Beck Bringing An Orchestra To Outside Lands
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Beck may be touring with a symphony this year, but that won't stop him from joining the lineup for the 17th edition of the Outside Lands festival, during which he'll be backed by an orchestra on the event's Aug. 8 opening day in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Beck launched the orchestral concept in 2024 with shows at such storied venues as New York's Carnegie Hall and Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl. Following three gigs in Japan this month, he'll return to the symphonic motif during an 11-date summer North American tour, beginning July 15 in New Haven, Ct.
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As previously reported, Outside Lands will be led by Tyler, the Creator, Hozier and Doja Cat. Also set to perform are John Summit, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Gracie Abrams, Doechii, Glass Animals, Jamie xx, Gesaffelstein, Bleachers, Ludacris, FINNEAS, Floating Points and Jorja Smith.
Meanwhile, previously announced performer Vampire Weekend will now play both opening and closing sets at their stage on Aug. 9. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (May 7).
Per usual, Outside Lands will offer a host of other amenities, including an on-site venue for fans to exchange wedding vows, the cannabis-friendly Grass Lands, the open-air SOMA dance stage and the Golden Gate Club, where chefs such as Tyler Florence and Melissa King will be cooking up a storm.
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
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9 hours ago
- Yahoo
WWE Evolution 2025 live results: Winners, highlights and analysis of all-women event
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. The women of WWE are ready to take center stage. For the first time in seven years, Evolution will take place as WWE holds an event dedicated to its stacked women's division. It'll be a bigger card than a typical WWE event with seven matches scheduled to take place. The top prizes in the division — the WWE Women's Championship, Women's World Heavyweight Championship and Women's NXT Championship — will be on the line, as will the Intercontinental and Tag Team titles. Advertisement A no holds barred match between bitter rivals is on deck, and a battle royal will commence with a title opportunity at stake. It'll be a night celebrating the best women's division in wrestling, and it's expected to be a dazzling performance from everyone involved. Follow USA TODAY Sports for the results, highlights and analysis from Evolution: Women's World Championship match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley Match in progress. Battle royal for championship match at Clash in Paris To no surprise, Nia Jax wasted no time eliminating people, and she almost had Kelani Jordan, but the former gymnast took a page out of Kofi Kingston's book and did a handstand to get herself back in the ring. Slowly the field started to clear, most notably the NXT stars getting out of the match. Women's United States Champion Giulia was eliminated by Zelina Vega, getting payback for taking her title away. The Secret Hervice was doing all it could to protect Chelsea Green, and Nikki Bella solved some part of the problem by eliminating Alba Fyre, and then eliminating Piper Niven with Stephanie Vaquer. Advertisement Green was the recipient of Vaquer's Devil's Kiss, and it led to her elimination, making the final four Lash Legend, Jax, Bella and Vaquer. When Bella tried to eliminate Jax, Legend came through with a big kick to take out the WWE Hall of Famer in a stunning move. Legend then picked Jax up in an amazing spot, and got her outside of the rope. Her and Vaquer worked together to eliminate Jax and leave it to the final two. Vaquer hit a 619 and tried the frog splash, and Legend caught her. She tried to throw her over the rope, but went on the side alongside her. They were tangled and Vaquer was in position for the Devil's Kiss. She hit her patented move and tossed Legend out of the ring, securing her title opportunity at Clash in Paris. Analysis: "La Primera" is truly living to her nickname, as the rising star will get the chance for main roster gold in Paris. It was an easy choice to put Vaquer in the role, as her popularity is skyrocketing as much as her talent is. Any other person winning would have caused mass outrage. The only possible option was Bella, but her loss puts her an intriguing spot to see whether she'll continue in WWE, and what avenue she can go through. Advertisement The battle royal MVP was easily Legend, who showed so much promise in the bout and could suddenly find herself in the main roster soon. No holds barred match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi (with Bianca Belair as special guest referee) No time was wasted between heated rivals, getting the fight going before Cargill could get in the ring. Cargill threw Naomi against the barricade, and soon afterward, Naomi recovered by delivering shots with a kendo stick. Anything that could be brought into the