December 2018 – Opera Warhorses

Grading San Francisco Opera Performances for Calendar Year 2018

February 22, 2020December 31, 2018 by William Burnett

Since my junior high school years, I have been attending performances of the San Francisco Opera. Beginning with calendar year 2006, I have given letter grades to each of San Francisco Opera’s productions during that calendar year. These are my grades for 2018 – the 13th year of these grades. Calendar year 2006 began the … Read more

Review: A joyous “Hansel and Gretel” in Doug Fitch’s enchanting production – Los Angeles Opera, December 9, 2018

December 7, 2021December 12, 2018 by William Burnett

The Los Angeles Opera observed the holiday season by mounting Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel”, reviving its 2006 production created and directed by Doug Fitch. Sasha Cooke’s Hansel and Liv Redpath’s Gretel A distinguished cast was led by Texas mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and Minnesota soprano Liv Redpath, who were convincing in their roles as child siblings. … Read more