Review: “Cosi fan Tutte” – Nicely Sung, Imaginatively Staged – San Francisco Opera, November 21, 2021

This is a review of the first performance of a new production of “Cosi fan Tutte” conceived by Director Michael Cavanagh for the San Francisco Opera. The opera “Cosi fan Tutte”, like the operas “Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni”, is a collaboration between Composer Wolfgang Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte. Cavanagh conceptualized a trilogy … Read more

In Quest of Core Repertory Operas in Santa Fe Opera’s Summer 2022 Season

The Santa Fe Opera has announced its Summer 2022 season. It consists of four 19th century works and the world premiere of “M. Butterfly”, which was previously announced but canceled along with the other operas of the Summer 2020 sseason, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The new opera “M. Butterfly” will be highlighted in a … Read more

Historical Performances: Ramon Vinay, Raina Kabaivanska Lead Memorable “Falstaff” – San Francisco Opera, November 20, 1966

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 thirteenth of fourteen such observances of performances from the company’s 1966 Fall season. Ramon Vinay’s Falstaff In what would be his final career performance at … Read more

Historical Performances: Marie Collier Triumphs in American Premiere of Janacek’s “Vec Makropulos” – San Francisco Opera, November 19, 1966

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 twelfth of fourteen such observances of performances from the company’s 1966 Fall season. In the Fall 1966 San Francisco Opera season, as a subscriber to … Read more