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.

Demented Demented

Claus Guth, in a staging of Handel’s Orlando for Theater an der Wien, decided to revisit a PTSD theme.

on April 26, 2019 at 3:18 PM
Gods and monsters Gods and monsters

Legrenzi married the quirky libretto to a score of transcendental beauty.

on April 20, 2019 at 2:51 PM
Briefs encounter Briefs encounter

Trial by Jury was the operetta chosen by Lamplighters Music Theatre, the San Francisco-based Gilbert & Sullivan company, to close their 66th season.

on April 04, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Good news bear Good news bear

Teatro Real continued their 200 years’ celebration by premiering a piece that they have never done before, Francesco Cavalli’s opera La Calisto.

on March 20, 2019 at 11:59 AM
Alpha doge Alpha doge

West Bay Opera’s sterling production of Verdi’s I due Foscari played over the last two weekends.

on February 27, 2019 at 12:35 PM
Let’s hear it for the boa Let’s hear it for the boa

What happens in Karlsruhe stays in Karlsruhe!

on February 26, 2019 at 11:42 AM
Women in revolt Women in revolt

The full title of the opera pretty much describes the plot: Il mondo alla roversa osia Le donne che comandano.

on February 25, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Once more with feeling Once more with feeling
on February 23, 2019 at 2:23 PM
Wintertime, and the living is easy Wintertime, and the living is easy

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.

on February 14, 2019 at 12:01 PM
Sex and Vivaldi Sex and Vivaldi

The “Red Priest” of Venice once made reference to his “94 operas” in a letter to his patron. 

on February 14, 2019 at 9:00 AM
This means war This means war

Considering the size and the logistics for staging Les Troyens, every new production of Berlioz’s epic masterpiece is a special event.

on February 07, 2019 at 1:11 PM
Tales as old as time Tales as old as time

The Paris Opera continued their 350th anniversary celebration January 26 with a brand new production of Alessandro Scarlatti’s 1707 oratorio Il Primo Omicidio ovvero Caino.

on February 07, 2019 at 11:45 AM
A little priestess A little priestess

Ars Minerva upped their game by mounting an 18th century baroque opera, Giovanni Porta’s 1738 Ifigenia in Aulide.

on December 07, 2018 at 10:14 AM
It’s a wonderful opera It’s a wonderful opera

There comes a time where everything falls into place, and more importantly, when your head and heart are also in the right mindset.  That’s when when the opera becomes cathartic, life-changing experience.

on December 03, 2018 at 12:19 PM
Beast in show Beast in show

Christopher Maltman created a fun, coherent, often whimsical journey exploring the animal kingdom through a selection of animal songs.

on November 19, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Master peace Master peace

With Liber scriptus came the biggest discovery for me, the vocal talent of Elena Stikhina.

on October 27, 2018 at 12:12 PM
Cornet and clouds Cornet and clouds

Earlier this month I got the opportunity to sample two very different Baltic operas.  

on October 26, 2018 at 1:53 PM
Fathers’ day Fathers’ day

How do we celebrate a long career in opera, particularly one as illustrious as Plácido Domingo‘s? 

on October 23, 2018 at 11:10 AM
Coming out Coming out

Beautiful singing, thoughtful staging, lovely melodies… a perfect escape from daily life.

on October 18, 2018 at 11:02 AM
All is forgiven All is forgiven

Why do we go to the opera? Because the world needs a reminder of the power of forgiveness, particularly in these dark and gloomy times!

on October 15, 2018 at 1:57 PM
Final chorus Final chorus

The news of Nicholas McGegan’s retirement came as quite a shock to me.

on October 08, 2018 at 8:00 AM
Underdressed Underdressed

For this revisiting of Tosca, San Francisco Opera decided to highlight the glamorous lifestyle of the Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio.

on October 05, 2018 at 12:05 PM
Drama, Queen Drama, Queen

Lightning struck again here when, after a wait of 39 years, San Francisco Opera unveiled a new production of Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux.

on September 10, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Double exposure Double exposure

San Francisco Opera opened their 2018-19 Season Friday with a double bill of Italian verismo operas, Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, which made a welcome return to War Memorial Opera House after 15 years.

on September 10, 2018 at 9:00 AM