It takes a woman
The plight of two women, each from different backgrounds, was on full display in San Francisco opera houses last week.
Christian Van Horn
58 pieces since 2013 — in 30 roles, at 13 companies, most often at Metropolitan Opera.
58
pieces
30
roles
13
companies
14
years
By role
Colline 5
Narbal 4
Bluebeard 3
Méphistophélès 3
Donner 2
Mefistofele 2
Alidoro 2
Oroveso 2
Giorgio 1
Raimondo 1
Pistola 1
Ramfis 1
Nick Shadow 1
Simon 1
Speaker 1
The Four Villains 1
Zoroastro 1
King Philip II 1
King Philip 1
Friar Laurence 1
Filippo II 1
Figaro 1
Fiesco 1
Escamillo 1
Enrico 1
Don Ruy Gomez de Silva 1
Doktor 1
Count Walther 1
Claggart 1
Banquo 1
By company
Metropolitan Opera 15
San Francisco Opera 10
Lyric Opera of Chicago 7
Canadian Opera Company 2
Dallas Opera 2
Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1
Cleveland Orchestra 1
Opéra national de Paris 1
Opera Philadelphia 1
Philadelphia Orchestra 1
War Memorial 1
Washington Concert Opera 1
Washington National Opera 1
10 pieces as San Francisco Opera — stats above show all coverage for Christian Van Horn.
View all
Return of the Merolini
On June 16, San Francisco Opera concluded their excellent Centennial Season with a heartfelt 100th Anniversary Concert, featuring a starry cast, three conductors (including current and former Music Directors) and the SF Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Miss me blond
From the technical standpoint San Francisco Opera’s Billy Budd was pretty much flawless.
Pilot program
Once again we got a very frustrating performance of Orlando; this time a beautiful and completely coherent production marred by some sub-optimal singing.
Not since Ilium
As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my two favorite operas is Les Troyens,
Warhorse
Three blocks from the opera house is a terrible time to realize there was homework.
Fou fighter
It is easy to become overly identified with opera—as a cleverer friend of mine once noted: being a sports fan is an interest, but if you like opera, everyone thinks of it as a crippling obsession.
The year in Greg
I would love to contribute a top ten list but I didn’t even go to ten things this year.
La vie de broham
Imagine the good fortune of attending La Bohème with someone who’s never seen it!
Running, jumping, or burning Gaul
Far be it from me to join the Schadenfreudian chorus of “Bye, Bye, Berti!” you may have been hearing in certain quarters, but the first thing I am duty-bound to report about San Francisco Opera’s Norma (of which three performances remain) is that they’ve hit the jackpot, coverwise.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
