The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

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Month: November 2011

  • Nadine Sierra’s Salon at the Rex

    * Notes *Soprano Nadine Sierra gave a recital with pianist Tamara Sanikidze for the Salons at the Rex series Wednesday evening. The two Adler Fellows created a genial atmosphere, speaking to the audience at length about the pieces and about how they first met at Music Academy of the West. The short program included "Je veux…

  • Don Giovanni Log

    15. October 2011: Opening Opera Tattler Review 18. October 2011: From the Orchestra* Had a brief discussion about the cuts to the opera with Maestro Luisotti before the performance. When asked why the epilogue was cut, he simply answered that it was thus in the Vienna version. He also explained how the continuo was divided…

  • Further Casting Changes for SF Opera’s Carmen

    Kate Aldrich has withdrawn from San Francisco Opera's Carmen. Kendall Gladen (pictured left in Act IV of Carmen, photograph by Cory Weaver), who already sang the prima yesterday, and will sing the second performance on Wednesday, will also take over from November 26 through December 4. Press Release | SF Opera's Official Site

  • Kendall Gladen as Carmen at SF Opera

    * Notes * Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s beloved production of Carmen (Thiago Arancam as Don José and Kendall Gladen as Carmen in Act I pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) was revived at San Francisco Opera yesterday afternoon. Nicola Luisotti used his lush, hazy style to good effect on the orchestra. The volume was occasionally overwhelming, mostly…

  • Thomas Cooley and Voices of Music

    * Notes * Voices of Music opens the 2011-2012 season with delightful concerts that feature tenor Thomas Cooley (pictured left, photograph by Michael Schilhansl) this weekend in the Bay Area. At Saturday's San Francisco performance the small ensemble consisted of only five musicians: Lisa Grodin (violin), Carla Moore (violin), Elizabeth Reed (viola da gamba), David Tayler…

  • Serse at San Francisco Opera

    * Notes *Händel's Serse (Act III pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) had an impressive second performance last night at San Francisco Opera. The English National Opera production at hand premiered in 1985, yet is still as fresh and comedic as ever. This was helped by the deft, transparent playing from the orchestra. The brass…

  • Vivica Genaux at PBO

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra just completed a run of performances with mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux (pictured left, photograph by Christian Steiner) last weekend in Berkeley. The ensemble, conducted by Nicholas McGegan, started Sunday evening's performance with Johann Friedrich Fasch's Concerto for Two Flutes, Two Oboes, and Two Bassoons in D minor. The orchestra lilted, but…

  • SF Opera’s Serse Media Round-Up

    Production Web Site | SF Opera's Blog Reviews of San Francisco Opera's Serse (Act I pictured left with David Daniels as Arsamene, Lisette Oropesa as Romilda, Susan Graham as Serse, members of the San Francisco Opera Chorus, and supernumeraries; photograph by Cory Weaver) look quite positive. Performance Reviews: Not For Fun Only | Out West…