Past Performances

2010

The Battle of the Band

Electric Opera Company set out to explore the musical diversity throughout the orchestra with the Battle of the Band.  Our band is big enough, we can have our own battle!  The orchestra split up into three groups of 5 and played a set of classical pieces, rock standards, and original tunes.  A Panel of judges featuring Katie Taylor from Opera Theater Oregon, Local Maestro Paul Senz, and Dr. Alex Charoenset of Seattle, Washington declared Danielle Larson and Kelsey Anderson the winners of the First Annual Battle.  They received a car made out of Rainier cans as a trophy.  Thanks to Mississippi Pizza!

Das Rheingold

Is Pop Culture ready for Wagner?  Opera Theater Oregon helped bridge the gap with their production of Das Rheingold/Baywatch – a cooky take on Wagner’s epic opera that sets the general story arc to a Baywatch episode (beach safety and slow-motion running included).  Electric Opera Company contributed 5 electric guitars, bass, and percussion to a half electric, half acoustic orchestra.  The result was Wagner’s music as never heard before.  Guitars helped create the mood for the late 80′s setting with excellent performances from a strong cast of local opera singers.  Large crowds consistently found their way to the Clinton St. Theater for a good time with some otherwise imposing classical music over the six show run.  You can find more information in the form of reviews from The Oregonian, Willamette Week, and The Gathering Note; an interview with Artistic Director Katie Taylor, and at the website of Opera Theater Oregon.

Berbati’s Pan with Metal Shakespeare Company

Fables will be told about the epic evening wherein the Electric Opera Company collided with the colosus that is Metal Shakespeare Company at Berbati’s Pan for an evening of Cultured Metal and Theatrical Mayhem.  EOC debuted 4 new pieces at this show, including two arias from Carmen, and the famous drinking song Libiamo ne Lieti Calici from La Traviata.  Our first Bizet and Verdi pieces!  Metal Shakespeare Company followed with an over the top performance of Shakespeare meets Iron Maiden.  Check out the video for To Bleed or Not to Bleed, but imagine the energy of a live audience.  Don’t miss your next chance to see Metal Shakespeare Company!

Pilots After Dark

Electric Opera Company rolled back home to University of Portland for the first of two appearances in March.  On March 19th at 10pm, EOC provided the music for University of Portland’s “Pilots After Dark” student event in the Commons.  Highlights of the night include multiple members of EOC trying their luck at the Velcro Wall (some unsuccessfully), and our very own Zach Faltersack winning the chugging competition!

Willamette River Festival/Bluffstock

On March 25th, EOC returned to University of Portland to support the Willamette River Festival with a performance at 5pm.  Open to the public , free, and family friendly.  Community members of all ages came to learn a bit about our favorite river, and enjoy some classical music by the guitars of Electric Opera Company!  Then, later in the evening, EOC headlined the 4 band festival, Bluffstock, joining campus favorite Sam Wegman and his band “Trophy Generation (did I get that right?)” and two other groups from out of town.  All in all it was a fun and exhausting day!

2009

The Barber of Seville (Pilot Production)

In April of 2009, Electric Opera Company hit the stage for the first time with a production of Giaochino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.  30 University of Portland students came together to form an all volunteer cast and crew and put up this show during finals week for no school credit.  More than 500 people came to see the show and the response was so positive, that Electric Opera Company is currently in production to bring Figaro back to Portland in July of 2010 with a cast of professional opera singers and an expanded orchestra.

Educational Performances

The Summer of 2009 saw the beginning of Electric Opera Company’s educational outreach program.  30-60 minute long performances were designed to interact with children and help introduce them to classical music through a sound they’re familiar with.  EOC partnered with Ethos Music Center, Sound Roots School of Music, and various local high schools to bring opera music to hundreds of local children.

Rock Shows

Berbati’s Pan, The Hawthorne Theater, Mississippi Pizza, and The Woods are just a few of the names of stages rocked by Electric Opera Company in 2009.  EOC ads various pieces by the likes Vivaldi (The Four Seasons) and Mozart (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) to their repertoire of opera arias to create a set of music fit for a rock show.  EOC headlined as well as opened for various groups in 2009.

Electric Opera Company Christmas Concert

The holiday season brought a special event from Electric Opera Company – an evening of Holiday Favorites featuring EOC’s Studio Orchestra and Dr. Roger O. Doyle’s University Singers.  Pieces such as “We Three Kings”, and “White Christmas” shared the program with Tchaikovsky’s full “Nutcracker Suite”, and selections from Bach’s Magnificat with a 25 person choir.