The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Month: June 2015
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* Notes *Michael Tilson Thomas and San Francisco Symphony are concluding a three-week Beethoven Festival with a semi-staged Fidelio. The opening performance last night featured grand singing and an austere, but effective staging. The opera boasts a stunning cast. Nina Stemme is a searing Leonore, her sound is luminous and clear. She pierces to the…
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* Notes *Michael Tilson Thomas and San Francisco Symphony recently recreated a 1808 concert at the Theater an der Wien of Beethoven works. The engaging performance on Saturday night lasted four hours and forty minutes with three intermissions and required a chorus, two different versions of the orchestra, seven vocal soloists, and a pianist. Undoubtedly…
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Production Web Site | SF Opera's Blog San Francisco Opera was clearly less well-rehearsed for Le Nozze di Figaro (Act III pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) than for Troyens and Ciociara, but turned out a sparkling performance nonetheless. Reviews: San Francisco Chronicle | San Francisco Examiner | San Jose Mercury News | San Francisco…
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* Notes * My review of San Francisco Opera's Le Nozze di Figaro is on San Francisco Classical Voice. * Tattling * Since this performance was in the afternoon, there were even more watch alarms at each hour than usual. An excited older couple sat next to me in Row T Seats 5 and 7.…
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Production Web Site | SF Opera’s Blog Most of the reviews are decidedly negative for San Francisco Opera’s La Ciociara (Act II, Scene 3 pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver). Reviews: San Francisco Chronicle | New York Times | Washington Post | San Francisco Examiner | San Jose Mercury News | San Francisco Classical Voice…
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* Notes * San Francisco Opera gave the world premiere of Two Women (La Ciociara) last night. The narrative is compelling. Marco Tutino's sweeping music has a cinematic feel and is pretty. The orchestra sounded engaged under the direction of Maestro Nicola Luisotti. The percussion was particularly gripping. All of the singing was strong. The chorus…
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* Notes * Yesterday mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens (pictured left in Act II, photograph by Cory Weaver) sang Cassandra in San Francisco Opera's Les Troyens. She sings again on June 20, 2015. Martens has a lovely resonant voice with powerful low notes and searing high ones. Compared to soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci, with whom she shares the…
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In Act I, Scene 4 of Partenope, the rather shy Prince Armindo of Rhodes expresses his love for Queen Partenope, but she is, of course, not there to hear him. Details of Painting | Performance Review of Partenope
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Production Web Site | SF Opera’s Blog So far reviewers were impressed by Donald Runnicles and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in Les Troyens (Act II pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver). Reviews: San Francisco Chronicle | Los Angeles Times | San Francisco Examiner | San Francisco Classical Voice | San Jose Mercury News |…
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* Notes * A new production of Les Troyens (Act IV pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) opened this afternoon at San Francisco Opera. The orchestra sounded absolutely gorgeous under the direction of Maestro Donald Runnicles. The playing was fluent and cohesive. The strings sounded lovely and the woodwinds were wonderful. The cast is magnificent. Soprano…
The Opera Tattler 