Explore Stories of Struggle, Redemption, and the Human Spirit
The San Francisco Opera’s fall season brings four powerful works to the stage — Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and The Monkey King — each grappling with timeless questions of good and evil, innocence and retribution, punishment and salvation.
Join Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman for OLLI @Berkeley's San Francisco Opera Primer, four standalone events that delve into the heart of each of these operas — the stories they tell, the truths they wrestle with, and the unforgettable characters whose choices shape their destinies.
Learn More and Register
- Aug. 26: Rigoletto by Guiseppe Verdi
- Sept. 2: Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie and Terrance McNally
- Oct. 21: Parsifal by Richard Wagner
- Nov. 10: The Monkey King by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang
Details
- Open to all — OLLI members and the public.
- Events take place 2–4 PM in person in Berkeley and via livestream. They will also be recorded.
- Tickets: $0 for OLLI Premium/Premium Plus members; $40 for other OLLI members; $60 for general public.
About the Faculty
Carol Christ began her term as the 11th chancellor of UC Berkeley in 2017 and retired as Chancellor Emerita in 2024. Prior to that, she served as president of Smith College. She is a celebrated scholar of 19th-century British literature, a champion of women’s issues and diversity on college campuses, and a lifelong opera lover.
Naniette H. Coleman is a PhD candidate in Berkeley's Sociology Department and studies culture and organizations. She is also a member of the San Francisco Opera's Board of Trustees and the founder and Executive Director of UC Berkeley's national award-winning Night Out/Night Off for Graduate Students arts initiative.