The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

Recent posts

  • SF Opera’s Madama Butterfly

    Sf-opera-butterfly-acti-2014* Notes * 
    Jun Kaneko's production of Madama Butterfly (Patricia Racette as Cio-Cio-San, Brian Jagde as Pinkerton, and Brian Mulligan as Sharpless in Act I pictured left; photograph by Cory Weaver) had a fifth performance at San Francisco Opera last night. The set and costumes have an elegant guilelessness. The staging, directed by Leslie Swackhamer, is likewise straightforward and makes charming use of four kurogo (stagehands dressed in black).

    Maestro Nicola Luisotti had the orchestra sounding lush and sweeping. The chorus was robust. The casting is rather luxurious. Morris Robinson is a plush-toned Bonze. Brian Mulligan makes for a rich-sounding Sharpless. Elizabeth DeShong (Suzuki) has a startlingly lovely voice. The trio with Sharpless, Suzuki, and Pinkerton in Act II was exceedingly beautiful.

    Brian Jagde is a convincing Pinkerton and he sang well. He has a lot of volume. Sadly, the opera hinges on having a great Butterfly, and Patricia Racette fell short. Her acting is certainly strong, and her voice has a lot of power and emotion. However, her wide vibrato marred the piece's best-loved arias.

    * Tattling * 
    Many people were late and stood in the standing room area on the orchestra level. Someone was upset about not being seated and complained loudly, hurling invectives at the ushers.

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  • Met Cancels Klinghoffer Live in HD

    According to a press release from today the Met has canceled its Live in HD transmission of The Death of Klinghoffer scheduled for this fall. The Met's General Manager, Peter Gelb says "I'm convinced that the opera is not anti-Semitic but I've also become convinced that there is genuine concern in the international Jewish community that the live transmission of The Death of Klinghoffer would be inappropriate at this time of rising anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe."

    Press Release | Production Web Site

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  • SF Opera’s La Traviata (Cabell, Pirgu, Stoyanov)

    Sf-opera-traviata-cabelle-2014* Notes * 
    San Francisco Opera‘s 1987 production of La Traviata (Saimir Pirgu as Alfredo and Nicole Cabell as Violetta in Act I pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) was revived again last night. Originally conceived by John Copley, Laurie Feldman is the director this time. The set, designed by John Conklin, is splendid, as are David Walker’s costumes. Somehow the staging does not cohere, and the high point certainly is the focused flamenco dancing in Act II Scene 2.

    The orchestra sounded sumptuous, though the tempi that Maestro Nicola Luisotti kept were consistently ahead of the singers. The chorus was slightly tepid in the Brindisi. The principal cast features very pretty voices with a lot of volume, yet the effect was curiously flat. Vladimir Stoyanov has a rather strident manner as Germont. Saimir Pirgu has a pleasant, bright warmth as Alfredo, but his singing has an effortful quality. Nicole Cabell (Violetta) sounded gorgeously icy, her voice is beautiful and strong, but somehow she fell short of embodying her character.

    * Tattling * 
    There were many latecomers in the balcony. Some mobile telephones and watch alarms were noted. The sound system made a strange squeak in the second third of the opera.

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  • SF Opera’s Show Boat Media Round-Up

    Show-boat-act-iiProduction Web Site | SF Opera's Blog

    Reviewers are fairly positive about San Francisco Opera's Show Boat (Act II pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver).

    Performance Reviews: San Francisco Chronicle | San Francisco Classical Voice | San Jose Mercury News

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  • SF Opera’s Show Boat

    Show-boat-act-1* Notes *
    Show Boat (Heidi Stober as Magnolia Hawks, Patricia Racette as Julie La Verne, Angela Renee Simpson as Queenie and Morris Robinson as Joe with chorus in Act I, Scene 2 pictured left; photograph by Cory Weaver) opened at San Francisco Opera today with a matinée performance. The production, directed by Francesca Zambello, is spectacular. Peter J. Davison's set must be characteristic of his style, employing many of the same devices as his Porgy and Bess as far as creating or changing scenes. The costumes are fetching and the choreography sharp. It is delightful to see the San Francisco Opera corps dancers looking so exuberant.

