The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Category: San Francisco Opera
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San Francisco Opera and Classical 102.2 KDFC are having a competition for who is to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the simulcast of Il Trovatore this September. Video submissions can be uploaded to KDFC's Web site from August 10-17, and listener voting will begin the week of August 24. The three finalists will be judged…
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* Notes * The Merola Opera Program's production of L'Amico Fritz opened at the Cowell Theater last night. The offstage chorus sounded angelic and the supporting cast was strong. Even the tiny part of Caterina was sung and acted well by Susannah Biller. Eleazar Rodríguez and Yohan Yi were amusing as the rakish Federico and Hanezò.…
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Quinn Kelsey is replacing Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the last 2 performances (October 4 and 6) of Il Trovatore at San Francisco Opera this Fall.
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* Program * Thomson's "A Prayer to Saint Catherine"Alex Mansoori, tenor and Tamara Sanikidze, piano "Voici des roses" from La Damnation de FaustEvan Boyer, bass and Suzy Smith, piano Duparc's "Phidylé"Paul Scholten, baritone and Miaomiao Wang, piano "Piangete voi…Al dolce guidami" from Anna BolenaLara Ciekiewicz, soprano and Keun-a Lee, piano Weill's "J'attends un navire"Caitlin Mathes, mezzo-soprano and Stephanie Rhodes,…
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* Notes * Today's Day at Merola was certainly educational. The event began with a lunch in the opera house, and some members of the Opera Standees Association were kind enough to share a table with me. Bass-baritone Yohan Yi joined us and good-naturedly spoke about working with Dawn Upshaw at Bard College's Graduate Vocal Arts Program…
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Michael Sumuel will replace Evan Boyer as Taddeo in the excerpts of L'Italiana in Algeri they are doing for this year's Schwabacher Concert. Casting | Merola Opera Program
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Last Sunday's performance of La Traviata concluded the 2008-2009 season at San Francisco Opera. Elizabeth Futral was at her best, her high E-flat was strong, though she was still somewhat shrill. Charles Castronovo sounded absolutely lovely, he did not seem quiet compared to Futral. Edwin Outwater had the orchestra under control, never overwhelming the singers. The…
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* Notes * Thursday's B cast performance of La Traviata at San Francisco Opera marked the end of Donald Runnicles' tenure as Music Director. Elizabeth Futral still sounded shrill in Act I, but improved as the night wore on. David Lomelí seemed restrained, but sang beautifully, especially at the beginning of Act II. Stephen Powell's…
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* Notes * Ailyn Pérez's turn at Violetta in San Francisco Opera's La Traviata yesterday night was impressive. She was a better match for Charles Castronovo (Alfredo) and did not overwhelm him, he did not seem nearly as quiet. Pérez had an appealing vulnerability, her performance was nuanced, and her high notes were never shrill.…
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* Notes * The B cast of San Francisco Opera's La Traviata performed last night. Elizabeth Futral and David Lomelí were a good match vocally as the leads, neither overwhelmed the other as far as volume was concerned. Futral's pianissimo was exquisite, the coldness of her voice could come off as crystalline. However, she did have some shaky shrillness…
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