ring was used, from a chain, garbage can and even a camera. Cargill was leaning against the announcer's table and Naomi dropkicked her and broke a monitor. Naomi unleashed a brutal assault on Cargill, sending her through a table and taunting her by wiping blood with her opponents hair. Ms. Money in the Bank was cooking and set Cargill up on a table. But as she got to the top turnbuckle, Cargill got up and hit her with a chair. She then climbed up and executed a flying Jaded from the top rope in a crazy spot. It sent Naomi through the table, and Belair counted the pin as Cargill got another victory over her rival. Analysis: What a match that was building toward becoming an instant classic, and instead, it comes to an abrupt end. This easily was one of the most brutal women's no holds barred matches, with any possible weapon used. It was refreshing to see it actually be used since it hasn't happened much recently. Advertisement While it was going great, and the finish was a major spot, it came rather quickly and so sudden, and it's likely a fault of creative not giving much time. This had the potential to be a much more menacing battle but the finish felt extremely rushed. It's a disappointment because Naomi and Cargill did so well. But give credit to the competitors for putting up a high-quality match in such little time. Cargill is now 2-0 against her arch rival, and she continues building toward her title opportunity at SummerSlam. She's riding all the momentum, but it feels like it's only a matter of time before Naomi ruins it all, and gets the last laugh. WWE Women's Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus The veteran and youngster tried to feel each other out in the early stages, taking the safe approach to the match. Stratus showed she still has plenty in the tank with a spectacular hurricanrana out of the ring, and used that to get to her signature skillset. When Stratus attempted her chop, Stratton dodged it and gave her a taste of her own medicine. Being a sensational athlete, Stratton executed a swanton beautifully, just slightly different than the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Later, Stratton tried it, but this time Stratus got her knees up to block it. Stratton then countered it with a Stratisfaction. But the pin attempt didn't work to stun the champion. Advertisement Stratus tried a Lita-esque moonsault, but Stratton returned the favor and got her knees up. She got up, picked Stratus up and catapulted her on the mat. Then Stratton attempted her finisher, and this time it landed. She pinned Stratus to retain the title. After the match, Stratus got a standing ovation from the crowd as she stood in the ring by herself, hinting that possibly could be the final ride for the WWE Hall of Famer. Analysis: Stratus indeed, still has it. The decorated star hung around with Stratton and delivered plenty of nostalgia, and she could be a full-time wrestler if she wanted to. While it's enough to be a champion, there wasn't a chance she'd take down Stratton. The current champion has taken on any and all challengers, and has put up a stellar performance each time. In a moment that could have been seen as a passing of the torch, Stratton gracefully takes it. If this is it for Stratus, she went out with a bang. Advertisement Fatal four-way tag team match for WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) The Kabuki Warriors were feeding off the crowd to start and it got them an early advantage, but Rodriguez came into the fold and completely overpowered anyone that got in her way, showcasing how challenging it would be to dethrone the champions. Then Zaria got the chance to show her stuff to a bigger audience, and the NXT stars teed off on Alexa Bliss. It was only a matter of time before Flair got in the ring, and Bliss tagged her in and the crowd went crazy. The decorated star cleared the field, and that's when the chaos unfolded. There were finishers being done everywhere, from Flair's spear to Sol Ruca's Sol Snatcher. Thanks to an accidental spear from Zaria to Sol Ruca, it paved the way for the champions. Rodriguez and Perez cleared the field, and all that was left was Sol Ruca in the ring. Rodriguez picked her up and threw her down on the mat and got the pin to retain the gold. Advertisement Analysis: Multiple-tag team matches always turn into a massive frenzy, and that's what we got in a wild one. There were several fun spots, and the moves that needed to happen were executed to a tee. Every team had a good reason to win, but the champions needed to retain to strengthen what's going with The Judgment Day. Now the relationship between Rodriguez and Perez strengthens, and it will make for a quality story with the gold in the mix. NXT Women's Championship match: Jacy Jane (c) vs. Jordynne Grace The challenger flexed her muscles out of the gate, and it looked like it could be quick work for Grace to take the title. But Jayne didn't back down and held her own in delivering a solid attack. It didn't last long before Grace's power was overwhelming. The only way Jayne was able to avoid falling into a deep hole was just