    John DeMain does a wonderful job with the orchestra, and the music sounds fluent and natural. The chorus is mostly fine, though perhaps not precisely on the beat at the beginning of Act II. Harriet Harris is a funny Parthy. Bill Irwin is an elastic Cap'n Andy, his physical comedy is perfect for this role.

    Though one may have been skeptical of Patricia Racette as Julie, as we have heard quite a lot of her this season, she is moving in this, and her vibrato is not bothersome. Angela Renée Simpson sings Queenie with verve, though she was a touch quiet in "Hey, Feller" in Act II. Morris Robinson is incredible as Joe, his dignified voice has such depth and power.

    Michael Todd Simpson makes for an expressive Gaylord Ravenal. Heidi Stober's physicality is impressive, she plays the young Magnolia with sprightliness and is able to capture the maturity of an older woman as the piece progresses. Her accent may not be exact at all times, but her singing is lovely.

    * Tattling *
    Someone sitting on the back bench of the balcony had a noisy mobile phone.

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  • Dutoit conducts Fauré’s Requiem

    Charles-Dutoit-4x6* Notes * 
    At the moment, Charles Dutoit (pictured left) is conducting San Francisco Symphony in performances of Poulenc, Stravinsky, and Fauré. Poulenc’s Gloria began the concert on Thursday. The orchestra sounded bright and the chorus was cohesive. The “Laudamus te” was particularly jaunty. The soloist, soprano Susanna Phillips, sounded gorgeous. The “Domine Deus” was clear and haunting.

    The Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms, took a bit to set up, as the piece does not have high strings and also requires two pianos. The flute, oboe, and bassoon had a lovely moment.

    After intermission we heard Fauré’s Requiem. The soloists were both strong. Bass-baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann has a rich, powerful voice. Susanna Phillips sounded rather sublime as well. The dynamics of the piece were evident, and the chorus’ pianissimo was impressive.

    * Tattling * 
    There was only a brief exchange around me by one couple at one point during the last piece.

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  • San Diego Opera 2015 Season

    Nix312San Diego Opera's closure has been rescinded. The 2015 season includes La bohème, Don Giovanni, and Nixon in China. The ongoing crowd funding effort has resulted in a total of $2,116,376 in donations from 2,461 of donors as of midnight Sunday, May 18, 2014.

    Official Site | Save San Diego Opera

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  • WNO Ring 2016

    Nina Stemme photo by Tanja NiemannWashington National Opera just announced principal casting and performance dates for its first complete presentation of Wagner’s Ring cycle. Three full cycles will be presented from April 30 to May 22, 2016 and will be directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Philippe Auguin.

    Nina Stemme (pictured left, photograph by Tanja Niemann) and Catherine Foster share the role of Brünnhilde. Daniel Brenna sings Siegfried in the United States for the first time. Alan Held is Wotan. Subscription packages will be available Spring 2015.

    Production Web Site

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  • Yoncheva Withdraws From Traviata & Boheme

    Cabellnicole005-creditdevoncassSoprano Sonya Yoncheva, who was scheduled to appear at San Francisco Opera as Violetta in six performances of La Traviata this summer and as Mimì in seven performances of La Bohème this fall, has withdrawn from the productions because she is expecting a baby. She is to be replaced by Nicole Cabell (pictured left) in the former production and Alexia Voulgaridou in the latter.

    Tenor Daniel Montenegro replaces Pene Pati in the role of Gastone for all performances of La Traviata and baritone and current Adler Fellow Hadleigh Adams will sing the role of Schaunard, replacing Adler Fellow Philippe Sly, in all performances of La Bohème.

