Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
William and I were both present at the October 14th matinee of the San Francisco Opera production of Philip Glass’ “Appomattox”, recounting the end of the American Civil War. It was presented in the War Memorial Opera House, itself built to commemorate the end of World War I – the War to end all Wars. … Read more
Those of us who spend most of our time in the Northern hemisphere may know very little about the work of operatic stage director Moffatt Oxenbould, most of it associated with the Opera Australia in Sydney. His most renowned production is of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”, which premiered at Opera Australia in 1997, and has been … Read more
As a patron who has been attending performances of the San Francisco Opera for over half a century, and have been a subscriber for 48 consecutive seasons, I had expressed concern at the slow decline in the quality of performances at the War Memorial Opera House, beginning in the mid-1980s, which I felt accelerated in … Read more
In the third week of October 2005 Pamela Rosenberg, still General Director of the San Francisco Opera, was minding the dress rehearsals for a borrowed physical production of Bellini’s “Norma” so tacky that Rosenberg, with the candor that might be her most likeable feature, told the San Francisco press that she wished she had had … Read more
In mid-summer, acceding to requests that I get my reviews of San Francisco Opera performances out earlier in the performance cycle, and simultaneously to requests that I continue the longer analyses of each performance, I suggested that I would from time to time publish “snapshots” of my first reactions to each of the 2007 performances … Read more
Wagner’s ten major operas are about Northern Europe in “times of distant past”. Eight of them directly or indirectly deal with the issues of the old gods of ancient times, and their replacement by the newer idea of one God in Heaven, who oversees Christian peoples. For readers who find this a strange proposition, consider … Read more
Returning to Santa Fe Opera’s summer season is always a maximum delight. Each summer we anticipate fabulous productions set in the most sublime outdoor setting conceivable. Between operas we enjoy dining on Santa Fe’s unique cuisine, presented in spectacular and abundant regionally-perfect restaurants, and dallying in some of the 250+ art galleries! [Below: Dancers (in … Read more
The following review is from guest reviewer, Thomas Rubbert: Last night we came, we saw, and we were conquered by L. A.’s spectacular new “Fidelio” which garnered the longest line of ticket-seekers I have seen at the Music Center. The L. A. audience roared in unison at the triumphant end as Grant Gerson’s Los Angeles … Read more