moving out of any big shots Grace tried. Advertisement Jayne was yelling at Grace any time she tried any move, and it seemed to only fuel Grace to countering what would happen next. Grace went to the top turnbuckle, but Jayne met her to take her down and followed it with a running knee. The pin attempt didn't work. Fallon Henley brought the NXT title in the ring to help Jayne, and Blake Monroe stopped it from being used as a weapon. The championship made it in, but Jayne couldn't use it. The referee got distracted and Monroe had the title in her hands, but when Grace bounced off the turnbuckle, the stunner happened. Monroe hit Grace in the back, and Jayne capitalized with a massive hit to the face. She got the pin, and Monroe delivered the championship to Jayne before walking away. Analysis: What transitional champion? It felt like Jayne would be giving up the title now that Grace was in the title scene, but instead we have the makings of a potential massive feud. Jayne keeps the title, and her reign still gets a chance to develop her character. Advertisement But the bigger story is the development between Grace and Monroe. It felt like we'd get a softer version of Monroe in WWE with her charm being all we've seen. Instead, Monroe is going heel, something she's incredibly great at delivering. It will make for even better television, and Grace will have to face a massive obstacle if she wants WWE gold. Triple threat match for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria After getting the crowd hyped, Bayley knocked Valkyria and went toe-to-toe with Lynch. Valkyria came back and there was quick action from everyone in the ring. Anytime it looked like someone would establish control, someone would come in and halt any momentum. The action went outside of the ring, and Lynch finally got in control by throwing Bayley against the barricade. With Valkyria down, Lynch went to work on Bayley and tried to get a quick victory. Bayley withstood the attack, and when Valkyria came back into the match, it allowed the "Role Model" to get to work. She landed shots to both opponents that got the crowd rocking. Advertisement Lynch and Bayley met at the top turnbuckle, and Lynch tried the Disarm-Her. Bayley got out of it, and when she did, there was Valkyria launched off the ring to take both stars out. She came close to getting the pin. Lynch then came close with a double DDT and then a Manhandle Slam nearly got her a win, but Bayley broke up the pin attempt. Bayley landed her finisher on the champion, and Valkyria broke up the pin. Valkyria then hit Nightwing on Lynch and that pin didn't work. Valkyria and Bayley went back and forth and felt close, but the champion saw the window. Bayley hit the Rose Plant on Valkyria and got the pin attempt, only for Lynch to sneak in and roll Bayley up. The surprise worked to retain the title. Analysis: What an excellent match to start what should be an incredible night. A blend of seasoned veterans meeting with a rising star made an excellent recipe for a title fight. In triple threat matches, the challenge is for every star the chance to shine. Not only did everyone get chance to strut their stuff, but they went off doing so. Advertisement The rivalry has been great and a case could have been made for this match to be the main event. The heat has felt authentic, and Lynch getting the roll up victory should help each challenger build a case for a rematch. It's hard to pick either Bayley or Valkyria to get the nod, which is why another triple threat match could, and should, happen. Stephanie McMahon kicks off show McMahon appears and speaks with Joe Tessitore. She said the women's division has grown tremendously since the first Evolution. "Get ready to be inspired. Because we get to do it all over again," McMahon said. Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley during WWE Raw at KFC YUM! Center on May 12, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. When is Evolution 2025? WWE Evolution is on Sunday, July 13. Advertisement Evolution 2025 start time Evolution will start at 7 p.m. ET. The preshow begins at 5 p.m. ET. Where is Evolution 2025? The event takes place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. How to watch Evolution 2025 Evolution 2025 will be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets. How to watch Evolution 2025 preshow The Evolution preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE's social channels, including YouTube. Stream WWE Evolution on Peacock Evolution 2025 match card Matches not in order Advertisement Battle royal for championship match at Clash in Paris No holds barred match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi (with Bianca Belair as special guest referee) Fatal four-way tag team match for WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) Triple threat match for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria NXT Women's Championship match: Jacy Jane (c) vs. Jordynne Grace WWE Women's Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus Women's World Championship match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley