Photos from 2009 Life Sciences LIVE at the Opera

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE

13th Annual Life Sciences LIVE at the Opera

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

SAN DIEGO OPERA
Civic Theatre, 3rd and B Streets, Downtown San Diego

ABOUT THE EVENT:

For the past twelve years, San Diego’s Biotech Community has gathered together for an evening of exceptional networking and world-class opera. Originally known as BIOCOM Goes to the Opera, Life Sciences LIVE continues to serve as an unparalleled opportunity to connect with the leading executives, investors, and research scientists in Southern California.

PRE-OPERA NETWORKING RECEPTION - 5:30 PM

The evening begins with an elegant, private Pre-opera reception where you’ll savor lavish hors d’oeuvres and wine as you network with your peers.

Puccini's Tosca - 7:00 PM

This stunning operatic thriller entangles a passionate diva, a revolutionary artist and a corrupt police chief in a love triangle of passion and politics, playing out through exquisite music in the seductive, dangerous “Eternal City” of Rome.

DESSERT RECEPTION-7:45 PM

The Melting Pot© La Jolla is proud to sponsor a scrumptious dessert reception for the Life Sciences crowd during the first Intermission. The menu will feature your choice of chocolate fondue – milk chocolate with caramel and pecans or pure dark chocolate – served over fresh strawberries, pound cake and brownies.

The Melting Pot
The Melting Pot - Dessert Reception Sponsor

SPECIAL TICKET PACKAGES ARE REQUIRED:

The Prices Outlined Below for Life Sciences LIVE at the Opera Include:

  • Admission to the Pre-Opera Networking Reception
  • A Premier Seat for Tosca on Wednesday, February 4, 2009
  • Admission to the Dessert Reception, Sponsored by The Melting Pot© La Jolla

To Purchase Tickets*

Packages must be purchased in advance through Bonnie Keller at San Diego Opera

 

Ticket Pricing

Section All Inclusive
Prices
B3, B4 $150
B2 $170
B1, DC3, MZ3 $195
UL, DC2, MZ2 $225
DC1, MZ1, LL $265
Orchestra $265
San Diego Civic Theatre Seating Section Map

Not sure where to sit?
This new online feature allows you to see the view from every section of the theatre.

View from a Seat!

*Please note that All sales are final. no refunds or exchanges. cast and repertoire are subject to change. seating subject to availability.

Questions?

Bonnie Keller will be happy to address any questions leading up to the event. Please contact her directly at 619.533.7044 or Bonnie.Keller@sdopera.com


 

San Diego Opera Thanks
our Generous Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Foley and Lardner LLP Goodwin Proctor Pfizer RSM McGladrey
 

Silver Sponsors

Cooley Godward Kronish Merck Wachovia
 

Bronze Sponsors

Comerica Bank Ernst & Young
 

2009 Official Media Sponsor

Biotech Beach
 

2009 Community Partners

Association of Women in Science - San Diego Chapter Biocom Connect Salk Institute

Tosca

The Story

Sex, politics, corruption, violence and torture: Tosca is a story that could be ripped from the pages of today’s newspapers as a beautiful woman risks everything to save her lover in an oppressive police state. The resulting love triangle of the passionate diva, the revolutionary artist who loves her and the corrupt police chief who lusts after her, results in murder and suicide in Puccini’s stunning operatic thriller.

The Music

Soaring and sensuous melodies, great arias such as the soprano’s plaintive "Vissi d’arte", the tenor’s moving "É lucevan le stelle" as he faces death, and the brilliant chorus in Act One, create an atmosphere of such power and raw emotion that you will be left breathless. Melodies you have long loved dominate a score of exquisite beauty.

The Look

Rome’s Sant'Andrea della Valle church, the luxurious Palazzo Farnese apartments and the prison Castel Sant’Angelo are faithfully recreated on stage, drawing you into a seductive world of beauty and danger in the Eternal City.

Cast Highlights

Having just thrilled the Paris Opera as the lovers Tosca and Cavaradossi, French soprano Sylvie Valayre and American tenor Marcus Haddock make their San Diego Opera debuts, combining great voices with dramatic commitment. Scarpia is Greer Grimsley, whose dark baritone voice makes him a favorite villain, and Edoardo Müller conducts Puccini’s masterpiece with true Italian verve and experience.

The running time is approximately 2 hours, 41 minutes.

