Arts & Events

In a lifetime of opera-going, having attended nearly 800 fully staged operas, I’ve never before attended an opera whose composer was unknown. However, on Saturday, September 9, I attended at San Francisco’s ODC Theatre the Ars Minerva production of the 17^th century opera La Circe, whose composer may or may not be Pietro Andrea Ziani, or may or may not be Francesco Freschi. These two composers both worked in Venice around the time La Circe was first performed. However, La Circe’s 1665 premiere took place not in Venice but in Vienna. For this reason, among others, Ars Minerva credits this opera to Pietro Andrea Ziani, a well-known Venetian composer who was in Vienna in the service of the Empress Eleonora around the time of La Circe’s 1665 Vienna premiere. -more-

Opening Night at the San Francisco Opera is not quite the event it used to be, though it still has its share of glitter. However, I can recall opening nights when people who couldn’t afford tickets used to line the streets outside the War Memorial Opera House just to check out what the rich and gaudy were wearing, and TV crews lurked inside the lobby to film the high society crowd as they entered. Happily, none of this fashion-frenzy was on display at this year’s opening night on Friday, September 8. Mostly, what glitter on offer Friday was on stage, where David Hockney’s garish sets for Puccini’s Turando, which takes place at the Imperial Palace of Peking, glittered in lurid reds and greens, and the cast and huge chorus packed the stage wearing exotic and colorful costumes. -more-

September 20, Wednesday, 7:30 pm

MARGARET RANDALL TRIBUTE

Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street, Berkeley

Hosted by Alejandro Murguia

with Joyce Jenkins, Jane Norling



October 4, Wednesday, 8 PM

MARIO SAVIO MEMORIAL LECTURE & YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD

ANNIE LEONARD: RESISTANCE: What Does Effective Resistance

Look Like and Include Today?

Pauley Ballroom, U.C. Campus, Berkeley

Co-sponsored by KPFA Radio

Contact: events.berkeley.edu or LSEvents@berkeley.edu



October 13, Friday, 7:30 pm

DIANE RAVITCH

In conversation with JITU BROWN

The Fight for Public Education

Oakland Tech High School, 4351 Broadway, Oakland

Dual benefit With Anthony Cody

Hosted by: Kevin Cartwright

Contact: Anthony Cody, anthony_cody@hotmail.com



October 19, Thursday, 7:30 pm

DAVID CAY JOHNSTON, What Donald Trump is Doing to You Now That He is President

First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Street, Berkeley

Host: Brian Edwards Tiekert

Publicist: Alexandra Primiani, alexandra@mhpbooks.com



November 8, Wednesday, 7:30 pm

LEWIS LAPHAM, Age of Folly: America Abandons Its Democracy

Prices $15 to $18, with reception

First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley

Hosted by: Mitch Jeserich

Publicist: Wes House, wes@versobooks.com



November 16, Thursday, 7:30 pm.

ALICE WATERS, Coming to My Senses: The Making of a Countercultural Cook

With Tom Luddy

First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley

Dual benefit for KPFA and Edible Schoolyard

Hosted by: Kris Welch

Contact: Ken Preston. ken@kpfa.org. 510.967.4495



Sunday, November 19

Hunter of Stories: A Tribute to Eduardo Galeano

With Alice Walker, Alejandro Murguia, Al Young, and Aurora Levins Morales

First Congregational church of Berkeley

Publicist: Kristina Fazzalaro <Kristina.Fazzalaro@hbgusa.com>

This coming Monday, September 11 the Tax the Rich group will be celebrating a tremendous achievement, its sixth year birthday party. The group has been protesting and working on issues since September 12, 2011. On domestic issues, it has been the longest running political rally in Berkeley's history. Indeed, that's six years on the streets of Solano Avenue. -more-