (and former Adler Fellow) Matthew O’Neill (guitar) in a program of spirited bluegrass versions of Rossini and Donizetti arias, as well as [b]a waltz from [i]Die Walküre[/i]. [/b]Opera Orchestra members Craig Reiss (violin) and Jonathan Lancelle (bass), along with special guest David Walker (banjo), round out the group.

The Opera Dukes made their first appearance at the festival in 2006 and performed for a cheering crowd of bluegrass fans. “We wanted to give back to Warren Hellman, who is among the Company’s most generous patrons,” stated Gockley. “I couldn’t think of a better way than to take our great artists and perform the music that is closest to Warren’s heart.”

Visit strictlybluegrass.com for more information.

Anybody game?