Dean of American Opera Composers: An Interview with Carlisle Floyd

The following interview took place at the War Memorial Opera House, home of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated.    [Below: Composer Carlisle Floyd; edited image, based on a publicity photograph, courtesy of Carlisle Floyd.] Wm: Often, I ask artists whom I interview about their childhood interests in music. That … Read more

Ambassador for Opera: An Interview with Bass-Baritone Greer Grimsley

This interview took place on the “ranch” of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of the interview is deeply appreciated.   [Below: Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley; edited image of a publicity photograph, from www.greergrimsley.com.] Wm: What are your earliest memories of music? GG: I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, so there was no lack of … Read more

A Conversation with Director John Pascoe, Part 3

This post continues from A Conversation with Director-Designer John Pascoe, Part 2 regarding his international career in opera stage direction and production design. We have committed to posting an ongoing series of discussions on his career influences and on a variety of opera-related subjects.  [Below: John Pascoe in the year 1980; resized image of a personal photograph, courtesy of … Read more

A Second Look Review: Patricia Racette Medals in “Susannah” at the San Francisco Opera – September 21, 2014

Earlier this month, I praised Carlisle Floyd’s 1955 opera “Susannah” in its new San Francisco Opera production [see Review: Racette, Aceto, Jovanovich in Brilliant New Production of “Susannah” – San Francisco Opera, September 6, 2014]. Seeing the opera in this production once again, I was impressed with the glories of the musical score and the dramatically gripping … Read more

A Second Look Review: “Norma” at the San Francisco Opera – September 14, 2014

My review of the opening night of the San Francisco Opera 2014-15 season (and of its new production of Bellini’s “Norma”) was posted a week ago [See Review: Sondra Radvanovsky’s Stunning Season Opening “Norma” – San Francisco Opera, September 5, 2014.] In that review I had praised the artistry of the Norma, Sondra Radvanovsky, and the … Read more