Intercontinental Championship match to kick off show The night will start with Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Bayley for the title. Who is in Evolution battle royal? There are at least 14 confirmed participants for the battle royal. It has not been announced how many total contestants there will be. Nikki Bella Stephanie Vaquer Ivy Nile Nia Jax Natalya Maxxine Dupri Zelina Vega Giulia Kelani Jordan Jaida Parker Lola Vice Lash Legend Izzi Dame Tatum Paxley WWE Evolution predictions USA TODAY Sports give their predictions for Evolution. See the full predictions for how it will unfold here: Battle royal for championship match at Clash in Paris Jordan Mendoza: Stephanie Vaquer Richard Morin: Stephanie Vaquer No holds barred match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi (with Bianca Belair as special guest referee) Jordan Mendoza: Jade Cargill Richard Morin: Jade Cargill Fatal four-way tag team match for WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) Advertisement Jordan Mendoza: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss Richard Morin: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez Triple threat match for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria Jordan Mendoza: Becky Lynch Richard Morin: Becky Lynch NXT Women's Championship match: Jacy Jane (c) vs. Jordynne Grace Jordan Mendoza: Jordynne Grace Richard Morin: Jordynne Grace WWE Women's Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus Jordan Mendoza: Tiffany Stratton Richard Morin: Tiffany Stratton Women's World Championship match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley Jordan Mendoza: Iyo Sky Richard Morin: Rhea Ripley Charlotte Flair is having fun in new role For the first time in her career, Charlotte Flair is having fun. That's not to say there weren't fun moments. After all, she is a 14-time WWE Women's Champion – 16-time if you count the two NXT Women's Championships – a former Women's Tag Team Champion, and the only woman to win the Royal Rumble twice. Plus, she's one of five women to ever main event WrestleMania. Advertisement But all those accolades came with immense pressure. How can it not with the Flair last name? Now, Flair's shoulders seem lighter. The pressure that has followed every step of her career has come off. For the first time, we're seeing a different side of Flair in WWE. One that's more authentic, vulnerable and far from the jet-flying, limousine-riding, high-profile character that's been in the main event scene for the past decade. And she's loving every part of it. - Read more about Charlotte Flair here. WWE brings back Evolution It's been desired for years, and WWE finally will hold the second iteration of Evolution. The first one happened in 2018 and was the company's first all-women event. The historic night hadnine matches take place, and it was headlined by Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella. Advertisement Evolution also caps off what is a busy weekend in Atlanta for WWE. On Saturday, July 12, it held NXT The Great American Bash and Saturday Night's Main Event later in the night. The weekend is capped off with Evolution. NXT Great American Bash results It's been a big weekend for WWE in Atlanta as Evolution will be the third show in three days from the city. The weekend kicked off with NXT The Great American Bash on Saturday, July 12 afternoon. Here are the results from NXT's show: Je'Von Evens def. Jasper Troy NXT Women's North American Championship match: Sol Ruca (c) def. Izzi Dame NXT North American Championship match: Ethan Page (c) def. Ricky Saints Trick Williams, Joe Hendry and Mike Santana sign contract for TNA Wrestling World Championship match NXT Championship match: Oba Femi (c) def. Yoshiki Inamura Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe def. Jacy Jane and Fallon Henley Saturday Night's Main Event results Another edition of Saturday Night's Main Event took place less than 24 hours before Evolution. The night was highlighted by Goldberg's final match. Here are the results: Advertisement Randy Orton def. Drew McIntyre United States Championship match: Solo Sikoa (c) def. Jimmy Uso LA Knight def. Seth Rollins World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) def. Goldberg Seth Rollins injury update It won't affect anything at Evolution, but the talk of the WWE world is the potential devastating injury Seth Rollins suffered at Saturday Night's Main Event. The injury occurred against LA Knight. Rollins attempted a moonsault in the ring when his knee buckled. He immediately went down and grabbed at his right knee as he backed into the corner of the ring and talked to the referee and Paul Heyman. LA Knight tried to attack Rollins but the referee stopped anything from happening. Once Rollins got back on his feet, LA Knight hit him with the BFT and got the pin for a quick win. After the match, people inside State Farm Arena took photos of medical personnel checking on Rollins. A video of Rollins circulating on social media showed his clear frustration, the wrestler barking expletives and requiring help to leave the ring. Advertisement - Read more about Rollins' injury here. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE Evolution 2025 live results: Winners, highlights and more
