The opposite sextoness The opposite sextoness

The San Francisco Opera has just done the big reveal for 2015-2016 and here’s what we have in store.

on January 07, 2015 at 5:23 PM
An old-fashioned wedding An old-fashioned wedding

Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin notes: while this performance of Janácek’s Jenufafeatures the same three principal singers from the legendary Carnegie Hall concert of 1988, the fact that it is a staged performance raises the temperature even higher.

on December 01, 2014 at 7:56 AM
La vie de broham La vie de broham

Imagine the good fortune of attending La Bohème with someone who’s never seen it!

on November 15, 2014 at 3:50 PM
Angelina’s ashes Angelina’s ashes

Kitsch is alive and well in Rossini’s La Cenerentola at the War Memorial.

on November 11, 2014 at 12:57 AM
Vissi d’artist Vissi d’artist

The San Francisco Opera is batting a thousand where young singers are concerned this season.

on October 24, 2014 at 2:09 PM
Top hatters Top hatters

Christopher Alden‘s production of Handel’s Partenope is so erudite and theatrically audacious and also such a rollicking ride, it’s hard to believe it isn’t crap.

on October 16, 2014 at 5:46 PM
Stockholm syndrome Stockholm syndrome

The big news out of the Bay this week, of course, is that David Gockley, after ten years at the helm here and over forty in opera, has decided not to pull a Bloomberg/Galupe-Borszkh.

on October 05, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Running, jumping, or burning Gaul 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.

on September 21, 2014 at 2:57 AM
Roman holiday Roman holiday

Big changes in San Francisco’s Norma.

on September 13, 2014 at 12:43 AM
The virgin Einspring The virgin Einspring

Jamie Barton will make her San Francisco Opera debut as Adalgisa in Norma for five of the opera’s seven performances on September 5, 10, 14, 27 and 30. Ms. Barton replaces Daveda Karanas, who has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons.

on August 27, 2014 at 7:20 PM
Porgy on the bay Porgy on the bay

A new DVD of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess features an enjoyable live performance from the San Francisco Opera from June of 2009.

on April 29, 2014 at 2:22 PM
Mamma mia Mamma mia

Goddess Anna Caterina Antonacci takes the “Sophia Loren” starring role in La Ciociara, a new work premiering at San Francisco Opera in June, 2015.

on January 13, 2014 at 8:27 PM
Eyes on the prize Eyes on the prize

La Cieca (not pictured) is delighted to hear of the success of Friday night’s vigil by Gays Without Borders for LGBT citizens of Russia at the opening night of the San Francisco Opera’s new season.

on September 08, 2013 at 1:05 PM
The other gospel of the other Mary, Mary The other gospel of the other Mary, Mary

San Francisco Opera’s marketing leaves La Cieca at least momentarily speechless, so she’ll have to rely on you, cher public, to take up the slack with discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.

on June 09, 2013 at 12:53 AM

Here,  on what appears to have been a rather chilly evening,  are Michael Fabiano and his “mom” Renée Fleming in Die Walküre Lucrezia Borgia at the San Francisco Opera.

on September 22, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Will the real Odabella please stand up? Will the real Odabella please stand up?

La Cieca’s operative in San Francisco writes: “SFO’s marketing for the upcoming production of Attila has offered a rotating door of Odabellas. Sadly, as of the latest update, I’m fearing the musical chairs may have landed on the least favorable of the announced divas.”

on July 21, 2011 at 11:20 AM

Michael Fabiano and Renée Fleming (pictured, left to right) make up the somewhat dysfunctional family whose drama is recounted in the San Francisco Opera premiere of Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia, to be heard September 23 – October 11. More highlights (and a lowlight or two) follow the jump.  

on July 09, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Remember that press release that taunted, “Great at push-ups and pull-ups? Do you put your friends to shame at the gym? Come show us what you’ve got!” Well, as you’re probably guessed by now, that audition call was for an opera based on that recent event in American history most closely associated with hot, sweaty…

on December 09, 2010 at 4:01 PM