UCSD-TV Marks 10-Year Milestone with San Diego Opera

(Press Release) University of California, San Diego Television (UCSD-TV) proudly celebrates its upcoming tenth season of partnership with San Diego Opera, creating award-winning television with the series San Diego Opera Spotlight and OperaTalk! With Nick Reveles. The new season of OperaTalk! continues September 6 on UCSD-TV with The Barber of Seville at 8:00PM, followed by the premiere of Carmen on September 13, also at 8:00PM. San Diego Opera Spotlight launches its tenth season on January 27, 2006 with a behind the scenes look at the San Diego Opera production of The Barber of Seville.

In 1996 the successful partnership between UCSD-TV and San Diego Opera began with San Diego Opera Spotlight, a unique and entertaining sneak preview of upcoming San Diego Opera productions. The program offers a behind the scenes look at how the singers, director, conductor and stage crew come together to create each breathtaking performance. The series will kick off its momentous tenth season on January 27, 2006 with the premiere of The Barber of Seville, the first performance of San Diego Opera's 2006 season.

Two years after the series debut of Opera Spotlight, UCSD-TV and San Diego Opera launched a second series, OperaTalk! with Nick Reveles. Hosted by San Diego Opera's Geisel Director of Education and Outreach, Dr. Nicolas Reveles, this half-hour program takes you through the story, music and history of the approaching season's productions, offering valuable insights into what inspired the composers, the challenges they faced, the reactions of the audience and critics, along with recommendations of the best recordings. The eighth season of OperaTalk! on UCSD-TV continues September 6 at 8:00PM with The Barber of Seville, followed by the premiere of Carmen, September 13 at 8:00PM.

UCSD-TV producer John Menier has received several awards for San Diego Opera Spotlight programs: The Pearl Fishers (Silver Telly Award, 2004), Therese Raquin (Bronze Telly Award, 2004), and Ariodante (Gold Aurora Award, 2002). The Telly Awards is a national competition honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The Aurora Awards is an international competition designed to recognize excellence in the film and video industries, specifically targeting programs focused on regional or special interest entertainment.

"UCSD-TV's long association with San Diego Opera has been uniquely rewarding, both for San Diego viewers and for me, personally," shared UCSD-TV arts and humanities producer/director John Menier. "Thanks to the Opera and to Nick Reveles, I've learned more about this art form than anyone has a right to know."

"Ten years ago this partnership was a ground-breaking event which has benefited both San Diego Opera and UCSD-TV in so many ways," stated San Diego Opera general director Ian Campbell. "I am grateful that the leadership at UCSD-TV had the vision to risk such an undertaking which has always been supported to the fullest at all times. I want to give special recognition to John Menier and Matt Alioto [associate producer, principal photographer] whose artistry in producing our programs has been extraordinary, and for whom excellence is never good enough - they always set themselves even higher standards."

San Diego Opera, ranked by OPERA AMERICA as one of the top 10 opera companies in the United States, is a widely respected member of the international opera community and an invaluable cultural resource to the San Diego community. The Company is both a national and regional model for all arts organizations in terms of artistic product, impact of community education and outreach and consistently sure-footed fiscal management.

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