The 2013–14 Season opens September 6 with Robert Carsen’s acclaimed production of Boito’s Mephistofele
Highlights of the Fall 2013 Season include an exciting new ‘Dolores Clairborne’ and a riveting ‘Mephistofele’. A new production of ‘The Flying Dutchman’ will fly into town as well as outstanding presentations of ‘Requiem’ and ‘The Barber of Seville’.
I know you’ll want to see them all. I’ll see you there.
Mephistofele |
The San Francisco Opera is a precious jewel of the cultural life of San Francisco. It’s a venerable and highly admired nine-decade old company, showcasing leading opera singers from around the world. This coming season promises to be outstanding.
I’ve written before about my lifelong love of opera. I’m looking forward—avidly—to the upcoming fall season of the San Francisco Opera.
The opera and the symphony shape fall and winter nights for me and provide uplifting, absorbing, inspiring and thrilling moments of bliss from September through December.
This upcoming season is particularly crunchy—with re-imagined classics like ‘The Flying Dutchman’, the dramatic ‘Mephistofele’ and (I’m so intrigued) a new opera based on Stephen King’s ‘Dolores Claiborne’ (yes, Kathy Bates). A collision of classics—with neoclassics.
I’ve written before about my lifelong love of opera. I’m looking forward—avidly—to the upcoming fall season of the San Francisco Opera.
The opera and the symphony shape fall and winter nights for me and provide uplifting, absorbing, inspiring and thrilling moments of bliss from September through December.
This upcoming season is particularly crunchy—with re-imagined classics like ‘The Flying Dutchman’, the dramatic ‘Mephistofele’ and (I’m so intrigued) a new opera based on Stephen King’s ‘Dolores Claiborne’ (yes, Kathy Bates). A collision of classics—with neoclassics.
Mephistofele |
The season will be officially launched Friday, September 6, with a gala performance of Arrigo Boito’s Mephistofele, a lyrical retelling of Goethe’s Faust legend, conducted by San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti and featuring the Company’s acclaimed Robert Carsen production. All performances include the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus at the historic War Memorial Opera House.
David Gockley |
San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley commented, “We have a good mix of repertory for the coming season. I’m especially pleased that we will have the opportunity to offer debuts of a number of very important singers and designers. In addition to celebrating the bicentennials of Verdi and Wagner, we will also have the chance to present the world premiere of Tobias Picker and J. D. McClatchy’s adaptation of Stephen King’s thrilling story, Dolores Claiborne. If ever there was a Stephen King novel that had all the makings for the lyric stage, this is certainly the one.”
Nicola Luisotti |
Nicola Luisotti |
San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti commented, “To open the new season with Boito’s Mephistofele, an opera beloved and championed by Verdi himself, means a lot to me as we celebrate the bicentennial season of Verdi. I’m honored to lead the Company’s recognition of Italy’s finest opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi with his final masterpiece Falstaff, set to a libretto by Boito, followed by his soul-stirring Requiem Mass, and later with the great romantic drama, La Traviata. I’m sure Maestro Verdi would be very pleased.”
San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House |
A Quick History of the San Francisco Opera Company
San Francisco Opera was founded by Gaetano Merola (1881–1953) and incorporated in 1923. The Company's first performance took place on September 26, 1923 (La Bohème, with Queena Mario and Giovanni Martinelli, conducted by Merola).Falstaff |
The Allure of Opera: It's In My Blood
My lovely Mother was an opera singer—and I grew up attending operas of all kinds with my music-loving parents. I was surrounded by music, attended ballet performances of the Royal Ballet, my Mother’s live radio performances, choir practice, and often, music recitals.I studied the piano for many years with a fantastic teacher called Maisie Kilkelly, an incredibly chic and exacting instructor. I studied the Royal College of Music curriculum. Loved it. Miss Kilkelly honored her romantic Irish ancestry by writing music notes in green Quink ink.
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I also studied music with George Boddington, a lovely man, a musicologist of great sensitivity and a charming nervous quiver, who was a dear friend of my Mother’s. When I was twelve he would let me arrange flowers (wonderfully swoon-worthy fragrant Regale white lilies in tall glass vases, and cumuli of great white hydrangeas in pewter urns) on stage before a piano recital of the Eroica Club.
Henry Matisse, The Piano Lesson (1916) |
Music is part of living and breathing for me. I’m typing this post for you and listening to BBC3 radio. Ravishing and expressive notes of the great Rachmaninoff Third Piano Concerto in D Minor spin vortices of delight. I see sound paintings and hear deep emotion as Peter Oundjian conducts the RSNO with deliriously beautiful playing by Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky (young, genius). I listen to Rach Three over and over. A revelation. Music does that.
