The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

Recent posts

SF Opera’s 2012-2013 Season

September 7-30 2012: Rigoletto
September 29- October 19 2012 I Capuleti e i Montecchi
October 10- November 2 2012: Moby-Dick
October 20- November 9 2012: Lohengrin
November 15- December 2 2012: Tosca
March 1-10 2013: The Secret Garden
June 5- July 6 2013: Les Contes d'Hoffmann
June 9- July 1 2013: Così fan tutte
June 19- July 7 2013: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

San Francisco Opera's 2012-2013 season includes three contemporary American operas in English. Former Adler Fellow David Lomelí sings the Duke in Rigoletto, Albina Shagimuratova sings Gilda. Joyce DiDonato sings Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Nicole Cabell as Giulietta. Ben Heppner and Jay Hunter Morris share the role of Ahab in Jake Heggie's Moby-Dick. Brandon Jovanovich is Lohengrin. Angela Gheorghiu and Patricia Racette share the title role in Tosca. Natalie Dessay stars in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. Nathan Gunn, William Burden, and Sasha Cooke create roles in Mark Adamo's The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.

2012-2013 Season Official Site | Press Release

Posted in ,

10 responses to “SF Opera’s 2012-2013 Season”

  1. Roberto Avatar
    Roberto

    8 operas this season. Don’t they usually do 9 or 10? Two of these operas are from contemporary composers. Interesting.
    On the positive side: Joyce DiDonato on the Capulets; Brandon Jovanovich will face Lohengrin; the Tales of Hoffmann and the Cosi production.
    On the negative side: No Strauss (still); Angela G. on Tosca (I can believe that they still spend money on her), to a lesser extent Marco Vratogna as Rigoletto (good singer but very uncharismatic).
    Unpredictable: Patricia Racette (Tosca) and Mark Delavan (Scarpia). If I see Tosca, I will see this cast. I will have no expectation.

    Like

    Reply
  2. mj Avatar
    mj

    I have so many opinions about this lineup!
    Most excited about Joyce DiDonato as Romeo! Happy to see Heidi Stober listed as Depina, Alice Coote as Niklause, Zeljko Lucic as Rigoletto. The Mary M cast looks good. I don’t see any productions here with what looks (on paper anyway) like a great cast overall. That’s disappointing. One interesting or good singer per opera isn’t good enough!
    Conductor lineup is not exciting…
    Why must Ellie Dehn sing every Mozart soprano role here?
    Very curious to hear Dessay. Opinions of her current vocal state are all over the map…

    Like

    Reply
  3. mj Avatar
    mj

    One more positive thing — Andrea Silvestrelli as Sparafucile! It’s too bad it’s the same old Rigoletto production though.

    Like

    Reply
  4. John Marcher Avatar
    John Marcher

    That is a role he was born to sing, that’s for sure.

    Like

    Reply
  5. Hank Avatar
    Hank

    Hmmm…
    Okay, positive things first.
    I had the rare opportunity of attending the Met a couple of weeks ago, The Enchanted Island in its January 7 performance, and the cast was just about sublime, including Joyce DiDonato as Sycorax. I’ll look forward to hearing her again.
    I know nothing about Jovanovich, so I can hope for a decent Lohengrin.
    Heppner I’ve never liked, and I’ll probably skip the Moby. At least with a peg leg as part of the character it won’t look too bad if he just stands there without mvoing.
    Delavan was a disappointing Wotan. Do Wotans always have to ‘go Italian’ and try Scarpia? Italians tend to do that part better. IMHO, of course.
    Nonetheless, I’ll attend the Tosca, maybe with Angela, whom I don’t think I’ve ever seen in person. At least she’ll look like a Tosca.
    Delavan as Wotan looked like a high school soccer coach.

    Like

    Reply
  6. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    We’ve have had 8 operas in recent memory, when we were having difficult times during Rosenberg’s tenure.
    I am most looking forward to hearing DiDonato this fall. Also Hoffmann next summer. With Così, it will be a good opportunity for me to immerse myself in the score.
    Since I like neither Gheorghiu nor Racette, I’m not too keen on the Tosca. Though I’ll admit Racette is a good Butterfly, perhaps she’ll make a fine Tosca.

    Like

    Reply
  7. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    Pretty much with you on all of those. We’ll see how it turns out!

    Like

    Reply
  8. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    I am quite sorry to miss hearing The Enchanted Island in person, though I am glad I managed to get to the cinema to hear and see the HD broadcast. That’s terrific that you got to attend!

    Like

    Reply
  9. Scott Holcom Avatar
    Scott Holcom

    Gheorghiu is overrated, and I just heard Racette sing Tosca in today’s matinee at the NY Met (over Sirius radio) – was not a big fan. I wish they could have cast Sondra Radvanovsky… I know she’s known as a Verdi soprano but she’s incredible in this role

    Like

    Reply
  10. JD Avatar
    JD

    In response to both Roberto and along th elines of The Opera Tattler. It’s true about the season being short.. The problem I have with it is in the Fall there are at least 2 periods where there is only 1 opera playing at a time.. Very odd indeed.
    The Summer looks good but I think Polanzani should stick to lighter rep. He made a perfect Don Pasquale for instance. I think after I saw him sing Traviata at the Met last year I was most disappointed. Hoffman is a big and long score and I prefer a heaver Voice.
    As for the Tosca. Pat Racette is most likely one of the best actresses out there and she will kill it. After looking at the cast I also see a tenor (Jagde) who is an Adler much like Racette and Delavan were. I have heard this kid sing… This is the cast to see!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Scott Holcom Cancel reply