Michael Anthonio

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.


Standing in the shadows of love Standing in the shadows of love

Richard Strauss’ monumental (arguably his magnum opus) Die Frau ohne Schatten made a triumphant return to the War Memorial Opera House last Sunday June 4 after 34 years.

on June 06, 2023 at 11:44 AM
Soho meets Sybil Soho meets Sybil

On Friday, MCal Performances—the performing arts organization based at University of California, Berkeley—presented the US premiere of South African multi-disciplinary artist William Kentridge’s Sybil, with music composed and conceived by Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Kyle Shepherd.

on March 21, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Fully immersive Fully immersive

Now the opera world can have a taste of what an immersive opera looks like, as Opera Parallèle opened their spectacular world premiere of Everest: An Immersive Experience .

on February 07, 2023 at 10:00 AM
That indescribable feeling That indescribable feeling

Alma Deutscher’s quest for beautiful music permeates the score of her Cinderella from the hushed opening of the Overture.

on December 02, 2022 at 9:00 AM
Good grief Good grief

There are no words superlative enough to describe this celebration of Orpheus’ grief, and I truly applaud San Francisco Opera for presenting such food for thought that will definitely resonate long after with me.

on November 19, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Color my world Color my world

San Francisco Opera has unveiled a brand-new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s warhorse classic La traviata, the first “to be built in San Francisco Opera’s scene and costume shops in 35 years.”

on November 16, 2022 at 10:06 AM
A study in simplicity and profundity A study in simplicity and profundity

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays” – Soren Kierkegaard

on October 18, 2022 at 9:52 AM
Love me or leaf me Love me or leaf me

Robert Carsen‘s legendary production of Eugene Onegin finally arrives in San Francisco.

on September 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM
A touch of class A touch of class

For the season opener, Opera San José decided to explore the class conflict central to Le nozze di Figaro by transporting the opera to India, specifically during the British Raj.

on September 26, 2022 at 4:28 PM
It’s oh so quiet It’s oh so quiet

The concert itself—starring Michael Fabiano, Nadine Sierra, Pene Pati and Lucas Meachem—seemed to be a beautiful affair that I would have loved to see it in a person.

on September 16, 2022 at 11:47 AM
Classic example: ‘Antony’ at SFO Classic example: ‘Antony’ at SFO

Antony and Cleopatra was an auspicious start to San Francisco Opera’s second century, a performance that seems to improve as I continue to think about it.

on September 13, 2022 at 12:25 PM
‘Cesare,’ condensed ‘Cesare,’ condensed

I felt that the whole performance at West Edge Opera on Sunday was greater the sum of its parts, particularly due to the dedication of the whole cast and crew amidst all adversities.

on August 04, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Festal joy triumphant Festal joy triumphant

The July-August timeframe in the San Francisco Bay Area is always exciting time in terms of opera.

on August 03, 2022 at 3:00 PM
The Verdi thing The Verdi thing

On Thursday June 30th, San Francisco Opera closed their summer season with a one-night-only special concert celebrating Eun Sun Kim’s first season as the Caroline H. Hume Music Director, in an aptly named concert “Eun Sun Kim Conducts Verdi.”

on July 05, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Dream on Dream on

The second act of Dream of the Red Chamber reached the apex and provided the audience with soul-stirring fulfillment.

on June 21, 2022 at 1:07 PM
Those monsters look like us Those monsters look like us

“This used to be a funhouse… but now it’s full of evil clowns / It’s time to start the countdown…. I’m gonna burn it down”

on June 07, 2022 at 8:07 AM
The big cube The big cube

Ludwig van Beethoven’s “rescue opera” Fidelio was presented by San Francisco Opera as their first new production of the season last Thursday in reinterpreted fashion.

on October 19, 2021 at 9:31 AM
Letting their hair down Letting their hair down

After the break the ladies stepped up their game so much that it elevated the night into legendary status: definitely one for the books!

on September 14, 2021 at 11:02 AM
On the edge of my seat On the edge of my seat

The San Francisco Opera became the first US opera company to present a full-blown production indoors on its home turf this season when they ushered the US opera audience into 2021-22 Season on Saturday September 21 with a stellar performance of Giacomo Puccini’s perennial favorite Tosca.

on August 24, 2021 at 11:45 AM
War! What is it good for? War! What is it good for?

The crown jewel of this year’s Munich Festival is undoubtedly Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, which opened the Festival on June 29 and will close the Festival with an “Opera for All” screening on July 31.

on July 19, 2021 at 11:49 AM
Shark in a tent Shark in a tent

The great Dalai Lama once said, “whenever there is a challenge, there is also an opportunity to face it, to demonstrate and develop our will and determination.”

on May 02, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Atlantis in Atlanta Atlantis in Atlanta

“Once upon a time / Lived a foolish king. / Mocking Death, his crime, / Pure chaos he bring.”

on October 27, 2020 at 2:28 PM
What is normal? What is normal?

That question hung in the air when Teatro de la Zarzuela Madrid revived Tomás Bretón’s opera Farinelli for first time since its premiere in 1902.

on March 05, 2020 at 2:19 PM
A change is gonna come A change is gonna come

In the opera world, one of the pieces that underwent a multitude of changes in its reception was undoubtedly Richard Wagner’s longest and most Germanic opera, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

on March 01, 2020 at 1:34 PM
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