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.
San Francisco and the Bay Area have long been the birthplace of innovation and startups, and interestingly, in recent years the area has also morphed into the breeding ground for thriving (although mostly nomadic) local opera companies. 
As a theatrical piece, opera is surely one of the most difficult to get right. There are just way too many moving parts involved in the process. I mean, how many times have you seen an opera with great cast only to be disappointed by the awful staging, or if they got both right, the conducting was leaden or whatever? 
The art of (vocal) recital is always a fascinating subject to me, as it is clearly a very personal labor of love. Unlike operas, recitals are up to the individual singer who chooses the materials that resonate the most to the singer, and in doing so, he/she opens up to the audience and allows them to catch a glimpse of his/her personality in the intimate setting. 
Cher Public