The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Month: October 2008
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* Notes * Alex Ross was interviewed yesterday by San Francisco Chronicle music critic Joshua Kosman as part of the JCCSF's Arts & Ideas series. We heard about how Ross was surprised by a phone call from Chicago one Monday, and his concern it was about the repossession of his cats. Of course, it was the MacArthur Foundation, letting him know he had was…
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San Francisco Opera will show live election results before next Tuesday's performance of Boris Godunov, starting at 6 pm. They will also provide results during the intermission.
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* Notes * The new production of L'elisir d'amore at San Francisco Opera is quite winning. Adapted from a co-production with Opera Colorado, Boston Lyric Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre and Fort Worth Opera, here the setting was moved to a small town in the Napa Valley during World War I. James Robinson's direction was…
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Production Web Site | Press Photographs 2008 Performance Reviews: The Opera Tattler | Civic Center | Ionarts | SFist | San Francisco Classical Voice | San Francisco Chronicle
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Though the Fall portion of the San Francisco Opera season is half over, I'm still slowly working my way through an opera cupcake painting project based on what we've seen so far. This is a rendering of Act II Scene 2 of The Bonesetter's Daughter. Precious Cupcake was the most fun to paint, for obvious…
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This account of the final dress of Boris comes from Upstairs Tenor, who is an usher and supernumerary at San Francicsco Opera. * Notes * After sitting through both the dress rehearsal and premiere, and being lulled nearly to sleep by both, I can say without hesitation that this production of Boris Godunov is one…
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* Notes * Last night's press opening of L'Histoire du Soldat and Renard at Oakland Opera Theater was highly entertaining. Both pieces are based on Russian folk tales but were translated into English for this production. This works well, especially for L'Histoire du Soldat, which does not include any singing. Reset to the present day by Rebecca Lenkewicz, the work is meant…
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* Notes * Last Thursday William Eddins conducted the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra in a program that included three short pieces written between the years 1910-1921 by French composers, an American premiere of contemporary music, and Martinů's first symphony. The evening began with the frilly Valse des dépêches by Germaine Tailleferre. The piece sounded suitable for an…
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Tickets have gone on sale for Verdi's Requiem at San Francisco Opera. The piece will be performed on May 29, 2009 and will be conducted by out-going music director Donald Runnicles. The soloists are Patricia Racette, Stephanie Blythe, Stefano Secco, and Andrea Silvestrelli. Press Release [PDF] | Official Site
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The Marcello for La Bohème, Gabriele Viviani, has withdrawn from the production opening at San Francisco Opera next month. He will be replaced by Quinn Kelsey, who shares the role with Brian Mulligan. Viviani sang last appeared at San Francisco Opera as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor. Press Release [PDF] | Production Site
The Opera Tattler 