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Mission

Golden Gate Opera's (GGO) mission is to enrich the community's experience by providing access to a myriad of fine arts found in live, professional opera. GGO inspires people of all ages, cultural and economic backgrounds to appreciate the arts, life and learning through high quality performances and educational programs.
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Rentals

SETS - PROPS/ SET DRESSINGS - PERIOD FURNITURE
Visit www.operasceneshop.com
The Opera Scene Shop Rod Mortensen, Jr, Manager
(209) 324-5595 or (209) 522-4693 Email: tuolumne2 [at] aol [dot] com
The Opera Scene Shop exists to serve small and medium sized, up and coming opera companies in their quest for better scenery at reasonable prices.

COSTUMES
Contact GGO Costume Designer Tracy Bell Redig
Email: Tracy8bell [at] comcast [dot] net
Carmen, Il Trovatore, Madama Butterfly, Suor Angelica and more.

MUSIC
Pagliacci scored for reduced orchestra.
Call GGO Office at (415)339-9546
Geoffrey Gallegos, GGO Music Director and Conductor

  Scenery/Costumes Rental Brochure

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Board of Directors
Barbara Lombardi, Sherry Mesker, Graciela Pera, Phil Vizcarra, Roberta Wain-Becker

Advisory Board
Valerie Castellana, Shirley Graves, Ron Leach, Thomas Roberts, James Rutherford, Gideon Sorokin, Jason Stork, Maria Sundeen, Phil Welch

Staff & Outside Services
Peninsula Accounting Services
Mara Perez, Ph, D. Fund Developing and Planning Services
Perotti and Carrade, CPA
Ally Merkeley, Office Organization
Adly Ayad, Technical Support
Roland Insurance, Novato
3030 Bridgeway, Sausalito
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About GGO

History
Receiving its Non-Profit status in 1996 (Federal Tax ID 94-3221096) Golden Gate Opera began as the outgrowth of a group of professional singers, directors, and designers, who had worked together as far back as 1983, dedicated to producing high-quality, professional accessible opera at affordable prices for the public. GGO Outreach OPERA-tunities programs along with full productions in the theatre, provide essential arts for school children, seniors and the general community. Since 1997, more than 50,000 children have received arts enrichment through GGO's In-School Opera Assemblies or attending full performances with class groups. Golden Gate Opera continues providing opera for the entire community, through sponsored free performances for the public, giving people of all ages the opportunity to experience this beautiful art form. Venues for our free to the public performances in the past have included Opera in the Park in Golden Gate Park, and most recently a performance at the 2008 Sausalito Art Festival for an audience of several thousand.

Since its founding, GGO has produced fully staged operas for the public each year. Their first production was Humperdinck's colorful family opera, Hansel and Gretel at the intimate Randall Museum in San Francisco in 1997. From 1998-2004 GGO's home theatre was Florence Gould Theatre at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, where the company produced standard opera repertoire such as Wagner's Die Walkure, Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera and Il Trovatore, Bizet's Carmen, Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Menotti's The Telephone and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. In addition, from 1997-2004 GGO annually produced Engelbert Humperdinck's colorful family opera, Hansel and Gretel, a favorite presented round the world in major opera houses, and the first opera children in Europe attend. The production featured a different children's chorus and children's ballet company each year performing alongside GGO's professional singers, plus colorful story book sets, fairy tale costumes and special effects.

Recent Achievements
In 2005 Golden Gate Opera successfully brought the return of professional opera to the 2000-seat Marin Center's Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael, establishing this venue designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as their home theatre. Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Bizet's Carmen were produced in 2005, followed to critical acclaim by two one acts by Puccini in 2006, Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica and "Opera’s Greatest Hits" in 2007. In winter of 2008, GGO produced a gala concert at the Marin Center's Showcase Theatre of German and Austrian Opera and Operetta entitled " Breastplates to Pocketwatches," featuring international opera stars Roy Stevens and Annalisa Winberg plus Marin Youth Chorus. In Fall 2008 GGO presented Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci produced by Teatro Lirico d'Europa, the European opera touring company, with the Sofia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

Golden Gate Opera's artistic performers are of the highest caliber, each having years of professional experience. GGO's artists include both international and local American professional talent. Many of our soloists' careers quickly escalate following their performance with GGO. GGO's Artistic Staff is a team with international credits and experience dedicated to creating professional, world class opera performances for the public on stage at Marin Center.

Outreach is for the Whole Community
In 1997, GGO established its Outreach Opera-tunites program, providing in-school educational enrichment as well as in-theater performances for class groups with teachers. Since that time, more than 50,000 K-12 children of the Bay Area have been enriched.

In 2005, GGO began providing College level courses enriching seniors with Continuing Education classes such as "Spotlight on Opera" at Dominican University of California and "Afternoon at the Opera" at College of Marin, sponsored in part by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. GGO also brings performances to Senior Communities particularly important for those who cannot go out. In 1997, GGO debuted it's TV Show, "Opera in Your Own Back Yard" , which has been broadcast weekly on the Novato Public Access Station for an audience of 90,000. 2007 also was the creation of "Opera Story Night at Habitat Books", a free-to-the-public introduction to opera via the exciting stories plus some listening excerpts. Golden Gate Opera spreads the joys of opera to more new comers, by speaking at Rotary and Kiwanis clubs annually, and interacts with organizations, clubs and companies throughout the community. GGO has provided sponsored tickets to its full productions for low-income groups via Friends of Marin Center, since beginning presenting operas in Marin.

The future of Golden Gate Opera is looking bright as we continue to solidify our place in the Greater Bay Area community. Our goal is to present 2 or more full operas per season, with subscription ticket sales. Innovative Aria Parties with opera singers up close and delicious hors d'oeuvres and wines, take place in people's homes, and Opera Café at the Belrose Theatre in San Rafael also is a favorite. We continue to enhance the developing careers of outstanding local talent, and bring to our stage international rising talent as well. We are dedicated to bringing the highest quality, most accessible opera to children, families and adults.

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3030 Bridgeway, Ste 125, Sausalito, CA 94965   |   415.339.9546   |   info@goldengateopera.org