The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

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  • Cal Performances 2015-2016 Season

    September 11-12 2015: National Circus of the People’s Republic of China
    September 18 2015: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
    September 24-25 2015: Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
    October 1-4 2015: Mariinsky Ballet & Orchestra
    October 9 2015: Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club
    October 11 2015: Takács Quartet
    October 11 2015: Bollywood Masala Orchestra and Dancers of India
    October 16-18 2015: Twyla Tharp
    October 23 2015: eco ensemble
    October 24 2015: Bach Collegium Japan
    October 29-30 2015: Circa
    November 6-7 2015: Ensemble Intercontemporain
    November 7 2015: Youssou N’Dour
    November 8 2015: Leila Josefowicz, violin and John Novacek, piano
    November 13-14 2015: Compañia Flamenca José Porcel
    November 19-22 2015: Rude Mechanicals
    November 22 2015: Danish String Quartet
    November 27-29 2015: Mummenschanz
    December 6 2015: Garrick Ohlsson, piano
    December 12-13 2015: Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host
    January 22-23 2016: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
    January 24 2016: Yefim Bronfman, piano
    January 24 2016: Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour
    January 29-30 2016: St. Louis Symphony
    February 14 2016: eighth blackbird
    February 21 2016: Takács Quartet
    February 26 2016: Jordi Savall, viol and Frank McGuire, bodhrán
    February 27-28 2016: Chitresh Das Dance Company
    February 28 2016: Danish String Quartet
    March 5 2016: Renée Fleming, soprano
    March 6 2016: Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder of SERIAL
    March 6 2016: Yefim Bronfman, piano
    March 11-13 2016: Mark Morris Dance Group and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale
    March 18-19 2016: Trajal Harrell
    March 19 2016: Buika
    March 19 2016: L’Arpeggiata
    March 20 2016: Savion Glover with the Jack DeJohnette Quartet
    March 26 2016: Montreal Symphony Orchestra
    March 29- April 3 2016: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
    April 2 2016: Musicians from Marlboro
    April 9 2016: The Tallis Scholars
    April 10 2016: Brentano String Quartet
    April 14 2016: Gil Shaham, violin
    April 17 2016: Murray Perahia, piano
    April 26 2016: Matthias Goerne, baritone and Alexander Schmalcz, piano
    May 1 2016: Kronos Quartet
    May 5-8 2016: Edgar Oliver
    May 7 2016: David Finckel, cello and Wu Han, piano
    May 12 2016: Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor and Jérôme Ducros, piano

    Cal Performances announced the 2015-2016 season on April 20, 2015. The Koret Recital Series includes Renée Fleming, Matthias Goerne, and Philippe Jaroussky.

    Official Site | Brochure

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  • PBO and SF Opera Adlers

    Adler_Fellows_Opera_Steps* Notes * 
    A number of San Francisco Opera Center's Adler Fellows (pictured left) performed with conductor Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra last night at the SFJazz Center. The evening was a delight from beginning to end. The first half of the program featured four instrumental pieces interspersed with four vocal pieces, all by Mozart. The Overture in D major, K. 106 was played with grace, while Contredanse No. 1 in D major, K. 106 sounded rather cheery. I enjoyed the emphatic playing of the repeated notes in Contredanse No. 3 in B-flat major, K. 106.

    Soprano Julie Adams sang "Nehmt meinen Dank" with clarity. Her voice has much strength and not a trace of strain. Baritone Edward Nelson was terribly charming in "Con un vezzo all'italiana" from La finta giardiniera. The quartet "Dite almeno, in che mancai" with Adams, Nelson, tenor Brian Thorsett, and bass Anthony Reed was brilliant as well.

    The second half of the show was devoted to Rossini's first produced opera, La cambiale di matrimonio (The Marriage Contract). The piece is concise and quite amusing. The orchestra played with verve and McGegan looked pleased throughout as he conducted. Some of the Baroque instruments seemed less well-suited to Rossini than others, but the enthusiasm of all those involved never waned.

    The singing was wonderful. Mezzo-soprano Nian Wang sang Clarina's aria ("An'chio son giovine") with conviction. Bass Matthew Stump makes for a wonderful, blustering Tobia Mill. Baritone Efraín Solís is hilarious as Slook. Tenor Brian Thorsett sings Edoardo Milfort with effortlessness. Soprano Jacqueline Piccolino is a dulcet-toned Fannì. Her sings with a certain subtlety that is appealing for this role.

    * Tattling * 
    The first five rows were removed to provide the orchestra with a pit.

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  • SFCM’s L’elisir d’amore

    Sfcm-elisir* Notes *
    Last week the San Francisco Conservatory Opera Program held two performances of L'elisir d'amore. The charming production marked the debut of director Jose Maria Condemi, who is incoming Director of Opera at the school. The spacious set (pictured left) features a runway downstage of the orchestra pit, and different levels upstage. The costumes looked to be from the 1940s.

    Proceedings were rather lively, the young singers moved vivaciously. There was much physical humor, and Daniel Cameron was particularly amusing as Belcore. Evan Kardon (Adina) was hilarious in "Io son ricco e tu sei bella," rowing in an inappropriate but entertaining style. Sergey Khalikulov's Dulcamara was funny as well.

    As for the music, most of the voices were bright and light, perfect for this opera. Mario Rojas (Nemorino) sang "Una furtiva lagrima" with beauty, and the bassoonist played nicely. Sabrina Romero's pretty voice suited Giannetta, and was a contrast to Kardon, whose sound is stronger and more piercing.

