Nadine Sierra, Brian Jagde & Franco Fagioli Headline San Francisco Opera’s 2019-20 Season
By Francisco SalazarThe San Francisco Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring seven new productions and two new revivals. There will also be a notable company premiere with many rising and established stars taking the stage.
Main Stage
The 2019–20 season opens with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” in a new production by Jean-Louis Grinda. The opera returns after a 31-year absence with the Yves Abel at the podium.
Nadine Sierra makes her role debut as Juliette with Bryan Hymel as her Roméo. Baritone Lucas Meachem sings Mercutio, while tenor Daniel Montenegro takes on Tybalt. The cast is complemented by bass James Creswell as Frère Laurent, baritone Timothy Mix as Capulet, bass-baritone Philip Skinner as the Duke of Verona and, in her company debut, mezzo- soprano Stephanie Lauricella as Stéphano.
For the October 1 performance, the title roles will be interpreted by Samoan tenor Pene Pati and Egyptian-born New Zealand soprano Amina Edris in their role debuts.
Performance Dates: Sept. 6–Oct. 1, 2019
Marking the return of Benjamin Britten to the War Memorial Opera House after 15 years, “Billy Budd” gets a new production by director Michael Grandage.
This version of the famed opera received acclaim in 2010 when it premiered at the Glyndebourne Festival and was later revived at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2014.
John Chest makes his company debut in the title role with Christian Van Horn as the villainous John Claggart and William Burden as Vere.
The rest of the cast is rounded out by Philip Horst as Mr. Redburn, Wayne Tigges as Mr. Flint, Robert Brubaker as Red Whiskers, Brenton Ryan as a Novice, Matthew O’Neill as Squeak, John Brancy as Donald and Edward Nelson as Bosun. Lawrence Renes conducts the production which will be directed by Ian Rutherford in Grandage’s place.
Performance Dates: Sept. 7–22, 2019
“Le Nozze di Figaro” gets a new production starting the San Francisco Opera’s multi-season project to unveil the three Mozart–Da Ponte works as a trilogy with a unity of scenic inspiration and narrative linking their stories. Michael Cavanagh directs the production.
Henrik Nánási conducts the production with bass-baritone Michael Sumuel in the title role of Figaro, and soprano Jeanine De Bique as Susanna. Baritone Levente Molnár takes on the role of the Count, while soprano Jennifer Davis sings the Countess. Serena Malfi sings Cherubino while mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook, bass James Creswell, tenor Greg Fedderly, and tenor Brenton Ryan round out the cast.
Performance Dates: Oct. 11–Nov. 1, 2019
Soprano Lianna Haroutounian and tenor Brian Jagde star in Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The revival is conducted by Nicola Luisotti with baritone Anthony Clark Evans as Lescaut and bass Eric Halfvarson as Geronte. Rafael Davila sings the final performance as Des Greiux, making his company debut.
Performance Dates: Nov. 8-26, 2019
Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” will receive a new production by British director and production designer Antony McDonald. Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke will take on the role of Hansel alongside Heidi Stober as Gretel.
Tenor Robert Brubaker will take on the witch while mezzo- soprano Michaela Martens and bass-baritone Alfred Walker will portray the parents, Gertrude and Peter. Christopher Franklin conducts the production.
Performance Dates: Nov. 15–Dec. 7, 2019
Russell Thomas takes on the title role of Verdi’s “Ernani” in a new production by Jose Maria Condemi. Michelle Bradley makes her company and role debut as Elvira, while Christian Van Horn is the villainous Don Ruy Gomez de Silva.
Italian baritone Simone Piazzola rounds out the cast as Don Carlo and James Gaffigan conducts the early Verdi score.
Performance Dates: June 7-July 2, 2020
Handel’s “Partenope” returns to the War Memorial Opera House stage in Christopher Alden’s production. Louise Alder sings the title role with Franco Fagioli as Arsace in his company debut.
Jakub Józef Orliński makes his American stage debut as Armindo, while mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack reprises the role of Rosmira and Alek Shrader sings Emilio. English conductor Christopher Moulds leads Handel’s work.
Performance Dates: June 12–27, 2020
Mason Bates and Mark Campbell’s “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” makes its San Francisco Opera debut in Kevin Newbury’s Santa Fe Opera production.
Mason Bates joins the San Francisco Opera Orchestra as a performer and Michael Christie conducts a cast that includes Edward Parks as Steve Jobs and Sasha Cooke as Laurene Powell Jobs. Tenor Garrett Sorenson is Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and bass Wei Wu portrays Kōbun Chino Otogawa.
Performance Dates: June 20–July 3, 2020
Special Events
To celebrate the San Francisco Opera’s 97th season, president Jane Mudge and Elizabeth Birka-White will co-chair Opera Ball 2019, which will also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Opera Guild.
Performance Date: Sept. 6, 2019
Performance Date: Sept. 6, 2019
Opera in the Park will be presented by the San Francisco Chronicle, and will feature the stars of the Company’s 2019 fall season in concert with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.
Performance Date: Sept. 8, 2019
The San Francisco Opera Guild will honor a community leader with a gala dinner and celebration on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House in its annual An Evening on Stage.
Performance Date: December 2, 2019
San Francisco Opera Center’s 2019 class of Adler Fellowship recipients will be showcased in their final concert of the year, performing arias and opera scenes accompanied by the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.
Performance Date: Dec. 6, 2019
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