Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
The following is a list of performances that I am scheduled to review at the San Francisco Opera in June and September of 2025: La Boheme (Puccini), San Francisco Opera, June 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15(m), 18, 19 and 21, 2025 English director John Caird’s production of Puccini’s most popular opera is a co-production … Read more
A San Francisco Opera Sunday matinee performance of Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” marked my third visit to the War Memorial Opera House in three days. On Friday night I attended my first performance ever of Charpentier’s “Louise” [Maestro Jean Périsson Leads Arlene Saunders, John Alexander, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni and Sona Cervena in Impressive Performance of Charpentier’s … Read more
The evening after my very first ever live performance of Charpentier’s “Louise” in a San Francisco Opera performance at the War Memorial Opera House [Maestro Jean Périsson Leads Arlene Saunders, John Alexander, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni and Sona Cervena in Impressive Performance of Charpentier’s “Louise” – San Francisco Opera, October 13, 1967], I returned for my first … Read more
Since the year 2006, I have reviewed each of the opera productions mounted by the San Francisco Opera in the War Memorial Opera House, providing each with a letter grade. Like the seminars associated with Ph.D. programs, I do not grade “on a curve”, but, instead expect that a San Francisco Opera performance of any opera, like … Read more
The opera “Carmen” is the world’s most popular French opera. Tchaikovsky called it “the perfect opera”. For San Francisco Opera, the eight performances it scheduled in the 3000+ seat War Memorial Opera House have been sold out for virtually every performance. The San Francisco Opera’s “Carmen” run, using New York director Francesca Zambello’s well-traveled production, … Read more