Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
The following interview took place on the “ranch” of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated: [Below: Jay Hunter Morris; resized image, based on a Vii Tanner publicity photograph.] Wm: My first question asks your earliest memories of music. JHM: I grew up in Paris, Texas. Wm: There is a … Read more
In the final season of the tenure of its General Director David Gockley, the San Francisco Opera, revived one of the Gockley era successes, the Jun Kaneko production of Mozart’s fantasy opera, “The Magic Flute”. First unveiled in 2012 [see my reviews at Perfect Game: Gunn, Shagimuratova Shine in New Kaneko-Designed “Magic Flute” – San Francisco Opera, June 13, 2012 and A … Read more
The following interview took place at the War Memorial Opera House, with the much-appreciated facilitation of the San Francisco Opera. [Below: Baritone Efraín Solís; resized image of a publicity photograph, courtesy of Efraín Solís.] Wm: Tell me, Efraín, about about your earliest memories of music. ES: I grew up in the Orange County California town of Santa … Read more
The San Francisco Opera mounted an illuminating new production of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor”, staged by Canadian director Michael Cavanagh, with notably effective sets and projections by Washington scenic designer Erhard Rom. Nadine Sierra’s Lucia The production proved to be a triumph for Florida soprano Nadine Sierra, who had replaced an established star on short notice, … Read more
During 2015-16 I will be reviewing American operas by Adamo, Barber, Floyd, Getty, Heggie, Little, Sondheim and Ward in California, Texas and New York State. Moby Dick (Heggie), Los Angeles Opera, October 31, November 7, 15(m), 19, 22(m) and 28, 2015. Jay Hunter Morris is Captain Ahab and Morgan Smith is his first mate … Read more