San Francisco Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity, and Community has announced a new, virtual discussion series titled “Opera Aficionado.” Held via Zoom in August and September, the series will focus on the San Francisco Opera Center, where young artists are trained, and the three operas to be presented at the War Memorial Opera House for the company’s 2021 Fall Season: {…}
(Credit: Taylor Ballantyne) San Francisco Opera’s new short-form song and storytelling video portrait series, “In Song,” has released its new episode “In Song: Jamie Barton.” In the episode, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton revisits her roots and the music she grew up with in northwest Georgia. Presented in partnership with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the new episode features Barton with banjo virtuoso and {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced changes to its safety protocols for the 2021-22 season. The company announced that “based on the latest medical advice and patron feedback, it will now require proof of vaccination for all patrons ages 12 and up to attend performances at the War Memorial Opera House and the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera.” The company {…}
(Credit: Kristen Loken) The San Francisco Opera has announced that Ian Robertson, the company’s Chorus Director for more than 35 years, will be retiring at the end of 2021. Robertson joined the company as Chorus Director back in 1987, leading the ensemble through 342 productions. The ensemble was the subject of the 1991 Oscar-winning documentary “In the Shadow of Stars.” {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced its streams for the month of August 2021. The company will stream two operas this month, including an Italian classic as well as an iconic German masterpiece. All performances can be watched directly on the company’s official website. First up will be a stream of a 2015 staging of Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.” The {…}
San Francisco Opera Department of Diversity, Equity and Community has announced new virtual conversations on Opera in Latin America throughout the month of July. On July 11, director Emilio Sagi will provide a tour through the history of Zarzuela. Sagi has directed operas throughout all the major opera houses in Europe. In San Francisco, he directed such works as “Otello,” {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer/Fay Fox/Yan Bleney/Bree Anne Clowdus) The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring a variety of classic works and some of the greatest stars in the industry. The season will open with Puccini’s “Tosca“ with Eun Sun Kim conducting an all-star cast that includes soprano Ailyn Pérez as Tosca, tenor Michael Fabiano as Cavaradossi, and bass-baritone Alfred {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced new streams for the month of July. The first stream will be a 2016 production of “Jenufa” starring Malin Byström in the title role alongside Karita Mattila, William Burden, and Scott Quinn. The production was directed by Oliver Tambosi with Jiří Bĕlohlávek conducting. Streaming Dates: July 10-11, 2021 Next up the company will stream a {…}
On July 3, 2021, San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program will launch their 64th season with a showcase concert titled “What the Heart Desires.” Co-curated by tenor Nicholas Phan and mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller, the concert will celebrate diversity in song through compositions by women and people of color. Selections will explore themes such as love, and the yearning for rest, peace, {…}
(Credit: Luke Foley-Martin) The San Francisco Opera’s new short-form song and storytelling video portrait series, “In Song,” continues May 27 with the premiere of In Song: Pene Pati. The new episode will showcase Pati, who hails from a tight-knit, musical Von Trapp-like family of performers, reveal the centrality in his life and musical journey through reminiscences with his parents and {…}
San Francisco Opera is set to present “The Adlers: Live at the Drive-In” starting on April 29. The outdoor concert will feature the company’s Adler Fellows in a 70-minute performance staged by Jose Maria Condemi. The performers include sopranos Anne-Marie MacIntosh, Elisa Sunshine, Esther Tonea, mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh, tenors Zhengyi Bai, Christopher Colmenero, Christopher Oglesby, baritone Timothy Murray, bass, Stefan {…}