Mercury Theater’s final show of the 2025-26 season leans heavily into romance, freedom and high drama with a production of Puccini’s operetta, La rondine, stage directed by Elly Lichtenstein with musical direction by Mary Chun.
The show, a co-production with San Francisco’s Pocket Opera, opens in Petaluma on June 12 with Friday evening and Sunday afternoon performances through June 28.
La rondine is the story of beautiful mistress Magda, who risks her sequestered life of lavish Parisian luxury with the wealthy Rambaldo for a chance to be with young and dashing Ruggero. Can true love conquer all? Can Magda overcome the trappings of her gilded cage to realize her true worth?
Another compelling storyline features Lisette, Magda’s spirited maid, who has big dreams of her own. The story follows the two women as they take leaps of faith to seek their highest selves.
Sung in English, this sumptuous tale features plenty of arias, and numerous, high energy dance numbers, including a waltz, a tango and a foxtrot. There’s even a polka.
One doesn’t have to be an opera fanatic to appreciate this production, however. According to Chun, the music isn’t composed of the stereotypical tragedy-driven laments, but full of “a lighter, ironic wit.” The English translation also makes the story much more accessible to average audience members.
Lichtenstein emphasizes that “to watch opera in such an intimate setting, where the performers and story-telling are so accessible and the music is just about sitting in your laps, there’s nothing quite like it.”
This production of La rondine also highlights the art and beauty of the Bellé Epoqué era, which many know as the era of Art Nouveau, with sets designed by Joe Elwick. Lichtenstein explains: “Each act has been inspired by a famous artist of the time: Act One features Gustav Klimt, Tiffany rules the second act, and the third act evokes the (French) Riviera with the great seaside paintings of the time.”
By producing La rondine, Mercury Theater carries forth the 50-year vision of Marvin Klebe, who founded the theater space that currently houses Mercury and who wanted to bring accessible opera shows to Sonoma County.
“Opera remains the linchpin of the intimate building’s theatrical function,” says Lichtenstein. “If you’ve never taken in an opera, or if the Grand Opera stage didn’t do it for you, we do opera for everyone. Even die-hard aficionados love our work, as it brings everything home to you.
”Mercury Theater presents ‘La rondine’ from June 12–28 at 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Fri, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $25–$55. 707.658.9019. mercurytheater.org.
