Review: The Jun Kaneko “Magic Flute” Revived – San Francisco Opera, October 20, 2015

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

Rising Stars: An Interview with Efraín Solís

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

Review: Soprano Nadine Sierra’s, Director Michael Cavanagh’s Vivid “Lucia di Lammermoor” – San Francisco Opera, October 8, 2015

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