The San Francisco Opera has announced that David Gockley, the company’s General Director Emeritus and Industry Pioneer was be presented with the company’s highest honor following the July 1, 2018 performance of “Gotterdämmerung.” Gockley served as the general director from 2006 until he retired in 2016. Under his leadership, the San Francisco Opera commissioned or co-commissioned 11 new works and showcased {…}
The Musicians of the San Francisco Opera orchestra are set to present jazz composer Valerie Capers in an evening of jazz works based on Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” The event, entitled “Wagner Takes the ‘A’ Train,” will take place on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Per a press {…}
This summer, the San Francisco Opera will present Richard Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen” in three complete cycles. The company will showcase each cycle over the course of one week as the composer originally intended, from June 12 through July 1 at the War Memorial Opera House. The cast is set to include some of today’s greatest Wagnerians including Irene Theorin (Brünnhilde), Greer {…}
It’s the summer, which means that a ton of people are going to be spending quality time at the movies. And Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen” is about to open at the San Francisco Opera, among other places, as well. And then there is the whole business about Wagner being the greatest influence on musical composition in movies. So we {…}
Classical KDFC has announced that it will launch “The Opera Hour,” a new radio showcase that will be co-hosted by San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock, alongside KDFC President Bill Lueth. The series will air on the first Sunday of every month and represents a major step in the continuing partnership between Classical KDFC and the San Francisco. The {…}
San Francisco Opera’s Opera Ball 2018: ¡Viva La Noche! has announced details. The San Francisco Opera Guild’s signature gala benefit will be presented in conjunction with the season-opening double bill of one-act operas, Pietro Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” It will be co-chaired by Shannon Cronan and Kathy Huber and features event design by J. Riccardo Benavides and a sumptuous dinner by McCalls Catering & Events. {…}
The 2017-18 season comes to an end. Now what do you do? Or more like where do you go? Opera lovers know that there are a plethora of festivals to check out, but many are distant from their own traditional opera companies and it can turn into a challenge trying to figure out where to fly out to in the {…}
On May 1, 2018, tickets to individual performances of Richard Wagner’s four-opera cycle, “Der Ring des Nibelungen” will be available for the San Francisco Opera’s summer revival. The announcement comes after performances were only available as complete cycle packages. Seats for all 12 performances in three full cycles of Wagner’s Ring will be available for purchase individually and in build-your-own cycles. Availability {…}
The Merola Opera Program has announced its 61st season, which will kick off with the Schwabacher Summer Concert on July 5 in San Francisco. There is also expected to be a follow-up showcase on July 7, 2018. The concerts will feature a wide range of scenes from such operas as “Vanessa,” “Il Tabarro,” “Don Giovanni,” and “Les Pêcheurs de Perles.” {…}
The ongoing partnership between the Bay Area’s Classical KDFC and San Francisco Opera will continue on April 1 with a broadcast of Leoš Janáček’s “Jenůfa.” The performance, which was recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House in June 2016, features Finnish soprano Karita Mattila as Kostelnička, Swedish soprano Malin Byström in the title role, American tenor William Burden as {…}
On Sunday, March 4, the Bay Area’s Classical KDFC will broadcast a San Francisco Opera performance from November 2014 of Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca” The broadcast stars soprano Lianna Haroutounian in the title role, tenor Brian Jagde as Cavaradossi, and bass-baritone Mark Delavan as Scarpia, with maestro Riccardo Frizza leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. KDFC radio announcer Dianne Nicolini will {…}