A regal presence on stages the world over, dramatic baritone Lester Lynch has tackled many of the most iconic opera roles to great acclaim: Crown in Porgy and Bess, Wotan in Das Rheingold, the Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore, and the title roles in Macbeth and Rigoletto. He can sing with both great power and silken subtlety, and brings dramatic flair and gravitas to his rare recital performances. For his Cal Performances debut, Lynch lends his “vocal beauty and emotional honesty” (San Francisco Classical Voice) to selections exploring love, loss, and mortality, including Samuel Barber’s brooding Dover Beach, written at just 21 for baritone and string quartet, as well as a delightful selection of traditional songs and spirituals.
| BARBER | Dover Beach, Op. 3 |
| MAHLER | Rückert Lieder
Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft Um Mitternacht Liebst du um Schönheit Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen |
| SCHUBERT | An Sylvia, D. 891 “Das Fischermädchen,” from Schwanengesang, D. 957 Nacht und Träume, D. 827 Erlkönig, D. 328 |
| MUSSORGSKY | Pesni i pljaski smerti
Lullaby Serenade Trepek Polkovodecv |
| TRADITIONAL/ arr. GORDON GETTY |
Danny Boy Shenandoah |
| HAHN | La barcheta from Venezia (Pietro Burrati) |
| TOSTI | L’ultima Canzone (Francesco Cimmino) |
Program notes will be available approximately one week before the performance.
3pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
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2026–27 Season Guides
Some of you want your mind blown. Some want your heart broken. Some want to see a legend before they stop touring. Whatever brings you through those doors, we’ve built a guide for it. Explore the six patron guides below to find the performances that were made for you!
3pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
2026–27 Season Subscriptions go on sale noon May 5
Single tickets for 2026–27 Season events go on sale at noon Aug 11