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Blackpink pumps up the SoFi crowd with first U.S. show in two years
Blackpink is back in the area. The K-pop girl group, made up of Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo, triumphantly kicked off the North American leg of the Deadline world tour Saturday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. After taking a two-year break to focus on solo projects, the group reunited for its first U.S. concert since the Born Pink tour concluded in 2023. Despite dropping only one group number since then — hardstyle, Diplo-produced 'Jump,' released Friday — Blackpink sold out two nights at one of the Los Angeles area's biggest venues. 'This is incredible. It is such an honor to perform at the SoFi Stadium for you guys,' Rosé said. 'We are really really excited to be here.' Sarah Hoang has been a Blackpink fan since 2019, following their Coachella debut that same year. To celebrate her first time seeing the girl group, the San Diego resident passed out commemorative tickets to other fans. 'I've been waiting for them for a long time,' Hoang said. 'I was really excited to be finally seeing them in L.A., especially at the first tour of the U.S. leg.' The stadium was awash in pink as fans went all-out for their idols. While many dressed according to the band's namesake, others took inspiration from the girls' solo projects. Concertgoer Evelyn Rios, who lives in Los Angeles, nailed Jennie's look from the 'Ruby' album cover in her all-black outfit and cherry-red wig. A fan since 2020, she attended the 2023 show at Dodger Stadium and noted she was most excited to hear 'like Jennie.' The show consisted of five acts and an encore, alternating between group and solo sections. Blackpink started off strong, firing through 'Kill This Love,' 'Pink Venom' and 'How You Like That.' The Saturday night set list was identical to the one in Goyang, South Korea, last weekend, save for Lisa's solo section. While the maknae — or youngest member of the group — performed 'New Woman' and 'Rockstar' for the tour's opening dates, she opted for the edgier 'Thunder' and 'Fxck Up the World' Saturday night. Lisa's two-piece Louis Vuitton set evoked Wonder Woman as she conquered the stage, lightning crackling behind her. Channeling the same spellbinding energy from her Coachella set earlier this year, where she also performed tracks from 'Alter Ego,' Lisa proved why she's among K-pop's most magnetic performers. All four solo projects are sonically distinct, and seeing them back-to-back highlighted just how artistically diverse the Blackpink members are. Jennie, who also performed solo at Coachella this year, leaned into her hip-hop influences as she delivered a mashup of 'Mantra,' 'with the IE (way up)' and 'like Jennie.' Meanwhile, Jisoo pleased with the effervescent, electronic pop of 'earthquake' and 'Your Love.' Rosé prompted laughs from the audience as footage of her filming a TikTok and eating French fries backstage played leading up to her solo section. When she finally appeared in front of the audience, she took a more intimate approach, sitting at the edge of the stage with guitarist Johnny 'Natural' Najera. Starting with heartbreak anthems '3am' and 'toxic till the end,' Rosé concluded with the upbeat, global chart-topping single 'Apt.,' during which she brought a fan on stage. Released with Bruno Mars in October, the song still sits comfortably on the Billboard Hot 100. Blackpink debuted 'Jump' before its official release last weekend in South Korea, so Los Angeles fans were prepared for the long-awaited comeback single. They jumped and danced all the way through the addictive track when Blackpink performed it not once, but twice. 'I must say the song is really addictive the more and more I hear it,' Rosé said after the first run. 'I personally think it's the most exciting one to perform during our set. With a mix of old and new hits, Saturday night brought together both longtime fans and K-pop newcomers. Sydney Grube and Thet Aung drove up together from San Diego just for the concert. While Aung has been a fan since the group began, Grube started listening after seeing Lisa in HBO's 'White Lotus' in February. 'I started listening to all the solo acts, and then started listening actually to the Blackpink music,' Grube said, adding that she was most excited to see the individual sections. The concert also united fans of all ages, with plenty of families arriving in coordinating outfits. At one point, Blackpink even shouted out all the 'baby blinks' in the audience — many of whom were not even born when the group debuted in 2016. 'I did want them to dance more, but they did really good,' said 9-year-old Tara Castro, who was wearing a Blackpink hat and glasses. 'They're my favorite K-pop.' With tour dates charted through January, fans are expecting new music — perhaps even a full album — sometime soon. Hopefully this isn't the last we see of Blackpink in our area.
