All about her father All about her father

Adela Zaharia and Amartuvshin Enkhbat shine brightly in San Francisco Opera’s opening night Rigoletto.

Sea no evil Sea no evil

A muted production challenges a talented cast in San Francisco Opera’s Idomeneo

It takes a woman It takes a woman

The plight of two women, each from different backgrounds, was on full display in San Francisco opera houses last week.

Non son l’umile ancella Non son l’umile ancella

“[W]omen are interesting and important in real life. They are not an afterthought of nature, they are not secondary players in human destiny, and every society has always known that.” — Margaret Atwood, February 2017

It’s going to be a lovely party It’s going to be a lovely party

Overall, this was a superb achievement and a thrilling season opener for the San Francisco Opera.

Psychological projections Psychological projections

“The distance between dreams and reality is called action.” – Brian Tracy

The age of <em>Innocence</em> The age of <em>Innocence</em>

The score for Innocence was menacing yet comforting, and, essentially, violent and peaceful at the same time

Love potion no. 8 1/2 Love potion no. 8 1/2

A perfect escape for a city laden with recent layoffs and job cuts coming into Holiday season

Scholarly pursuits Scholarly pursuits

“What would you do if the world you knew was suddenly gone and you were thrown into the deepest abyss stripped of all humanity? Would you fight to remember who you were?”

Swan’s weh Swan’s weh

All in all, this was truly a superb achievement for San Francisco Opera and an auspicious first chapter in the Wagner opera journey with Eun Sun Kim.

Think different Think different

Bay Area composer Mason Bates’s and librettist Mark Campbell’s contemporary opera about the life of the tech mogul Steve Jobs came home “to the place where it all began” in spectacular fashion

Got to get you into my strife Got to get you into my strife

Power struggles, prejudice, feuds and revenge abound in San Francisco at the moment.

Looking for Trouble Looking for Trouble

The ailing and grief-stricken Pinkerton was shown to give his son a diary about his time in Nagasaki, and as Trouble read it, he (and the audience) was taken back in time as the story came to life, similar to the use of Pensieve in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4).

Return of the Merolini 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.

Returning to the Living World Returning to the Living World

“I joyfully await the exit—and I hope never to return” were the last words written by the visionary Mexican painter, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (famously known simply as Frida Kahlo), according to her 2002 biography by Hayden Herrera.

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.

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.”

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”