    Scott Sandmeier conducted a spirited orchestra. The playing was rapid but mostly together, with only a few squeaks here and there.

    * Tattling * 
    The Saturday performance was sold out. There was a distressing amount of talking from many audience members.

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  • Cupcake Susannah

    141114
    In Act I, Scene 4 of Susannah the title character has been shunned from the church dinner by the residents of New Hope Valley, Tennessee. Mrs. McLean (Catherine Cook) is instrumental in ostracizing Susannah.

    Details of Painting | Performance Review of Susannah

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  • Upcoming L’Orfeo at SFS

    Gardiner-col-portrait-Credit-Sheila-Rock@DeccaSir John Eliot Gardiner (pictured left, photograph by Sheila Rock) is touring the United States with the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir from April 19 to May 1, 2015. They are performing a concert version of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo at Davies Hall in San Francisco on April 27, 2015. This concert and others are featured in San Francisco Symphony's Spring Sale, which started yesterday and runs until April 15, 2015.

    US Tour Monteverdi | Spring Sale

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  • Meredith Monk at YBCA

    Meredith-monk-38-of-56* Notes * 
    Composer and vocalist Meredith Monk (pictured left) and her ensemble are currently performing On Behalf of Nature at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The opening performance on Friday was mesmerizing. The six singers all move beautifully, and it is impressive that one of them, Allison Sniffen, plays keyboards, violin, and French horn. The other two instrumentalists, Bohdan Hilash (winds) and John Hollenbeck (percussion), are also clearly accomplished players, though their choreography was understandably less elaborate.

    The vibrant, visceral work is an entire world filled with pre-verbal babbling that spans a great emotional range; humming, textural instrumentals; stark, simple movements; deconstructed costumes made from the each performers old clothing; and gorgeous lighting design.

    Ellen Fisher did some wonderful spins in the middle of the piece, donning a costume with panels to accentuate the movement. Katie Geissinger and Allison Sniffen had a moving duet. The blue light that bathed the stage for part of the second half was striking, as was the last costume change which had all of the cast in white. I particularly liked the sound of bells and the very loud droning that seemed to shake the whole theater.

    * Tattling * 
    There was no intermission for this 75 minute performance, which was evidently difficult for some members of the audience.

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  • Pasticcina Norma

    301014
    Act I Scene 1 of Norma takes place in a Gaulish forest at night. Here the Druids assemble and Norma (Sondra Radvanovsky) prays to the moon goddess for peace.

    Details of Painting | Performance Reviews of Norma

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  • Rachel Podger at PBO

    Rachel_Podger_violin_credit_Jared_Sacks* Notes * 
    Violinist Rachel Podger (pictured left, photograph by Jared Sacks) lead Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in Vivaldi concerti from La cetra, La stravaganza, and L’estro armonico recently. The performance at the SFJazz Center last Friday in San Francisco was fiery. Podger had the eleven violinists and three violists standing, and lead with warmth and intelligence. As one would expect, the cellists and theorbo player sat, the bassist stood, and Hanneke van Proosdij stood at her organ but sat at her harpsichord.

    The soli were all quite clear, and it was also wonderful when the orchestra or the soloists played in unison. Podger had particularly nice rapport with Elizabeth Blumenstock in Concerto for 2 Violins Op. 3, No. 8 in A minor, RV 522 and with Carla Moore in Concerto for 2 Violins Op. 9, No. 9 in B-flat major, RV 580. David Tayler had a lovely solo in the first half of the program, and it was nice to hear the theorbo by itself for a change. Cellist Phoebe Carrai gave a ferocious performance, and was particularly strong in Concerto for 2 Violins and Violoncello Op. 3, No. 11 in D minor, RV 565. Ellie Nishi’s viola playing in Concerto for 4 Violins and Violincello Op. 3, No. 10 in B minor was also quite strong.

    The violinists deftly switched places between pieces, with minimal fuss or disruption. The encore was the Largo from La Stravaganza, Op.4, Concerto No. 12 in G major, RV 298.

    * Tattling * 
    A man across the aisle from me in Row G occasionally spoke loudly to his companion in the first half but settled down in the second.

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  • San Diego Opera’s 2016 Season

    GREAT_SCOTTFebruary 13-21 2016: Tosca
    April 16-24 2016: Madama Butterfly
    May 7-15 2016: Great Scott

    The 2016 season at San Diego Opera was announced today and consists of two Puccini works and the West Coast premiere of Jake Heggie’s latest opera. Greer Grimsley, Latonia Moore, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Patricia Racette return to San Diego Opera. Important Company debuts include those by Teodor Ilincăi, Alexia Voulgaridou, Isabel Leonard, Nathan Gunn, Frederica von Stade, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Joyce El-Khoury, and J’Nai Bridges. Returning conductors are Massimo Zanetti, Yves Abel and Joseph Mechavich.

    2016 Season | Official Site

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  • Cecilia Bartoli Cancels Tour 2015

    CeciliaBartoli_credit_KWandycz_ParisMatch_ScoopCecilia Bartoli has canceled her West Coast Sacrificium tour, due to "unforeseen circumstances." She was to have performed with Sergio Ciomei in Santa Monica on March 21 and 26, in Costa Mesa on March 23, and in Berkeley on March 31 and April 2.

    The Broad Stage | Philharmonic Society of Orange County | Cal Performances | Cecilia Bartoli's Official Site

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