Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
This post continues a conversation that began with The Art of Staging Opera – A Conversation with José Maria Condemi Part 1. Wm: The San Francisco Opera, among other companies, has on several occasions given you the task of reviving an older production, such as Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s production of Bizet’s “Carmen” or their current production of … Read more
The following conversation began in the administrative offices of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this conversation is deeply appreciated. [Below: Opera stage director José Maria Condemi; resized image of a publicity photograph from josemariacondemi.com.] Wm: When I interviewed you five years ago [Rising Stars: An Interview with Stage Director José Maria Condemi], I did not … Read more
The following interview with Philippe Sly took place at the War Memorial Opera House of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated: [Below: Bass-baritone Philippe Sly; resized image of an Adam Scotti photograph.] Wm: What were your earliest memories of music? Of classical music? Of opera? PS: My parents lived in … Read more
The oldest opera that is considered part of the core operatic repertory is Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro [Le Nozze di Figaro]”. Dating from 1786, and undervalued in its day, except in the Bohemian capital of Prague [See my article Don Giovanni in Bohemia: How the Community of Prague Assured Mozart’s Last Four Operas], “Le Nozze” is now … Read more
Italian composer Marco Tutino’s new opera based on Alberto Moravia’s 1958 novel La Ciociara received its world premiere at San Francisco Opera’s War Memorial Opera House before an enthusiastic audience. San Francisco Opera music director Nicola Luisotti, conducting the San Francisco Opera Orchestra with the limitless energy one expects from a Luisotti performance, added yet another triumph … Read more