Historical Review: Nicholas di Virgilio, Simon Estes Lead Impressive Cast in “Tales of Hoffmann” San Francisco Opera’s Spring Opera Theater [SPOT] – June 23, 1967

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Four Spring Opera Theater seasons after my first-ever “Tales of Hoffmann”, I attended my second SPOT “Hoffmann” mounting, the second of its two scheduled performances. The “Hoffmann” performance’s praiseworthy cast and crew were symbolic of the San Francisco Opera’s mid-1960s progress in its commitment to the American opera, and to the operatic careers of American … Read more

In Quest of 21st Century Operatic Projects

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The following is a list of four operas I am scheduled to review during the Santa Fe Opera’s 2023 and San Francisco Opera’s 2023-24 seasons. One is a newly reorchestrated work dating from the Italian Renaissance. Three of the operas are recent compositions. Orfeo (Monteverdi), Santa Fe Opera, July 29, August 2,11, 16 and 24, … Read more

Historical Review: San Francisco’s Spring Opera Theater [SPOT]’s “Pagliacci”- June 16, 1967

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After the intermission that followed my first ever performance of Mascagni’s one act “Cavalleria Rusticana” [Historical Performances: Ghita Hager Directs Roberto, di Virgilio, Cossa in “Cavalleria Rusticana” – San Francisco Spring Opera Theater [SPOT] – June 16, 1967], I settled back into my seat for my first ever performance of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci”. Ghita Hager’s intelligent … Read more

In Quest of San Francisco Opera Centennial Year Performances, June through December, 2023

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The following are four of the operas I am scheduled to review taking place at the San Francisco Opera during 2023, celebrating the centennial of the company’s founding. Die Frau ohne Schatten (Richard Strauss), San Francisco Opera, June 4 (m), 10, 20, 23 and 28, 2023 San Francisco Opera, the company that mounted the United … Read more