Jan 19, 2025 · * Notes * La Bohème (Kearstin Piper Brown and WooYoung Yoon pictured in Act IV, photograph by David Allen) closed at Opera San José last weekend with a youthful cast and beautiful singing. The traditional production doesn't make for the smoothest transitions but looks very nice. The scenic design, from Kim A. Tolman, completely looks like Paris in the 1840s and Alina Bokovikova's costumes ...

Aug 2, 2024 · * Notes * Patricia Racette's production of Don Giovanni (end of Act I pictured left, photograph by Kristen Loken) opened at Merola Opera Program last night in San Francisco. There was lots of very strong singing and the direction felt very human and sensible. Set in 1950s Rome, the stage featured lots of screens and levels that could be accessed by stairs.

Oct 24, 2024 · * Notes * San Francisco Opera presented a 2012 production of Tristan und Isolde (Act II pictured, photograph by Cory Weaver) from La Fenice for the second time last night. The orchestra sounded utterly clear and beautiful under Maestra Eun Sun Kim. Kim has the orchestra sounding transparent, every line is palpable.

Sep 7, 2024 · * Notes * San Francisco Opera's latest season opened last night with a beautifully sung Un Ballo in Maschera.The 2016 production from Teatro dell'Opera di Roma was decidedly lackluster. The orchestra sounded lucid under the baton of Maestra Eun Sun Kim, and I look forward to hearing this again.

Dec 3, 2024 · * Notes * La Bohème (Kearstin Piper Brown and WooYoung Yoon pictured in Act IV, photograph by David Allen) closed at Opera San José last weekend with a youthful cast and beautiful singing. The traditional production doesn't make for the smoothest transitions but looks very nice. The scenic design, from Kim A. Tolman, completely looks like Paris in the 1840s and Alina Bokovikova's costumes ...

Nov 14, 2024 · * Notes * A revival of Händel's Partenope returned to San Francisco Opera last night. The sleek staging (Act III pictured, photograph by Cory Weaver) is still very funny and the cast is fantastic. Even though Händel wrote 42 operas, we usually only hear Giulio Cesare and Rodelinda.Partenope (1730) had its first performances in the United States in 1988 and at the War Memorial in 2014, so it ...

Nov 14, 2024 · * Notes * A revival of Carmen opened last night at San Francisco Opera with some very fine singing and lively, brisk playing. Francesca Zambello's 2006 production is both pretty and functional, there is never a pause in the music to set up the stage.

* Notes * David Alden's Lohengrin opened at San Francisco Opera on October 15, but I only managed to attend the fourth performance on Tuesday. The orchestra sounded perfectly transparent and there was much lovely singing including a powerful chorus. Music Director Eun Sun Kim gets a very clear sound out of the orchestra, I feel like I can hear all the parts neatly stacked up, it feels very ...

May 31, 2024 · * Notes * Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade's delightful and clever production of Die Zauberflöte (end of Act I Scene 3 pictured left, photograph by Cory Weaver) opened at San Francisco Opera last night. Eun Sun Kim conducted a beautifully transparent performance with much lovely singing.

Nov 19, 2023 · * Notes * A new production of L'elisir d'amore opened at San Francisco Opera this afternoon. Updated to the 1950s and set in the Italian Riviera, today's performance was a delight to see and hear. This co-production with Lyric Opera of Chicago is definitely festive.