The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

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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

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    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

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    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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  • San Diego Opera and David Bennett

    Bennett0038San Diego Opera's new General Director is David Bennett, the former Executive Director of Gotham Chamber Opera.

    Press Release | Official Site

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  • SF Opera Audited Financial Results 2013-2014

    Butterfly-sf-opera-2014-reference-artSan Francisco Opera’s 91st season started on September 6, 2013 and finished on July 13, 2014. Eight operas were held at the War Memorial Opera House in 68 performances. The Company concluded Fiscal Year 2013-14 (FY 14) with a deficit of $348,244 on an operating budget of $74,119,493. Total operating revenue for FY14 rose from $30,808,345 to $37,013,042 with income from ticket sales for FY14 at $22,674,340 compared to the prior season (FY13) at $19,785,866. Contributions to the FY14 Annual Fund reflected a slight decrease of less than 1% from the previous year, coming to $36,758,207 in financial support from approximately 7,600 donors.

    Results | Press Release | Official Site

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