Tosca

ACT I

The Church of Sant' Andrea della Valle

Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner, runs into the Attavanti chapel in the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle. He hides as a Sacristan is heard. Mario Cavaradossi enters to work on his portrait of Mary Magdalene – inspired by the Marchesa Attavanti (Angelotti's sister), whom he has seen but does not know. He compares the raven beauty of the singer Floria Tosca with that of the blonde Magdalene. When the Sacristan leaves, Angelotti comes out of hiding and is recognized by Cavaradossi, who gives him food and hurries him back into the chapel as Tosca is heard calling outside. She jealously questions Cavaradossi, and reminds him of their rendezvous that evening at his villa. Recognizing the Marchesa Attavanti in the painting, she explodes, but he reassures Tosca he is not having an affair with her. After she has gone, Mario and Angelotti flee to Mario's villa. Soon after, the Sacristan returns with choirboys, announcing a celebration. Baron Scarpia, chief of the secret police, searches for Angelotti. Tosca returns looking for Cavaradossi, and in comes Scarpia who shows her a fan which he has just found, decorated with the Attavanti crest. Thinking Mario faithless, Tosca tearfully vows vengeance and leaves. Scarpia sends his men to follow her and schemes to get her in his power.

ACT II

The Farnese Palace

In the Farnese Palace, Scarpia acknowledges his lust for Tosca. The spy Spoletta arrives with Mario, who is interrogated as Tosca's voice is heard singing a cantata downstairs. She enters as her lover is being taken to an adjoining room to be tortured. Unnerved by his screams, she reveals Angelotti's hiding place at the villa. Realizing what has happened, Mario turns on Tosca, but the officer Sciarrone rushes in announcing that Napoleon has won the Battle of Marengo, a defeat for Scarpia's side. Mario shouts his defiance and is dragged out. Scarpia suggests Tosca yield herself to him in exchange for her lover's life. Fighting off his embraces, she protests her fate to God, having dedicated her life to art and love. Under pressure from Scarpia, Tosca is forced to give in or see her lover killed. In front of Tosca, Scarpia orders a mock execution for the prisoner, after which he is to be freed. When Scarpia writes a safe-conduct for the lovers, Tosca snatches a knife from the table and kills him. Wrenching the document from his fingers, she slips from the room.

ACT III

The roof of Castel Sant'Angelo

Awaiting execution at the Castel Sant'Angelo, Mario bribes the jailer to take a farewell note to Tosca. Writing it, overcome with memories of love, he gives way to despair. Tosca runs in telling him that it will be a mock execution and they will be able to escape. As the firing squad appears, she coaches Mario on how to fake his death convincingly. The soldiers fire and depart. Tosca urges Mario to hurry and get up, but when he fails to move, she discovers that Scarpia's treachery has reached from beyond the grave: the bullets were real. Calling out that she and Scarpia will meet before God, Tosca leaps to her death.

2009 Co-Chairs

Harry F. Hixson Jr. Ph.D.
Chairman, BrainCells, Inc.

Joseph D. Panetta
President and CEO, BIOCOM

Marsha A. Chandler, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D.
President & CEO, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

2009 Operon Host Committee

Sahar Azarabadi
Director of Sales, Western Region, Biospace

Walter Bee Ph.D.
Vice President, Preclinical Development, Halozyme Therapeutics Inc.

David Brenner MD
Vice Chancellor Health and Sciences and Dean, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine

Angelika Caicedo
Managing Partner, RSM McGladrey Inc.

Constance M. Carroll Ph.D.
Chancellor, San Diego Community College District

Edward A. Dennis Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Chemistry, University of California San Diego

Brian H. Dovey
Partner, Domain Associates LLC

Ronald M. Evans, Ph.D.
Professor and March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Peter C. Farrell Ph.D., DSc
Founder and Executive Chairman, ResMed Inc.

Stephen C. Ferruolo Ph.D.
Managing Partner San Diego Office, Goodwin Procter LLP

M. Wainwright Fishburn, Jr.
Partner, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

Gary Friedman
Executive Vice President and Legal Council, The Agouron Institute

Caroline Fritz
CEO, Allylix Pharmaceuticals

Joan Heller Brown Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego

Zdenek Hostomsky Ph.D.
Senior Director, Discovery, Pfizer San Diego

Michael R. Jackson Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson PRD, L.L.C.

David E. Kleinfeld Esq.
Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

Jack W. Lief
President and CEO, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Stanley Maloy Ph.D.
Professor and Dean of College of Sciences, San Diego State University

Jeffery Ostrove Ph.D.
President and CEO, Ceregene

Elliot Parks Ph.D.
Managing Director, Hamilton Bioventures

Herm Rosenman
Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO, Gen-Probe Incorporated

Duane J. Roth
CEO, CONNECT

Roger A. Sabbadini Ph.D.
Vice President and CSO, Lpath Inc.

James A. Schaeffer
Executive Director, Merck Research Laboratories San Diego

James Schoeneck
President and CEO, BrainCells Inc.

Andrew E. Senyei MD
Managing Partner, Enterprise Partners Venture Capital

Don Starkey
City President, Wachovia Bank

Mark Stephens
Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Steven J. Stuckey
Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Comerica-Technology and Life Science Division

David Webb Ph.D.
Vice President Research, CELGENE

Karin Zeh Ph.D. RAC
Executive Board Member, Past President and Treasurer, Association for Women in Science, San Diego Chapter