Tabarro * Notes * 
Il Trittico opened at San Francisco Opera last night with Patricia Racette singing all three of the major soprano roles. The production, directed by James Robinson, is clean and simple. Allen Moyer's sets are unostentatious, the three are not tied together in an obvious way, yet still look like they match each other. Patrick Summers had the orchestra sounding both tasteful and even. The Alders were out in full force and did very well. Tamara Wapinsky, David Lomelí, Daveda Karanas, Leah Crocetto, Heidi Melton, Daniela Mack, Austin Kness, and Kenneth Kellogg all sang at one point or another.

Brandon Jovanovich sang beautifully in Il Tabarro as Luigi. He was overwhelmed by the orchestra at one point, but perhaps because he was simply too far upstage. In her San Francisco Opera debut, Ewa Podleś was arresting as the Princess in Suor Angelica. Her voice has an incredible richness and resonance. Paolo Gavanelli was menacing in Il Tabarro and darkly hilarious in the title role of Gianni Schicchi. He too sounded wonderful, embodying the parts perfectly. Patricia Racette managed her roles of Giorgetta, Suor Angelica, and Lauretta competently. She definitely looked different as each. Racette's vibrato can be unpleasant and her singing a bit labored. However, she does convey various emotions through her voice with an intense clarity.

* Tattling * 
We were very kindly given premium orchestra seats from the chorus director. The audience around us was well-behaved, very little talking and only a few electronic noises were heard.

One could not help but notice that some of the program notes were written by a certain degenerate blogger.

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5 responses to “Il Trittico at SF Opera”

  1. Eric Freeman Avatar

    Hello Charlise,
    Thank you for linking to SFCV’s opera reviews. I really enjoy your tattling 🙂
    I noticed that the link to SFCV in your blogroll appears to be broken. When we revamped the site some of the links changed. It goes to a “not found” error page now. The new link for opera reviews is http://www.sfcv.org/news-reviews/reviews/31
    Keep up the good work!

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  2. The Opera Tattler Avatar

    Thanks for the update!

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  3. Roberto Avatar
    Roberto

    I went to the 9/24 performance.
    The main problem for me was Puccini music. I liked his three main operas a lot, but everything else is… I don’t know…
    Brandon Jovanovich apprently did not match the performance of the opening night. The tenor’s biggest moment is when he proclaims his love to Giorgetta and tell her that he would make a ring from his blood (or something like that). Unfortunately his voice didn’t penetrate the orchestra and the whole scene just didn’t work. But he is a young singer and I am more than willing to give him another chance. Although, I liked his Pinkerton a lot.
    For me, the biggest moment of the night was Ewa Podles. Her tone reminded me Janet Baker. That’s the kind of mezzo I like.
    As for Patricia Racette, I am sorry to say that I was not impressed. Not in the same league as her Cio-Cio San, which was amazing. But since I was not impressed by the music, I don’t think I am being fair to her.
    It was embarrassing that the audience applauded “O mio babbino caro” twice (not once, but twice) before she finished the aria.

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  4. The Opera Tattler Avatar

    Ewa Podleś is one of my favorite singers, her Erda is matchless and I only wish I had the chance to hear her in her prime.

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  5. MM Avatar
    MM

    I had never seen all three Trittico operas on the same bill before. Now I think I see why. I can well understand why opera companies historically have not often done all three together regardless of Puccini’s wishes. Three plus hours for minor Puccini is a bit much.
    Having said that, SFO did a good job except for the Schicchi set, which was pretty dreadful. Gavanelli was the best thing in the production. I enjoyed him so much I could almost forgive the headache inducing black and white Escher-like decor.

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