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
Let’s twist again Let’s twist again

In San Francisco Opera’s new Così fan tutte, the elements that most visibly read as “American” were a penchant for slapstick humor, overcooked blocking, and an abundance of cartoonish period costumes that hobbled the opera’s first act.

on November 23, 2021 at 9:21 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
Dark and darker Dark and darker

San Francisco Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago have announced the cancellation of their respective 2020 fall seasons.

on June 16, 2020 at 3:37 PM
Baton passed Baton passed

Eun Sun Kim has been appointed the Caroline H. Hume Music Director of San Francisco Opera, effective August 1, 2021.

on December 05, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Grimm and proper Grimm and proper

Bring your family: This show is special! Such perfect opera is hard to find!

on November 19, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Strangers when we meet Strangers when we meet

The San Francisco Opera, perhaps incidentally, continued their exploration of operas based on literary works by mounting the revival of Giacomo Puccini’s first success, Manon Lescaut.

on November 17, 2019 at 11:50 AM
Take care of this house Take care of this house

How does one make a performance of standard opera repertoire like Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro feel “fresh?”

on October 22, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Miss me blond Miss me blond

From the technical standpoint San Francisco Opera’s Billy Budd was pretty much flawless.

on September 11, 2019 at 9:22 AM
Get this Pati started Get this Pati started

Politics and romance entangled in a spectacular fashion at San Francisco Operas’s Roméo et Juliette.

on September 09, 2019 at 10:43 AM
Romeo and politics Romeo and politics

La Cieca is informed that the opening night of San Francisco Opera’s Roméo et Juliette was delayed by an “Impeach Trump” demonstration, with hundreds of flyers dropped into the auditorium.

on September 07, 2019 at 3:17 AM
West coast story West coast story

Pene Pati, originally scheduled to sing Romeo on October 1, will perform the role in all performances, replacing Bryan Hymel who has withdrawn for personal reasons.

on September 03, 2019 at 1:46 PM
O for a Muse of fire O for a Muse of fire

Saturday August 17 the Merola Opera Program wrapped up its annual Summer Festival with the Merola Grand Finale concert at the War Memorial Opera House.

on August 21, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Dream a little dream of me Dream a little dream of me

“Who are you? Who do you want to be?” The search for one’s identity is explored in American composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s brand new opera If I Were You.

on August 06, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Under the silver lake Under the silver lake

“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?” went the introduction to the 1940s radio program The Shadow, an apt description for the San Francisco Opera’s production of Rusalka.

on June 19, 2019 at 12:37 PM
Pilot program 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.

on June 12, 2019 at 2:13 PM
Nice nice baby Nice nice baby

“Tame” seemed to be the appropriate adjective to describe San Francisco Opera’s Carmen.

on June 09, 2019 at 11:05 AM
Just to watch it get dark from the Top of the Mark Just to watch it get dark from the Top of the Mark

San Francisco Opera continues its competition with Lyric Opera of Chicago for the title of “World’s Dullest Opera Company.”

on January 22, 2019 at 4:23 PM
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
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
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