The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

Recent posts

Category: Danielle de Niese

  • SF Opera’s Partenope

     * Notes * Christopher Alden’s delightfully humorous production of Partenope opened at San Francisco Opera last night. The stylish set (Act I pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver), designed by Andrew Lieberman, was enhanced by Adam Silverman’s lighting. Costume designer Jon Morrell did a wonderful job evoking 1920s Paris and Man Ray. The staging matches the…

  • Don Pasquale at San Diego Opera

    * Notes * At first glance, the revival of Don Pasquale (Act II, Scene 2 pictured left, photograph by Ken Howard) at San Diego Opera simply looks like someone took a set and costumes for Fanciulla del West and used it for Donizetti's work. Thankfully, there is much more to director David Gately's elaborate production, which…

  • Enchanted Island Live in HD Met Simulcast

     * Notes * The Metropolatian Opera’s new Baroque pastiche, The Enchanted Island, was shown as a simulcast yesterday. The English libretto, created by Jeremy Sams, uses characters from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream and The Tempest. “Arise, ye subterranean winds” from The Tempest, or, The Enchanted Island, which has been attributed to Purcell, was the…

  • A Second Look at SF Opera’s Figaro

    * Notes * The fourth of nine performances in San Francisco Opera's Le Nozze di Figaro revival this season was last night. From the back of the balcony everyone sounded robust. Maestro Luisotti's conducting highlighted the subtitle of this opera, ossia la folle giornata, and his playing of the fortepiano was filled with vim. I…

  • SF Opera’s Figaro

    * Notes * The most recent revival of Le Nozze di Figaro opened last night at San Francisco Opera. Zack Brown's Goya-inspired set is nearly thirty years old, but is perfectly serviceable. Though the scene changes are awkward between acts, everything does look quite nice. The direction from John Copley is thoughtful, he handled the chorus especially…

  • Danielle de Niese Interview

    Soprano Danielle de Niese (pictured left, photograph courtesy of Decca / Chris Dunlop) will have her debut at San Francisco Opera today as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Later this season she sings Despina in The Met's Così fan tutte, conducted by William Christie. In March de Niese will fulfill her dream of working…