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Lotfi Mansouri Dies


Renata-Scotto-and-Lotfi-backstage---Gioconda-1980---Ira-Nowinski-photoLotfi Mansouri, San Francisco Opera’s fourth general director and a leading opera stage director, has passed away after a brief illness with pancreatic cancer at his San Francisco home. Mansouri made his San Francisco Opera debut in the 1963 season directing productions of Dialogues des Carmélites, Die Walküre, La Sonnambula, La Traviata, Mefistofele, and Samson et Dalila. He directed more than seventy-five productions with the Company. Mansouri was General Director of San Francisco Opera from 1988 until 2001.

SF Chronicle Article | San Francisco Opera Press Release

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2 responses to “Lotfi Mansouri Dies”

  1. Sibyl Avatar
    Sibyl

    Mansouri gets a pretty bad rap among cognoscenti, but I will be forever grateful to him. Because of his connections, and being very well-liked by talent he worked with, he was able to bring really big names to San Diego Opera when he was its director. That meant that my first opera in a house, at age 9, was Hoffman starring Beverly Sills as all four heroines. How could you be part of that and NOT get hooked for life? So thank you, Mr. Mansouri, and RIP.

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  2. Sacto OperaFan Avatar
    Sacto OperaFan

    I was saddened to hear of Mr.Mansouri’s passing. I basically was a patron during his administration. It was truly a glorious decade+ for me.
    I will never forget the great singers I heard. For me this was my golden era, with Carol Vaness, Jerry Hadley, Ruth Ann Swenson, James Morris, Flicka von Stade, Renee Fleming, the radiant Kiri Te Kanawa, the beginning careers of Patricia Racette, Deborah Voigt and John Relya to name a few who graced the stage at the War Memorial Opera House. Also I was there for Anna Nebtrenko’s American debut – the opening performance of Ruslan and Ludmilla….she used to sing a lot in San Francisco. Ah the memories.
    May Mr. Monsouri rest in peace….
    PS-
    It’s sad that no one throws flowers to the singers from the orchestra anymore. Not sure why? I was one of the ones that made the trek up the center orchestra aisle while I was there during the 90s. I’m too old now to do that, but it was great fun while it lasted.

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