Quests and Anticipations

Note from William: My most recent review of an operatic performance was that of the Sarasota Opera’s production of Catalani’s “La Wally” on March 7, 2020. Although I was scheduled to review subsequent operatic performances in Chicago, San Francisco, the Glimmerglass Festival, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston, every one of these performances was canceled as … Read more

I am scheduled to travel to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston to review the following operas by Ludwig von Beethoven and Richard Wagner between September 2020 and January , 2021. [The entire Fall, 2020 San Francisco Opera season was canceled due to the Covid19 pandemic.] Fidelio (Beethoven), San Francisco Opera, September 12, 15, … Read more

Update: The Lyric Opera announced on March 12, 2020 that all scheduled performances of Wagner’s “Ring of the Nibelungs” were canceled, in response the declaration of a national emergency related to the Covid-19 pandemic. In Aptil 2020, the Lyric Opera of Chicago debuts the complete production of Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelung”, with sets … Read more

Several times I have been invited to write articles for the programs that accompany live performances of operas. Three of these articles relate to the operas composed by Gaetano Donizetti and his younger contemporary, Giuseppe Verdi. These articles are: 21st Century Love for Donizetti’s “Elixir”, and, From the “Barber of Seville” to “Don Pasquale”, and … Read more

Here is a list of another foursome of operas I am scheduled to review in 2019 and 2020, including productions that I have not previously seen, by British director Michael Grandage, South African director Alessandro Talevi, Israeli-born director Tomer Zvulun and New York director Francesca Zambello. Billy Budd (Britten), San Francisco Opera, September 7, 12, … Read more