parterre box

9 comments

• Celtic Goddess says:

  God bless her… No critic has provided more laughs mixed with great insight. I only hope that, as she passed into the next world, the final strains of “Parsifal” carried her away.

  I will sorely miss her.

  on December 20, 2006 at 5:07 PM
• Anonymous says:

  I’ll miss her too. Often her opinions would infuriate me, but I usually had to admit she was right – of if not “right,” had a very valid point – e.g., her saying that the Gavazenni Rigoletto with Scotto, Kraus and Bastianini was the best all-around.

  The last recommendation I saw from her: Mathilde di Shabran with the wonderful Florez.

  Goodbye, Stephanie – and thanks.

  on December 20, 2006 at 8:35 PM
• GjmSFOpera says:

  I can remember back in “the day”, Ms von Buchau was Opera News’ reviewer for the San Francisco company – and became a bit of a cause celebre when her frank reviews of the productions that deserved to be panned drew the ire of the late Kurt Adler, the then-intendant.

  I believe he actually revoked her press pass until the cafuffle made the local press and saner heads prevailed.

  How untimely, and another sad passing for the year..

  on December 20, 2006 at 11:24 PM
• Winpal says:

  This is indeed very sad. As a longtime SF opera-goer, I have read countless reviews from her. Over the years, I came to trust her opinions more than any other reviewer and probably agreed with her 90% of the time. Unlike most of the local critics these days, she was truly knowledgeable of opera (and ballet), its history and traditions. She had her preferences and prejudices like any of us, but she was up front about them. Her opinions were always in a valid context and offered with good reasoning. She had an engaging writing style, especially when she could let loose a bit in forums like the Bay Area Reporter.

  I, along with her other opera queen “possums” (as she called us), will miss her greatly.

  on December 20, 2006 at 11:44 PM
• Will says:

  Another genuine critic has left the stage to the superficial event reporters. Sad. We can’t afford these losses.

  on December 21, 2006 at 12:28 AM
• Baritenor says:

  If the singing thing doesn’t work out for me, I hope to find work as a music critic, and Ms. von Bluchau was someone I admired. She will be missed.

  on December 21, 2006 at 3:22 AM
• rysanekfreak says:

  Winpal said exactly what I was going to say…and said it so well.

  on December 21, 2006 at 12:15 PM
• Winpal says:

  RF – proof once again that many of us were simply separated at birth.

  on December 21, 2006 at 2:11 PM
• rebeccawinslow says:

  An amazingly knowledgeable person and superb writer on many subjects — and wouldn’t let you forget it for a second! Argumentative, pain in the ass, loud, obnoxious and lovable. What a fabulous critic — too bad her personal foibles kept her from wanting to jump into the big pond. Is there a ghost of a chance that someone will collect her writing into book-form or place it on a blog or other accessible site? I learned SO much from her back when we were friends in the 70s and 80s. May the big Tenorissimo in the sky bless you and take you forever to the arms of Franco and Herbert, SvB (von K, not ADLER, you ninnies!). Love, AA

  on December 21, 2006 at 8:26 PM