The fall opera season in San Francisco has been dealt a wild card — Jerry Springer, The Opera! Not exactly material for SF’s august opera company . . .
Author: Michael Milenski
Madama Butterfly in San Francisco
“One of the most beautiful sets I have ever seen,” crows San Francisco Opera general director David Gockley over the airwaves, “directed by Broadway legend Hal Prince.”
Marriage of Figaro in San Francisco (and Los Angeles)
No question that Nicola Luisotti is a conducting genius, and no question that genius runs amuck from time to time. In the case of Mo. Luisotti fairly often.
Werther in San Francisco
It has been twenty-five years since San Francisco Opera has staged a Werther. so it was high time that Massenet’s whiney, weepy masterpiece be given another chance.
Aida in San Francisco
Opera as circus. The current San Francisco Aida comes from the English National Opera where an inspired and probably very excited administrator proposed a production by aging London fashionista Zandra Rhodes.
Sigismondo, La Cenerentola, Demetrio e Polibio at Pesaro
The fourteen year old Rossini composed his first opera Demetrio e Polibio in 1806 though it was not performed for another six years.
Tosca at Orange
There was a time when the likes of Luc Bondy and Francesca Zambello staged operas for the ChorÈgies d’Orange in its famed ThÈ‚tre Antique.
Don Giovanni, Alceste, Le Rossignol at the Aix Festival
The Aix Festival was known not so very long ago for pretentious productions. Perhaps now it will become known for good productions.
Die Walk¸re in San Francisco
Ring fever rages on. San Francisco has just unveiled its Walk¸re the completed cycle to take place next June. Gratefully the price of the SFO effort has not become a topic of conversation, as has the cost of the just completed L.A. Ring
Baritone Austin Kness on his way
Baritone Austin Kness, an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera recently spoke with Opera Today critic Michael Milenski.