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Heart of a Soldier Press Conference

01122010 003 * Notes * 
Today the Communications Department of San Francisco Opera held a press conference on Heart of a Soldier, which will have a world premiere on September 10, 2011. General Director David Gockley told us a bit about how this came to be an opera. An array of individuals were introduced: Susan Rescorla, one of the people whose story is being told in this opera; James B. Stewart, the author of the non-fiction work the opera is based on; librettist Donna DiNovelli; composer Christopher Theofanidis; conductor Patrick Summers; and director Francesca Zambello. Zambello evidently came to Gockley with Stewart's book, saying that the story had operatic themes with two incredible love stories.

This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Kip Cranna, who asked each person involved a few key questions. DiNovelli condensed Stewart's 320 page book into a mere 26. The piece is complete and has been workshopped in the last few days. Theofanidis took Tosca as his starting point and loves verismo. The work uses a full orchestra but also employs saxophone, bagpipe, and electric guitar.

The opera stars Thomas Hampson (Rick Rescorla), William Burden (Daniel J. Hill), and Melody Moore (Susan Rescorla). We got to hear a duet from the piece accompanied by piano, sung by Melody Moore and Austin Kness.

* Tattling * 
The audience consist of the press, board members, colleagues from other performing arts organizations, and San Francisco Opera staff. Everyone seemed very attentive.

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2 responses to “Heart of a Soldier Press Conference”

  1. sfmike Avatar
    sfmike

    What’s with these competing teasers from local arts organizations over the last 48 hours? The SF Symphony gave us some details but not most about the 100th centennial yesterday, the SF Opera announces this 9/11 opera but not the rest of the season today, and Cal Performances proclaims an upcoming “Einstein on the Beach” but nothing else somewhere in the middle of all this. Are we part of a new fad, or have I just not been paying attention?

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  2. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    I have no idea, though I think it is pretty normal to have press conferences about world premieres. Part of the reason they had it, I imagine, is because it is being workshopped so lots of the people involved are in San Francisco.
    I hear that Lyric Opera of Chicago is doing some sort of special announcement tomorrow about Renée Fleming, so maybe this trend goes beyond the Bay Area.

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