The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

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Category: San Francisco Opera

  • SF Opera’s Les Troyens (Martens)

    * Notes * Yesterday mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens (pictured left in Act II, photograph by Cory Weaver) sang Cassandra in San Francisco Opera's Les Troyens. She sings again on June 20, 2015. Martens has a lovely resonant voice with powerful low notes and searing high ones. Compared to soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci, with whom she shares the…

  • Pasticcina Partenope

    In Act I, Scene 4 of Partenope, the rather shy Prince Armindo of Rhodes expresses his love for Queen Partenope, but she is, of course, not there to hear him. Details of Painting | Performance Review of Partenope

  • SF Opera’s Les Troyens Media Round-Up

    Production Web Site | SF Opera’s Blog So far reviewers were impressed by Donald Runnicles and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in Les Troyens (Act II pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver). Reviews: San Francisco Chronicle | Los Angeles Times | San Francisco Examiner | San Francisco Classical Voice | San Jose Mercury News |…

  • SF Opera’s Les Troyens (Antonacci)

    * Notes * A new production of Les Troyens (Act IV pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) opened this afternoon at San Francisco Opera. The orchestra sounded absolutely gorgeous under the direction of Maestro Donald Runnicles. The playing was fluent and cohesive. The strings sounded lovely and the woodwinds were wonderful. The cast is magnificent. Soprano…

  • Un Pasticcino in Maschera

    In Act III, Scene 3 of Un ballo en maschera, the Swedish king Gustavus III has resolved to renounce his love for Amelia, the wife of his chief minister Anckarström. Details of Painting | Performance Reviews of Un ballo in maschera

  • Michaela Martens in SF Opera’s Les Troyens

    Michaela Martens (pictured left) will sing Cassandra in the second and fourth performances of San Francisco Opera's Les Troyens, which runs from June 7 to July 1, 2015. She replaces Daveda Karanas, who has withdrawn from the role due to pregnancy. Anna Caterina Antonacci, who was previously announced to sing three performances of Cassandra, has…

  • PBO and SF Opera Adlers

    * 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.…

  • Cupcake Susannah

    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

  • Pasticcina Norma

    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

  • SF Opera Audited Financial Results 2013-2014

    San 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…