San Diego, CA

Opera company makes San Diego debut with local talent

Published

2 years ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Opera company makes San Diego debut with local talent

Inside the quaint Tenth Avenue Arts Theater in downtown San Diego, music fills the air of the dark, moody building.

A new era for opera in San Diego is underway — Opera a la Carte is making its grand debut.

“We just want to introduce people perhaps who aren’t as familiar with the classical voice to our style of singing and to opera …” said the organization’s founder, Abla Lynn Hamza.

She’s excited for their inaugural production taking place this week: Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme.

“Anybody from any walk of life can enjoy it, because the story is universal. It’s about love, it’s about struggle, it’s about the realities of life and how life can be hard sometimes,” Hamza said.

Abla Lynn Hamza stands in the hallway at Tenth Avenue Arts Theater in downtown San Diego, May 15, 2024.

It’s a classic opera that’s being told in a bold, new way.

“It’s really written for the early 1800s and it’s usually in long dresses, you know 1800s costumes, but I’ve set it in 1941 occupied Paris,” said director Angelina Réaux. “Because I think war always intensifies people’s emotions.”

The story follows four bohemians living together, whose lives change during a freezing Christmas Eve.

Réaux sees her rendition more like a play with music.

“It’s so human. It’s just filled with humanity and all of the characters, you get to know them,” Réaux said. “They’re characters that you become familiar with and you come to love and care about.”

Soren Pedersen performs as one of the bohemians in the opera, named “Marcello.”

“He’s got a lot going on. He’s got anger, he’s got love in kind of a convoluted but very authentic way for him,” Pedersen said. “He’s got a deep care and compassion for both Rodolfo and Mimi that manifests in different ways.”

The cast of Opera a la Carte's La Boehme run through a dress rehearsal, May 15, 2024. — The cast of Opera a la Carte’s La Boehme run through a dress rehearsal, May 15, 2024.

Like all of the cast bringing the story to life, Pedersen has roots in San Diego.

He’s played this role before, but not in such a close-quarter and gritty setting.

“What I’m expecting is a very fun and intimate production, because everybody is right here. You can see all of our expressions, which is not something you get to do — at least for very cheap in a real opera house,” Pedersen said.

The all-women run Opera a la Carte does more than hire local talent, they aim to fill gaps in the industry.

Their mission is to ensure that the beauty of opera and classical singing is accessible and affordable for all audiences.

Pedersen said that approach is one of the ways that “opera can stay alive in the coming generations and is a necessity I would say for our artform.”

The production is for people of all ages and experience levels with opera. So those who have never seen one before can feel at ease.

The outside of the building for Tenth Avenue Arts Theater in downtown San Diego in shown, May 15, 2024.

It’s created for and by the San Diego community.

“There aren’t a lot of smaller companies here and there are all these talented performers. And I really wanted to give people opportunities to perform, as well as introduce people to opera who maybe don’t know that much about it,” Hamza said.

The Opera a la Carte founder has her hands full. She’s not just producing the show — she’s performing in it too, as Mimi.

“It’s been a challenge to be honest,” Hamza said, laughing. “I bit off quite a lot — you know, live and learn. Next time there are things I would do quite differently, I’ll definitely have a lot more help in the next production.”

Réaux said the production will immerse audiences when they enter the theater doors — through propaganda posters, police barriers and a World War II-era radio.

Shows kick off Thursday and run nightly through Sunday.

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San Diego, CA

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

Published

3 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

When we think of May, we think of Mother’s Day, blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lots of fun, seasonal events in the city. This month, locals can dine on the creations of James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn, or take advantage of berry season at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival. Theatre lovers can enjoy a showing of Kim’s Convenience at The Old Globe, while the San Diego Natural History Museum invites art enthusiasts to view its latest marine-themed exhibit. Grab your tickets and crack open that planner. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:

Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month

29

Louisiana legend Juvenile, enhances by the live instrumentation of The 400 Degreez Band, will perform career hits and his newest album, Boiling Point, at House of Blues San Diego.

Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month

5/5–6/1

Turning the spotlight on contemporary LGBTQ artists, the inaugural ArtSpectrum 2026 will showcase both the grand and intimate scale of contemporary painters, photographers, and mixed media artists at Village Arts Outreach in Balboa Park.

12–24

The only ordinary element of the San Diego International Fringe Festival is the constant thrill of the extraordinary. Discover a plethora of innovative performances at venues from Pacific Beach to Baja.

5/15–6/14

A Korean-Canadian family balances tradition and assimilation from their Toronto storefront in Ins Choi’s comforting satire Kim’s Convenience, making its local premier at The Old Globe.

5/22–2/2027

Ocean debris will receive a new beginning at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Using repurposed pollution, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea depicts creatively sculpted marine life.

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month

4/30–5/3

Enjoy fine dining at its finest from a lineup of gastronomic titans during 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Savor elegant meals, masterclasses, tastings, and more at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

2

Unlimited bites, regional craft beers, and animal observations are on the menu for San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew (with live music), a culinary evening in support of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.

7

Spend An Evening with David Sedaris, humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. Never afraid to point the pen at himself, Sedaris will share old favorites and works in progress in the classic satirical style he’s known for at Jacobs Music Center.

15–17

Say cheese! And toast to the Cheese & Libation Expo. Explore three days of all-you-can eat and drink fare at BRICK, along with boutique shopping and bountiful pairings.

PARTNER CONTENT

10 Years In, Puffer and Malarkey Are Just Getting Started

Elevating an Icon: Inside the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Clu…

16

Stroll the private grounds of several luxurious homes, accompanied by live music, tabletop designs, and outdoor artistry, during the Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla Historical Society‘s flora and fauna fundraiser.

24

Vista recalls its days as a strawberry-producing superpower through its free Strawberry Festival. Wear your berry best fit, watch film screenings, and enter contests for shortcake, pie, and sundae indulging.

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San Diego, CA

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Published

16 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.

Located on 17^th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.

“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.

Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.

“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.

Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.

But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.

“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.

In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”

Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.

However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.

“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.

Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.

He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.

“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.

The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.

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