(Credit: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera) Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” opened at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House to round out the fall season repertoire. Composed in the 1890s, Humperdinck based the opera on Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, hinting at some of the darker ideas resplendent in the original tale. But alas, none of that seems to have permeated the modern {…}
“Manon Lescaut” opened at the San Francisco Opera in a revival of Olivier Tambosi and Frank Philipp Schlossmann’s production. It was a reminder of many of the opera’s riches: lush musical textures with various orchestral harmonies; the rich exploration of human drama; and the insolence of fate. When Puccini set out to compose his opera on Manon, people chided him {…}
With the 2019-20 season fully underway, we have found this challenge of selecting a choice few operas every weekend increasingly challenging as there is really a lot of special work going on around North America. Nonetheless, as per usual, we have whittled it down to five works that we think will bring a balanced operatic diet for those who want {…}
The San Francisco Opera will showcase the vocal might of the San Francisco Opera Chorus in concert on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. The concert, which is set to be performed at the intimate Dianne and Tad Taube Atrium Theater, will feature the work of Chorus Director Ian Robertson, who celebrates 33 years with the Company in 2019. It {…}
The San Francisco Opera Center has announced the 2020 Adler Fellows. This year’s group includes 10 singers and two pianists / apprentice coaches who will begin their fellows in January of 2020. They include soprano Anne-Marie MacIntosh, soprano Elisa Sunshine, soprano Esther Tonea, mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh, tenor Zhengyi Bai, tenor Christopher Colmenero, tenor Christopher Oglesby, and tenor Victor Starsky. Baritone {…}
(Credit; Simon Pauly / Stephanie Girard) The San Francisco Opera is gearing up to present “Hansel and Gretel” starting on Nov. 15, 2019. The production of the Humperdinck opera, created in collaboration with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is set to run through Dec. 7, 2019. It will be directed and designed by Anthony McDonaldo and is set to {…}
(Credit: Terrence McCarthy/San Francisc Opera) The San Francisco Opera is set to present Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The company will present a revival of director Olivier Tambosi’s production reuniting soprano Lianna Haroutounian and tenor Brian Jagde for role debuts in yet another Puccini opera, after their last appearance together in San Francisco Opera’s 2014 “Tosca.” The stars will be led by former San {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver) “The Marriage of Figaro” is one of opera’s priceless jewels, of any work of art, many would say. And San Francisco Opera’s new production by Canadian Director, Michael Cavanagh, made it all the more enjoyable and high-spirited. With a cast of singers who romped and preened, sang and danced around the stage, and an orchestra that kept {…}
It’s time for another weekend of opera, with a wide range of impressive offerings coming from around the continent. This week’s selections include a number of repertory staples as well as some unique modern operas by living composers. Frida – Atlanta Opera, Georgia The Atlanta Opera closes out its production of “Frida” with two performances on Friday and Sunday. The {…}
(Credit: T. Charles Erickson) Nicole Heaston is set to make her San Francisco Opera debut in “Le Nozze di Figaro,” replacing Jennifer Davis as the Contessa Almaviva. The San Francisco Opera made the announcement on Friday, noting that Davis had been set to make her American opera debut with the role, but was forced to withdraw from the production due {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera) Billy Budd, Foretopman, is the center of the conflict between evil and good, dark and light, vulnerable and powerful in Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece “Billy Budd.” Picking this opera for the second night opening of San Francisco’s 97th season was a masterful choice. Everything – the music, drama, ethical conflict, suspenseful, challenging, rewarding – {…}