I love opera—which intensifies the experience of music with staging, the libretto, a chorus, the orchestra, and the highest levels of costume design, stage sets, choreography, intricate lighting. And as the final note fades, wild applause.
I love opera—which intensifies the experience of music with staging, the libretto, a chorus, the orchestra, and the highest levels of costume design, stage sets, choreography, intricate lighting. And as the final note fades, wild applause.
San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House |
San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House |
Opening Night Celebrations – Friday, September 6, 2013
Opera Ball 2013: The Garden of Good and Evil Presented by San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Opera Guild, the evening begins with an elegant pre-performance cocktail reception and sumptuous dinner (Dan MaCall/Lucas Shoemaker) followed by the season-opening performance of Boito’s Mefistofele and further celebrations.A highlight of the City’s cultural and philanthropic season, Opera Ball 2013 is created by celebrity event designer Colin Cowie and raises funds to benefit San Francisco Opera and the Opera Guild’s education and community and school programs.
For tickets or more information about Opera Ball 2013, call (415) 565-3204.
Bryn Terfel in Falstaff |
The Barber of Seville |
Greer Grimsley in The Flying Dutchman |
Season highlights include:
World Premiere of Dolores Claiborne, a New Opera by Tobias Picker and J. D. McClatchy, Based on the Novel by Stephen King
New production premieres of:
• Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer
• Verdi Bicentennial Celebration led by Music Director Nicola Luisotti including Falstaff, Messa da Requiem and La Traviata
Giuseppe Verdi’s choral masterpiece, Messa da Requiem on Friday, October 25, 2013 featuring the combined orchestras and choruses of San Francisco Opera and Italy’s renowned Real Teatro di San Carlo of Naples. In celebration of the bicentennial of Verdi’s birth, this concert will be conducted by Nicola Luisotti and will feature four vocal soloists—soprano Leah Crocetto, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Michael Fabiano and bass Vitalij Kowaljow.
All performances feature the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco.
Dolora Zajick in Dolores Claiborne |
Looking to the Future of Opera
Dolores Claiborne is David Gockley’s sixth commissioned work for San Francisco Opera since his appointment as company general director in 2006. Previous operas commissioned by Gockley include Appomattox (2007), The Bonesetter’s Daughter (2008), Heart of a Soldier (2011), and presentations of The Secret Garden (March 2013) and The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (June 2013).San Francisco Opera confirmed plans to commission Italian composer Marco Tutino for a new work, La Ciociara (Two Women), based on 20th century Italian author Alberto Moravia’s novel of the same name, with a libretto by the composer and Fabio Ceresa, adapted from a script by Luca Rossi, by arrangement with Studio Legale Cau Morandi Minutillo Turtur. Moravia’s critically acclaimed 1958 work was quickly adapted in 1960 by noted Italian film producer Carlo Ponti into a film starring Sophia Loren. Sung in Italian, Tutino’s La Ciociara, will be conducted by Nicola Luisotti at the War Memorial Opera House in June 2015.
Thank You
San Francisco Opera is sponsored, in part, by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn, Franklin and Catherine Johnson, Mrs. Edmund W. Littlefield, Bernard and Barbro Osher, and Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem. San Francisco Opera is supported, in part, by a grant from Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund. Opening Weekend Grand Sponsor is Diane B. Wilsey.
CREDITS: All images courtesy of San Francisco Opera, and used here with express permission.
For information or tickets: www.sfopera.com or (415) 864-3330.
CREDITS: All images courtesy of San Francisco Opera, and used here with express permission.
For information or tickets: www.sfopera.com or (415) 864-3330.
4 comments:
I was so excited to see your article on the SF opera. I knew David Gockley from his days at HGO in Houston, Tx.
xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
I've been resisting reading this wonderful post...I wish I'd read it sooner now.
I have a love/hate relationship with opera.
My first boy friend was a tenor and I became obsessed with it and for long after adored it.
Then a few years back I had an opera/diva roommate and I grew to hate it...the scales drove me nuts.
Sadly I have not recovered yet.
I do love the sets and costumes and flouncing about, the grand melodrama.
Your post could entice me back...
Oh, I do so love your post today! We are in the midst of The
Ring up here in Seattle...tonight we'll experience Die Walkure...Greer Grimsley is Wotan/The Wanderer, Stephanie Blythe is Fricka. Sublime. Thanks for describing the exquisite experiences of music, just about the greatest gift you can share with anyone.
An enticement into the exciting world of opera. Looking forward to this season as always; even more so now.
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