Last year, I highlighted a foursome of myths and fairy tales that I was schduled to review. [See In Quest of Operas Based on Myths and Fairy Tales – November 2018 – August 2019.] This year I continue the subject of myths and fairy tales with another foursome of operas, to be presented at the San Francisco and Santa Fe Operas and the 2020 Glimmerglass Festival.
Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck), San Francisco Opera, November 15, 17(m), 21, 23, 30(m), December 1(m), 3 and 7, 2019.
Antony McDonald is Production Designer and Director of a new to San Francisco co-production with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Sasha Cooke is Hansel, Heidi Stober is Gretel. The Witch is played by tenor Robert Brubaker.
[Below: the Witch (Robert Brubaker, left) has put a spell on Gretel (Heidi Stober, right) and Hansel (Sasha Cooke, second from right); edited image, based on a Cory Weaver photograph, courtesy of the San Francisco Opera..]
Michaela Martens is Gertrude and Alfred Walker is Peter. Ashley Dixon is the Sandman, Natalie Image is the Dew Fairy. Lucy Burge is Choreographer. Maestro Christopher Franklin conducts.
For my performance review, see: Review: A “Must See” San Francisco Opera Production of “Hansel and Gretel”- November 17, 2019.
Die Feen (Wagner), Glimmerglass (New York) Festival, July 15 through August 21, 2019.
Wagner’s first opera, “Die Feen (The Fairies)” will be the subject of a new Glimmerglass Festival production.
[Below: an illustration relating to an early edition of Wagner’s “Die Feen”.]
“Die Feen” will be directed by Francesca Zambello. Maestro Joseph Colaneri conducts.
Tristan und Isolde (Wagner), Santa Fe Opera, July 18, 22, 31, August 6, 12 and 18, 2020.
“Tristan” will be the first multi-act Wagnerian opera to be presented by the Santa Fe Opera and the first Wagner opera to be seen on the Santa Fe stage in 32 seasons.
Simon O’Neill is Tristan, Tamara Wilson is Isolde, Jamie Barton is Brangaene, Ryan McKinny is Kurwenal, Erc Owens and David Leigh share the role of King Marke.
[Below: Tristan and Isolde drink a potion which they will discover has unexpected properties; edited image, based on a a John William Waterhouse painting.]
Maestro James Gaffigan conducts; Zack Winokur directs.
Rusalka (Dvorak), Santa Fe Opera, July 25, 29, August 7, 11, 20 and 27, 2020.
Ailyn Perez is Rusalka; Eric Cutler is the Prince. James Creswell s Vodnik, Michaela Martens is Jezibaba and Alexandra Lobianco is the Foreign Princess.
Maestro Harry Bicket conducts. Sir David Pountney directs. Leslie Travers creates the Scenic Design.
This list is supplementary to previous lists in this “Quests and Anticipations” series of selected operas being performed through August, 2020:
Heggie’s “If I Were You” at the San Francisco Opera Merola Program; Aucoin’s “Eurydice” at the Los Angeles Opera; Bates’ “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” at the San Francisco Opera; and “M. Butterfly” at the Santa Fe Opera.
Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte” at the Santa Fe Opera, Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio” at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” at the San Francisco Opera, and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Los Angeles Opera. [See In Quest of Immersion into Mozart Operas: July-December, 2019.]
Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” at the San Francisco Opera and Sarasota Opera, and Debussy’s “Pelleas et Melisande” at the Los Angeles Opera. [See In Quest of French Operatic Masterpieces – June, 2019-May 2020.]
Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Los Angeles Opera, Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” at the San Francisco Opera, Puccini’s “La Boheme” and Catalani’s “La Wally” at the Sarasota Opera. [See In Quest of 1890s Italian Verismo Operas – September 2019 – March 2020.]
Handel’s “Semele” at the Opera Philadelphia, Handel’s “Saul” at the Houston Grand Opera and Handel’s “Partenope” at the San Francisco Opera [See In Quest of Handel Operas – June 2019-July 2020.]
Kern’s “Show Boat” at the Glimmerglass Festival and Britten’s “Billy Budd” at the Central City Opera [See In Quest of Varied Operatic Repertory – February-August 2019.]
Corigliani’s “The Ghosts of Versailles” and Tesori’s “Blue” at the Glimmerglass Festival [See In Quest of 21st Century American Operas – November, 2018 – August, 2019.]
Ruders’ “The Thirteenth Child” at the Santa Fe Opera [See In Quest of Operas Based on Myths and Fairy Tales – November 2018 – August 2019.]
Janacek’s “Jenufa” at the Santa Fe Opera [See In Quest of Less Often Performed Repertory Operas – October 2018 – August 2019.]
Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Glimmerglass Festival [See In Quest of Italian Opera Favorites, October 2018-August 2019.]