Inside the new digital performance facilities
Opera San Jose’s resident artists are used to performing inside the palatial California Theatre, an ornate downtown gem restored for the company nearly two decades ago. But with COVID-19 forcing theaters to close everywhere, the company’s singers are discovering a new venue with a potentially wider reach than the California’s 1,100 seats. Welcome to the Fred Heiman Digital Media Studio, transformed from the rehearsal space inside Opera San Jose’s headquarters on Paragon Drive near Interstate 880. Opera San Jose trustee Peggy Heiman contributed the lead donation to fund the new space in honor of her husband of 41 years, Fred Heiman, who died in April.
A Bronx-born electrical engineer who played a key role in many Silicon Valley innovations, Fred Heiman also was a devoted opera supporter, a trumpet player and a videographer. He and Peggy — who both worked for Intel — produced more than two dozen underwater wildlife films for schools, film festivals, nonprofit groups and travel associations.
The couple also put their video expertise to work at the California
Theatre, filming portions of operas and making web videos and commercials to promote the company. With that history, you can’t imagine having Opera San Jose’s digital media studio named after anyone else.
The studio is equipped with theatrical lighting and video and audio recording equipment to stream performances to audiences at home. Housed next to Opera San Jose’s rehearsal space and scene shops, there is easy access to sets and musical equipment. And the company’s six resident artists — five singers and a conductor — will be housed together in a “safe pod” so they can rehearse and perform together without increasing their virus risk.
“This thrilling new venture will enable us to continue our work as an incubator for emerging artists and producer of accessible, world-class operatic performances, while maintaining mitigation efforts to avoid the spread of COVID-19,” said Khori Dastoor, who is certainly having an unforgettable first full season as Opera San Jose’s new general director.
The studio had its debut and Opera San Jose launched its new digital series with Robert Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” song cycle performed by baritone Eugene Brancoveanu and conductor Christopher Ray. The performance is sung in German, but home audiences can follow along with supertitles in English, Spanish or Vietnamese. The virtual show, Dastoor said, is allowing Opera San Jose to reach large segments of the city’s non-Englishspeaking communities in ways it couldn’t before.
The recorded, 30-minute performance, plus a 15-minute interview with resident artists, is available to stream through Aug.15 for $15-$50. A postperformance reception on
Zoom will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday for ticketbuyers. Go to operasj.org for details.
OPERA’S SECOND ACT >>
While Opera San Jose is embracing new technology, two of its longestserving supporters are taking on new roles. Laurie Warner and Frank Fiscalini, who were both on the company’s board of directors since its start in 1984, retired from the board at the end of June.
But they won’t be going far. Warner said she and Fiscalini plan to start an emeritus board consisting of former board members who want to stay involved in Opera San Jose’s future. “We both know every person that was on our board,” said Warner, who served as board president for seven years. “So we will have fun building the emeritus board.”
Warner’s history with Opera San Jose goes back even further than the 36 years she served on the board. When she and her husband, Mike Warner, moved into a new home in Willow Glen in 1982, they were gifted with tickets to the Opera Jubilee Fundraiser taking place at the nearby home of Chris Dalis, the older brother of Opera San Jose founder Irene Dalis. After the official party ended, the Warners invited some of the patrons, dubbed “Raiders of the Lost Aria,” back to their home for an after-party. And so began a beautiful friendship.
MONTALVO’S BIG NIGHT >>
If you’re looking for a virtual distraction this weekend, you may want to check out Escape to Montalvo, a virtual event and fundraiser for the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga. Executive Director Angela McConnell and the art center staff will take visitors on an online tour of both Montalvo’s most scenic spots and the artists who have appeared there over the years, including jazz musician Chris Botti, pianist Russell Hancock and light artist Bruce Munro.
The 90-minute event is free to register for, though viewers are invited to also participate in a fundraising auction. And anyone who registered as an Escape Artist Sponsor for $500 will receive a party box delivered to his or her home in time for Sunday’s 5 p.m. party. Go to montalvoarts.org/escape for details.