The Opera Tattler

* Notes *

Last night was the fifth and final performance of Parsifal at San Francisco Opera. I attended in balcony standing room and the sound of the orchestra under Maestra Eun Sun Kim was better than ever, lucid and shimmering. The chorus is likewise very powerful and together.

The singing was strong though tenor Brandon Jovanovich (pictured as Parsifal with Kwangchul Youn as Gurnemanz, photograph by Cory Weaver) started feeling ill during Act II, and General Director Matthew Shilvock appeared on stage before Act III to say Jovanovich would graciously sing the rest of the performance despite not being well. There were some moments in Act III that Jovanovich was clearly not singing out and sounded fragile, but he made it through the opera.

* Tattling *

The audience at the back of the balcony was pretty quiet until Act III. A young woman in Row L Seat 121 talked a lot during the music and filmed the performance. I eventually moved myself away from her as she kept talking even after being hushed. There were some mobile phone rings heard, and some hearing aid feedback as well.

Many people were very excited about the announcement on Tuesday that Wagner’s Ring Cycle is coming back to San Francisco Opera in Summer 2028, with Maestra Kim conducting and Brian Mulligan as Wotan. I was asked if I would attend all the performances, and judging by my perfect Parsifal attendance, I think it is likely.