Lyric Opera San Diego at Birch North Park Theatre: Where Operas and Musicals Light Up the Night

San Diego is a city immune against ennui. Not only do we have enviable climate all year round, miles of colorful cliffs and sandy beaches, two beautiful bays filled with recreational activities, and some of the best museums and zoos around, we also have good theaters and performance art scenes. Lovers of classical music and theater have a lot to look forward to each season at the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera, and, last, but not least, the Lyric Opera San Diego.

Although the LOSD tends to get overlooked in favor of the bigger (and more oriented toward grand operas) SDO, this little company that could has occupied a good niche in the light classical music theatre scene since its opening in 1979. The company's regular seasons consist of 4 shows each fall & winter; generally a light opera, a Viennese operetta, a musical, and a work by Gilbert & Sullivan. All done au naturel (unamplified), of course. The Birch Theatre also host film screenings and many varieties of ensemble performances. The ticket price there is quite a bargain. You can buy a season subscription to all 4 LOSD shows for as little as $108 (that wouldn't even pay for one orchestra level ticket to the SDO's La Bohème next January... Though with Anja Harteros and Piotr Beczala as the main couple in Puccini's most popular opera, I'd say that $200 would still be a bargain price for a seat at one of those shows!).

The great thing about attending shows at this company, though, is the chance to catch rising opera and musical stars on their way up to the A-list. Many of the artists nurtured by this company are now frequenting major theaters in Europe and North America. You can scout them out here and then get to brag about having caught them before they cost $40,000 per night to engage a few years down the road.

The LOSD owns and stages all of its performances at the Stephen & Mary Birch North Park Theatre at the southwest corner of University Avenue and 29th Street in North Park, San Diego (just a couple of minutes east of Hillcrest). The beautifully restored 1928 art deco venue offers an intimate theatrical experience for play-goers occupying its 725 seats while being able to accommodate a full size orchestra. Unlike at the larger halls (3000+ seats) of North America, you can be certain of having a good view of the stage from anywhere you sit... Isn't that something of a welcoming travesty?

All shows are performed in English regardless of original language (which is a relief since they haven't got a sur-title system yet). There is no formal dress code. Most people like to dress up a little when attending the theater, but you won't draw any dirty look or special affections from the bouncers...er... ushers.. (ahem!).. for wearing jeans and collared shirt - assuming that they aren't of the psychedelically patched variety, of course. They also offer many opera-outreach programs like the July Summer Academy for middle and high school students, the Opera-go-Round tour to the area's elementary schools, the LyriKids program that takes young kids backstage to spy on stage crew to see how a performance is organized and staged (and how to poach a high C singing soprano with rupturing your eardrums in the process, things like that), and speaker service.

Local businesses and attractions are important to a city's economy (among other things) and the Lyric Opera San Diego at Birch North Park Theatre sure is both. The company is funded entirely through earned revenue (ticket sales, merchandising) and donations. So don't just sit idly at home basking in the distinction of living in a city with a good symphony, ballet company, and two opera theaters when you can come out and catch a well entertained evening at the LOSC for only $32-52. The theater is easy to get to and there are good restaurants and cafes nearby... There are pay parking nearby at the structure across 29th St and in a lot behind the theater. And you can also get there on MTS buses 2, 6, 7, 10.

Lyric Opera San Diego's 2009-2010 Season:
(click on name of show for sample clip of famous music from each show)
October 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 2009: Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES
November 13, 15, 19, 21, 22, 2009: Engelbert Humperdinck's HANSEL AND GRETEL
February 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21: Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
March 6: PRITI GANDHI IN RECITAL (A Special Event - not included in the season price)
March 26, 28 April 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11: Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Lyric Opera San Diego: 2891 University Avenue (at 29th St), San Diego, CA 92104. Tel (619) 231-5714 Fax: (619) 231-0662
Email: office@lyricoperasandiego.org Website:www.lyricoperasandiego.org