Month: January 2016

Review: Powerful Performances by Martinez, Jagde in “Rusalka” – Houston Grand Opera, January 29, 2016

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Houston Grand Opera imported Melly Still’s production of Dvorak’s “Rusalka”, created for England’s 2009 Glyndebourne Festival. The principal singers in HGO’s strong cast are Puerto Rican soprano Ana Maria Martinez, the star of Still’s Glyndebourne production, as the Rusalka, and New York tenor Brian Jagde, in his HGO debut, as the Prince. Ana Maria Martinez’ Rusalka Martinez brought … Read more

Historical Performances: “Forza del Destino” with Leontyne Price, Konya, Wolansky – San Francisco Opera, October 9, 1965

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Note from William: This post continues my series of observances of historic performances that I attended at San Francisco Opera during the general directorship of Kurt Herbert Adler. This is the eighth of sixteen such observances of performances from the company’s 1965 Fall season.   The fifth offering on my Saturday night San Francisco Opera … Read more

Rising Stars: An Interview with Brian Jagde

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The following interview took place at the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated.    [Below: Tenor Brian Jagde; edited image of a publicity photograph.] Wm: My usual first questions of artists are about your earliest memories and experiences with music. What were yours? BJ: For me, I first bonded with music … Read more

Historical Performances: “Andrea Chénier” with Gibin, Tebaldi and Bastianini – San Francisco Opera, October 2, 1965

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Note from William: This post continues my series of observances of historic performances that I attended at San Francisco Opera during the general directorship of Kurt Herbert Adler. This is the seventh of sixteen such observances of performances from the company’s 1965 Fall season. The October 2nd performance of Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” was the first … Read more

Historical Performances: “La Fanciulla del West” with Marie Collier and João Gibin – San Francisco Opera, September 26, 1965

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Note from William: This post continues my series of observances of historic performances that I attended at San Francisco Opera during the general directorship of Kurt Herbert Adler. This is the sixth of sixteen such observances of performances from the company’s 1965 Fall season. Even pursuing college courses, I had managed to see five performances of the … Read more