The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Month: June 2009
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* Notes * The B cast of San Francisco Opera's La Traviata performed last night. Elizabeth Futral and David Lomelí were a good match vocally as the leads, neither overwhelmed the other as far as volume was concerned. Futral's pianissimo was exquisite, the coldness of her voice could come off as crystalline. However, she did have some shaky shrillness…
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Fabio Luisi has been appointed the next general music director of Opernhaus Zürich, and starts in 2012. Lyndon Terracini is the next artistic director of Opera Australia, starting October 2009. In sadder news, the choreographer Philippine "Pina" Bausch died this morning. Luisi Press Release | Terracini Press Release [PDF] | Tanztheater Wuppertal
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* Notes * This year's Auditions for the General Director of San Francisco Opera were yesterday evening, featuring the participants of the Merola Opera Program. It certainly was not a dull performance, and watching the 2009 crop of singers develop will be fascinating. I especially liked hearing the returning Merolini, Nathaniel Peake, in particular, has improved.…
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Seattle Opera has received the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grant in support of new American opera. Daron Aric Hagen's Amelia premieres in May 2010 in Seattle. Press Release [PDF] | Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
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The Opera Standees Association held a small reception for Eric Owens yesterday evening in San Francisco. Owens is in the midst of having a great success in Porgy and Bess at San Francisco Opera, and the last performance is tomorrow. Despite this, and his recent Met debut, he remains refreshingly humble. Eric discussed the excitement of live…
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Dr. Luciano Bernardi at the University of Pavia has done a study on the effects of listening to classical music, including selections from Turandot, Nabucco, and La Traviata. BBC Article | Science Blog
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Current first year Adler Fellow Leah Crocetto won the vocal portion of the José Iturbi International Music Competition this year. Third year Adler Heidi Melton placed second. AP Article | José Iturbi International Music Competition
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* Notes * The semi-staged production of Iolanthe at San Francisco Symphony was disappointing aurally, but not because of the musicians, singers, or Gilbert & Sullivan. Frustratingly enough, it was the amplification system that was the problem, and last night's performance was dogged by balance problems and feedback from the microphones. The voices were painfully loud at…
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Festival Opera's 2009 season opens July 11th with Turandot, and ends August 16th with Faust. TurandotTurandot: Othalie Graham Calaf: Christopher Jackson Liù: Rebecca Sjöwall Timur: Kirk Eichelberger Ping: Igor Vieira Pang: Adam Flowers Pong: Michael Mendelsohn Mandarin: Ted Weis Emperor Altoum: Jonathan Nadel FaustFaust: Brian Thorsett Marguerite: Kristin Clayton Méphistophélès: Kirk Eichelberger Valentin: Eugene Brancoveanu…
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The 29 Merolini for 2009 were interviewed by San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald, Merola Opera Board of Directors Chairman Jayne Davis, and President Patrick Wilken yesterday evening, in the Green Room of the War Memorial Veterans Building. Iowa was mentioned many times, in context of the strong work ethic of Midwesterners. Several of the…
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