San Francisco Chronicle
20 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Versailles Royal Opera to visit Wine Country in one-of-a-kind cultural exchange
The Versailles Royal Opera makes its home in one of history's most famous settings: the Palace of Versailles. Just 12 miles outside Paris, the grand estate houses a strikingly beautiful concert hall completed for King Louis XV in 1770, once the largest performance venue in Europe. So it's only fitting that the esteemed opera company, embarking on its first this summer, would want to play somewhere with comparable beauty for its North American debut. The Versailles Royal Opera is slated to bring its acclaimed production of Gaetano Donizetti's 'La Fille du Régiment' to Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena on Friday, July 18. The evening is expected to be one of the highlights of this year's Festival Napa Valley, which kicked off on July 5 and continues through July 20, with classical concerts, film screenings and more at various Wine Country locales. But it's not just opulence that connects Versailles and Napa. Stage director Jean-Romain Vesperini, who mounted 'Fille' in France this spring, was referred to the historic company for this production by Festival Napa Valley's co-founder, vice president and director of artistic planning, Charles Letourneau. That introduction sparked a years-long international collaboration that ultimately made it possible to adapt the production for a California vineyard. 'You couldn't produce an opera like this in the U.S.,' Letourneau told the Chronicle via Zoom call from his New York office, explaining how the effort to bring 'Fille' had to start overseas. 'So many elements are so particular to France and Versailles.' Vesperini, who lives in Paris but has worked with Festival Napa Valley for the past six years, was primed to serve as ambassador. On a separate Zoom call from Liège, Belgium, where he was in rehearsal for another opera, the director described how this production of 'Fille' is rooted in historical accuracy and a very specific time and place. First and foremost visually are the period costumes by renowned fashion designer Christian Lacroix, which evoke the early 19th century Napoleonic era, when Donizetti's comic two-act opera is set. There's also the orchestra playing on period instruments, tuned lower than standard modern pitch — as they would have been heard at the opera's 1840 premiere. But fidelity to the past doesn't mean this production can't also come alive for 21st century audiences. 'I often say, it is not necessary to have contemporary costumes or set design to make a contemporary staging,' explained Vesperini. To this end, much of his directing has focused on letting the singers behave and react more like people in 2025, which adds humor and helps modern audiences identify with the characters. Letourneau praised the updates that Vesperini and the rest of the artistic team have carried out in this spirit. 'They were clever and rewrote some of the dialogue to make references to what's happening today in America, like TikTok,' he noted. 'They're young, they're hip, they're fun and they're motivated.' You might even say there's a tradition of ingenuity at Versailles. Designers equipped the opera house in 1770 with stage techniques so advanced they remained in wide use across Europe and much of the Western world for the next 200 years. Those practices — large painted backdrops, sliding scenery flats and action that shifted between the forestage and full stage — were established before the French Revolution, when the venue was shuttered. (It underwent restoration in the 1950s and reopened in its present form in 2009 following a safety retrofitting.) Many modern productions there, including 'Fille,' embrace this history by continuing to feature painted backdrops. But adapting everything for a differently sized outdoor stage in Napa required further innovation. Vesperini revealed that the company took photos of the sets in Versailles, digitized them and then built a model on a computer. What the festival audience will see are digital projections of these original sets — just one solution to the challenge of transporting a full-scale production across an ocean and a continent. Letourneau acknowledged that when he and his colleagues first discussed hosting a Versailles opera in Napa about seven years ago, it was 'one of those crazy ideas that seemed ridiculous and out of reach.' But he persisted, in part because of the parallels he saw between the two cultural retreats. Versailles, he explained, is 'very much of a similar mindset to what we do in Napa — which is creating these extraordinary artistic experiences and finding ways to pay for them.' A lunch in New York City with Gerret and Tatiana Copeland, owners of Bouchaine Vineyards in Napa and supporters of the festival since its beginning nearly two decades ago, led to solid backing. In addition to 'Fille,' presented on the annual opera series underwritten by San Francisco philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem, the Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra is scheduled to play a second program of Baroque favorites on Saturday, July 19, at Copeland Olive Hill Estate in Carneros. It's a cultural exchange that everyone can get excited about. Festival Napa Valley's pay-what-you-can pricing means that tickets for 'Fille' can be purchased for as little as $5; general admission and lawn seats are otherwise fixed at $35. For an experience that would normally require a trip to Versailles, that's a bargain. 'This is a happy story about countries and cultures collaborating together,' Letourneau said. 'We need more of that.'
