The Ring in San Francisco – Francesca Zambello & Production Designer Michael Yeargan Head Panel on Wagner the Environmentalist

San Francisco Opera is in the midst of its month-long festival dedicated to Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” In the coming weeks, Lois Silverstein will explore her experience not only revisiting the 2018 opera production, but several of the events and panels presented by the company. The landscape of the American West became the environmental directive for the 2018 Ring for Francesca Zambello. {…}

Mar 29, 2021

The Ring in San Francisco – The History of Wagner’s Tetralogy in San Francisco

San Francisco Opera is in the midst of its month-long festival dedicated to Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” In the coming weeks, Lois Silverstein will explore her experience not only revisiting the 2018 opera production but several of the events and panels presented by the company. Senior Communications Manager of San Francisco Opera Jeffery McMillan and San Francisco Opera Archivist Barbara Rominiski gave {…}

Mar 27, 2021

The Ring in San Francisco – Orchestra Members on Performing Wagner’s Magnus Opus

San Francisco Opera is in the midst of its month-long festival dedicated to Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” In the coming weeks, Lois Silverstein will explore her experience not only revisiting the 2018 opera production, but several of the events and panels presented by the company. San Francisco Opera Director Matthew Shilvock moderated an excellent panel on the World of the “Ring” orchestra. {…}

Mar 26, 2021

Lawrence Brownlee, Ana María Martinez, Michael Fabiano, Mariusz Kwiecień Headline San Francisco Opera’s Streams in April

San Francisco Opera has announced its streaming slate for the first half of April. It all kicks off with a production of “Don Pasquale.” Donizetti’s comic masterpiece is presented in a 2016 production starring Lawrence Brownlee, Lucas Meachem, Heidi Stober, and Maurizio Muraro in the title role. The production was directed by Laurent Pelly and was made in co-production with {…}

Mar 25, 2021

San Francisco Opera Virtual Review 2021 : Siegfried

In the 2018 San Francisco version of Francisca Zambello’s “Siegfried,” we get a touching side of the evolving picture Wagner depicts throughout The Ring cycle. Here is the hero-to-be, Siegfried, son of the coupling of Siegmund and Sieglinde, deep in his forest home, with his parental surrogate, Mime. The encounter we witness at the start is full of baiting and {…}

Mar 23, 2021

The Ring in San Francisco – William Berger Confronts Racism in Wagner’s ‘Ring’

San Francisco Opera is in the midst of its month-long festival dedicated to Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” In the coming weeks, Lois Silverstein will explore her experience not only revisiting the 2018 opera production, but several of the events and panels presented by the company. William Berger of the Metropolitan Opera, a popular lecturer on opera, and author of “Wagner Without Fear” {…}

Mar 19, 2021

San Francisco Opera Virtual Review 2021: Das Rheingold: ‘Die Walküre’

(Credit: Cory Weaver) From underwater to the wild and terrible world – Rhine Maidens to brother/sister love, father/daughter separation, gain to loss: in other words, “Die Walküre.” And what a “Walküre” it was! Spectacular projections – swirling winds, walloping storm waters, trees bending and swaying every which way, and Siegmund waking to love for Sieglinde, in a house in the {…}

Mar 17, 2021

San Francisco Opera Virtual Review 2021: Das Rheingold

(Credit: Cory Weaver) Some people might be looking for a hero in these days of pandemic, especially locked down at home. Throughout the month of March, San Francisco Opera (SFO) is offering one such hero: the Virtual Ring Festival. You read that right: a “hero” in the form of a quest. It is the quest to retrieve a stolen golden {…}

Mar 14, 2021

San Francisco Opera Announces New Panels for Monthly Wagner Ring Celebration

The San Francisco Opera has announced the addition of two new panels to its monthly Ring cycle presentation. On March 22, the company will stream a unique panel discussion entitled “The Ring from the Pit.” The showcase will feature Francisco Opera Tad and Dianne Taube General Director Matthew Shilvock as he converses with members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra {…}

Mar 4, 2021

San Francisco Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity, and Community Announces Virtual Events for Children

The San Francisco Opera’s Department of Diversity, Equity, and Community is set to present virtual, interactive events for families this March. First up will be “First Act Workshop: Musical Adventures,” an opportunity for children and families to learn about musical storytelling, opera, and more. The workshop will feature singing, dancing, and is aimed at families with children in grades K-3. {…}

Mar 1, 2021

Leontyne Price, Juan Diego Flórez, Pretty Yende, Jamie Barton Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

I’m going to kick off this week’s edition of the top 10 operas to stream by saying that it is probably among the most varied from a repertory standpoint. You have your Verdi, Mozart, Strauss, and Wagner, of course. But then you also have music by African American composers, a baroque opera, a modern operatic classic, and even a recital {…}