The following four operas are comedies that I am scheduled to review between now and Summer 2017:
The Thieving Magpie – La Gazza Ladra (Rossini) Glimmerglass Festival, July 16, 25(m), 29, August 7(m), 12, 16(m), 20 and 25, 2016
Rachele Gilmore is Ninetta and Michele Angelini is Giannetto in the Glimmerglass Festival production of Rossini’s comic opera “La Gazza Ladra”, translated as “The Thieving Magpie”. Musa Ngqungwana is Gottardo and Dale Travis is Fernando Villanelle.
[Below: Rachele Gilmore is Ninetta; edited image, based on a Dario Acosta photograph, courtesy of Rachele Gilmore.]
Glimmerglass Young Artists sing the other roles – Allegra De Vita (Pippo), Brad Raymond (Isaaco and Antonio), Leah Hawkins (Lucia), Calvin Griffith (Fabrizio Vingradito) and dancer Meg Gillentine (The Magpie). Joseph Colaneri conducts; Peter Kazaras directs. The sets and costumes are by Myung Hee Cho.
[For my interview with the Ninetta, see Rising Stars – An Interview with Rachele Gilmore].
For my review of a previous performance in which Gilmore and Angelini starred see: “Sonnambula” Reawakened: Rachele Gilmore’s, Michele Angelini’s Artistry, Vocal Fireworks Enliven Bellini’s Masterpiece – Florida Grand Opera, February 9, 2013.]
Don Pasquale (Donizetti) San Francisco Opera, September 28, October 2(m), 4, 7, 12 and 15, 2016.
Maurizio Muraro returns to the San Francisco Opera in the title role of Don Pasquale, in Laurent Pelly’s wacky production of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale”, a co-production with the Santa Fe Opera and Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu. Heidi Stober is Norina. Tenor Lawrence Brownlee makes his San Francisco Opera debut as Ernesto.
[Below: The living room occupied by Don Pasquale (Maurizio Muraro, center) has been rearranged by Norina (Heid Stober, standing on armchair) as Dr Malatesta (Lucas Meachem, left) looks in; edited image, based on a Cory Weaver photograph, courtesy of the San Francisco Opera.]
Lucas Meachem shares the role of Doctor Malatesta with Edward Nelson (the latter who sings the performances of October 4 and 7). Giuseppe Finzi conducts.
[For my review of the production at its debut at the Santa Fe Opera, see: Review: Ovations for Laurent Pelly’s Daffy “Don Pasquale” – Santa Fe Opera, June 28, 2014.]
[For my performance review, see: Review: Maurizio Muraro Leads An Appealing “Don Pasquale” Cast – San Francisco Opera, October 2, 2016.]
The Elixir of Love – L’Elisir d’Amore (Donizetti) Houston Grand Opera, October 21, 23(m), 26, 29 and November 4, 2016
Dmitri Pittas is Nemorino and Nicole Heaston is Adina in a Daniel Slater production of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love” with sets and costumes designed by Robert Innes Hopkins.
[Below: Nemorino (Dimitri Pittas, far right) who is unaware that he has just inherited a fortune, attributes his sudden popularity with women to a love elixir in Houston Grand Opera’s Daniel Slater production of Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’Amore”; edited image, based on a Lynn Lane photograph, courtesy of the Houston Grand Opera.]
Patrick Carfizzi is Doctor Dulcamara. Michael Sumuel is Belcore. The conductor is Jane Glover.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Engaging “Elixir of Love” at Houston Grand Opera, October 29, 2016.]
Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss), Santa Fe Opera, June 30, July 5, 8, 14, August 1, 7, 14, 19 and 26, 2017
Devon Guthrie debuts as Rosalinde and Kurt Streit is Eisenstein in a new Ned Canty production of Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus”. Dmitri Pittas is Alfred, Joshua Hopkins is Dr Falke and Susan Graham is Prince Orlofsky. Kevin Burdette is Frosch the jailer.
[Below: Prince Orlofsky (Susan Graham left) finds himself interested in the elaborate plot concocted by Doctor Falke (Joshua Hopkins, right); edited image, based on a Ken Howard photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
Allen Moyer is the scenic designer, with Zack Brown the costume designer.
[For my performance review, see: Review: “Fledermaus” Opens 2017 Santa Fe Opera Festival – June 30, 2017.]
This list is supplementary to previous lists in this “Quests and Anticipations” series of selected operas being performed from July 2016 through December 2016:
Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” at the San Francisco Opera. [See In Quest of Puccini’s “Tosca” and “Butterfly” in the American Southwest – October 2015 to December 2016.]
Barber’s “Vanessa” at the Santa Fe Opera and Ward’s “The Crucible” at the Glimmerglass Festival. [See In Quest of American Operas – October 2015 through August 2016.]
Richard Strauss’ “Capriccio” at the Santa Fe Opera and Janacek’s “The Makropoulos Case” at the San Francisco Opera and . [See In Quest of Operatic Masterpieces from the German and Czech Repertories – April- November, 2016.]
Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” at the Glimmerglass Festival, Sheng’s “Dream of the Red Chamber” at the San Francisco Opera and Heggie’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Houston Grand Opera [See In Quest of Repertory-Expanding Operas – April-December, 2016.]
Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Glimmerglass Festival and Verdi’s “Aida” at the San Francisco Opera. [See In Quest of Live Performances of Popular Operas – May-November, 2016.]
Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at the Santa Fe Opera and Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” at the San Francisco Opera. [See In Quest of Less-Often Performed Core Repertory Operas – June-September, 2016.]