The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

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Category: Susan Graham

  • Susan Graham at SFS

    * Notes *Susan Graham (pictured left, photograph by Dario Acosta) is singing Berlioz's La Mort de Cléopâtre with San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas this weekend. The piece, a replacement for the previously announced Brahms's Alto Rhapsody, is quite suited to Ms. Graham. Her clear high notes and fully developed sound work well with…

  • PBO’s 2015-2016 Season

    October 4-10 2015: Scarlatti's La gloria di primaveraNovember 12-15 2015: Bach's Brandenburgs with Richard EgarrDecember 2-6 2015: Händel's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day and "Tra amplessi innocenti" and Purcell's Te Deum and Jubilate in D and Suite from Distressed Innocence December 19 2015: Händel's Messiah February 3-7 2016: Mozart's Concerto for Fortepiano No. 23 with…

  • Susan Graham at Cal Performances

    * Notes * Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham (pictured left, photograph by Dario Acosta) is in the midst of a recital tour through 8 North American cities, starting in Quebec and ending in Washington, DC. The recitals are accompanied by pianist Malcolm Martineau and program is thematic, "inspired by iconic female characters." Her Berkeley performance last night, presented…

  • Serse Log

    San Francisco Opera's Serse (Michael Sumuel and Heidi Stober pictured in the first image below, Susan Graham and Lisette Oropesa pictured in the second; photographs by Cory Weaver) just finished a run of six performances last Saturday. 31. October 2011: Opening Media Round-Up 4. November 2011: From Orchestra Standing Room Opera Tattler Review 8. November…

  • Serse at San Francisco Opera

    * Notes *Händel's Serse (Act III pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) had an impressive second performance last night at San Francisco Opera. The English National Opera production at hand premiered in 1985, yet is still as fresh and comedic as ever. This was helped by the deft, transparent playing from the orchestra. The brass…

  • A Preview of SF Opera’s Serse

    * Notes * Händel’s Serse (Act I pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) opens this afternoon at San Francisco Opera, and I for one am quite sad not to attend. Instead I offer you a preview, based on attendance of rehearsals. Nicholas Hytner’s production, directed here by Michael Walling, originates from English National Opera and was…

  • Iphigénie en Tauride at the Met

    * Notes * The latest revival of the Metropolitan Opera's Iphigénie en Tauride on Saturday seemed under-rehearsed, but still has potential. There were many instances when the singers were not with the orchestra, especially as far as the chorus was concerned. Perhaps the elaborate choreography was to blame. The dancers here were more together than in…

  • Serse at Houston Grand Opera

    * Notes *Händel’s Serse had a strong opening yesterday evening at Houston Grand Opera. The production, from the English National Opera, is entertaining, and features astroturf as a main stage element. The chorus seemed to all be painted grey, and the supernumeraries white. During the overture, the principals are introduced in turn, with the names…

  • PBO’s Dido and Aeneas in Berkeley

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra continued a run of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas in Berkeley last night, along with a full program of other works of this composer. The performance set up was different this time, with the orchestra on stage behind the singers. The acoustics are better in this venue, First Congregational Church, than…

  • PBO’s Dido and Aeneas Media Round-Up

    Production Web Site | Press Photographs Interviews of Susan Graham: SFCV | SFist | SF Chronicle | LA Times Performance Reviews: The Opera Tattler | Mercury News | SF Chronicle