Michael Anthonio’s love affairs with classical music and opera started in primary school, when his parents bought him an organ and he began taking lessons. During high school and college, he gave private organ lessons to some of his parents’ friends’ kids (for pocket money) and he was church organist and later, choir conductor. In 1999 he moved to Singapore where he got involved with the classical music online website “flying inkpot.” His interest in opera became an obsession when he was transferred for work to US in 2008. In addition to enjoying world-class opera in SF, he indulges in opera tours in Europe. His favorite opera composer is Handel; at this point, Michael seen 24 of his operas , with hopefully three more coming next year.
Porgy and Bess, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward’s 1935 “folk” opera, graced the stage of Dutch National Opera for the first time last month, and it was resounding success from start to finish. 
The “Red Priest” of Venice, for the longest time only known for his perennial favorite The Four Seasons and other concertos, once made reference to his “94 operas” in a letter to his patron. 
Considering the size and the logistics for staging Les Troyens, every new production of Berlioz’s epic masterpiece is a special event. Therefore, a lot of excitement awaited a new mounting by Opéra Bastille, part of Opera de Paris’ 350 Anniversary celebration. 
Cher Public