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Tristan und Isolde in concert ~ Mary Wilson ~ Don Reed: ‘Can You Dig It' ~ Bay Area hiking tips

This week on Open Air, KALW’s radio magazine for the Bay Area performing arts, guest host Renée Kemp talks with opera singers Roy Cornelius Smith and Juyeon Song about their roles in Richard Wagner’s groundbreaking opera Tristan und Isolde, which will be performed live in concert form on Sunday, August 26 (2pm) at the Herbst Theatre (410 Van Ness) in San Francisco. Conductor Jonathan Khuner will join the conversation. 

This performance of Tristan und Isolde is the first production of the newly formed Claude Heater Foundation, named after and supported by the American opera singer Claude Heater, born in 1927 in Oakland, and a current Bay Area native, who had a flourishing opera career in the 1950’s and 1960s. Acclaimed for his portrayal of Wagnerian heroes, ‘Tristan’ was one of his signature roles. 

A filmed version of Tristan und Isolde with Heater as Tristan, produced for Belgian TV in 1968, will be featured on Saturday, August 18 (1pm) at the Gunn Theater inside the Legion of Honor in San Francisco (Act 1) and on Friday, August 24 (1pm)at the Berkeley City Club (Act 2 and Act 3). 

Via phone, we check in with legendary Motown singer and former member of The Supremes, Mary Wilson, who is among the stars aligned to appear in the 24thannual Concert & Gala Help is On the Way, presented by the Richmond / Ermet Foundation, in support of Meals on Wheels San Francisco, and the AIDS Legal Referral Panel.

Other stars performing at the Gala are Grammy award winning recording artist Debby Boone,  concert violinist Eileen Bourgade, Broadway singer Davis Gaines Jazz/cabaret singer Paula West, Motown Singing group Top Shelf Classics, and many more. 

Bay Area actor, writer, producer, director and comedian Don Reed stops by to share details about his latest autobiographical one-man show Can You Dig It?: The ‘60swhich has been extended at The Marsh in Berkeley through September 9. 

Following his critically acclaimed shows East 14th and The Kipling Hotel, Don Reed takes his audience on a nostalgic ride through the amusing and oftentimes turbulent 1960s and beyond. The story of Can You Dig It?: The ‘60s takes place before Reed’s father became a pimp, before little Donnie was forced into that door-knocking religion, and it includes some mind-blowing and unbelievably true tales. From the Beatles to the Black Panthers, James Brown to the Jerk, MLK to JFK to the KKK. 

Plus, Open Air’s regular contributor and critic at large, Peter Robinson, discusses summer hikes in the Bay Area and gives an introduction to trails, hiking groups and interesting walks in the hills, along the shoreline and around town. 

Open Air with guest host Renée Kemp; heard live on Thursday, August 16 at 1pm. Listen now or anytime…