    Traviata Production Web Site | Bohème Production Web Site | Press Release

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  • Cal Performances 2014-2015 Season

    MT_katwade_outsideZHAugust 12 2014: Yo-Yo Ma performs Bach’s Cello Suites
    September 13 2014: Eco Ensemble
    September 25-28 2014: Mark Morris Dance Group Music Ensemble
    October 10 2014: Art Spiegelman and Phillip Johnston perform WORDLESS!
    October 11 2014: Afropop Spectacular: Bassekou Kouyate and the Krar Collective
    October 12 2014: Takács Quartet and Marc-André Hamelin, piano
    October 16-19 2014: Australian Ballet performs Swan Lake
    October 24-25 2014: Sasha Waltz & Guests
    October 26 2014: Richard Goode, piano
    October 30 2014: Mavis Staples, vocals
    November 2 2014: Jorge Federico Osorio, piano
    November 7-8 2014: Théâtre de la Ville performs Six Characters in Search of an Author
    November 9 2014: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
    November 13 2014: Apollo’s Fire plays Monteverdi’s Vespers for the Blessed Virgin
    November 14-15 2014: Curlew River – A Parable for Church Performance
    November 15 2014: Academy of Ancient Music plays Bach’s Complete Orchestral Suites
    November 15 2014: David Sedaris
    November 16 2014: San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and Tony Arnold, soprano
    November 16 2014: Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
    November 21-23 2014: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Willem Dafoe perform The Old Woman
    November 23 2014: St. Lawrence String Quartet
    December 4 2014: Cantus performs All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
    December 5-6 2014: Paul Dresher Electro-Acoustic Band and Amy X Neuburg perform They Will Have Been So Beautiful: Songs and Images of Now
    December 6 2014: Audra McDonald, soprano
    December 7 2014: Takács Quartet and Erica Eckert, viola
    December 10 2014: Yo-Yo Ma, speaker
    January 13 2015: Gidon Kremer, violin and Daniil Trifonov, piano
    January 18 2015: The Kronos Quartet and Wu Man, pipa
    January 24-25 2015: Peking Acrobats
    January 25 2015: San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and Nicolas Hodges, piano
    January 31 2015: Matthew Polenzani, tenor
    January 31- February 1 2015: Kodo
    February 4-7 2015: Les 7 Doigts de la Main Circus performs Sequence 8
    February 8 2015: Peter Nero Trio
    February 15 2015: Olli Mustonen, piano
    February 19 2015: The Nile Project
    February 20 2015: Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI
    February 22 2015: San Francisco Contemporary Music Players
    March 1 2015: Susan Graham, mezzo soprano
    March 1 2015: Cassandra Wilson, vocals
    March 6 2015: The Intergalactic Nemesis: Book Two: Robot Planet Rising
    March 8 2015: David Finckel, cello and Wu Han, piano
    March 11 2015: Hugh Masekela, trumpeter, vocalist and Vusi Mahlasela, singer-songwriter
    March 12 2015: Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano and Tamara Stefanovich, piano
    March 14-15 2015: Joffrey Ballet
    March 15 2015: Jennifer Koh, violin
    March 19 2015: Chick Corea, piano and Herbie Hancock, piano
    March 20-22 2015: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
    March 28 2015: Davitt Moroney, harpsichord
    March 29 2015: San Francisco Contemporary Music Players
    March 28-29 2015: Chitresh Das Dance Company performs Shiva
    April 10-11 2015: The Tallis Scholars
    April 13 2013: Ray Kurzweil
    April 12 2015: Ian Bostridge, tenor
    April 17 2015: Arlo Guthrie
    April 21-26 2015: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
    May 1-3 2015: Handspring Puppet Company performs Ubu and the Truth Commission
    May 1 2015: Les Arts Florissants
    May 8 2015: Donal Fox Trio
    May 10 2015: Christian Tetzlaff, violin and Lars Vogt, piano
    May 15 2015: Sérgio Assad, guitar and Odair Assad, guitar
    June 2015: Ojai North!

    Matías Tarnopolsky announced the new Cal Performances season today.

    Official Site | Brochure

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