Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
The following is a list of the first four of five performances that I am scheduled to review at the Santa Fe Opera in Summer, 2025: La Boheme (Puccini), Santa Fe Opera, June 27, July 2, 5, 11, 18, 28, August 2, 6, 14, 19 and 23, 2025. A production of Puccini’s most popullar opera, … Read more
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