Author Archives: philip

A Very Small Fledermaus – Student Production Captures the Magic

Posted on December 28, 2012 by philip

A month or so ago in this space you heard me rave about the production of Die Fledermaus by Opera San JosÉ.  I won’t take back a word of that review, but I have to tell you about a quite different but equally exciting Continue reading »

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Fledermaus Review – Happy Hour at Opera San JosÉ

Posted on November 16, 2012 by philip

IF you live anywhere near San Jose California, and IF you like any of opera, light opera, operetta, or musicals, THEN run, do not walk, to the Opera San JosÉ web site (or call them at 1-408-437-4450) and order your tickets to see Cast I perform Die Fledermaus on Saturday 11/17, Tuesday 11/20, or Sunday (matinee) 11/25.  Continue reading »

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Lohengrin Review – Classic Wagner at its Best

Posted on October 25, 2012 by philip

There is opera and there is modern opera – and there is Wagner.  And as I have just discovered, Wagner doesn’t just mean Wagner’s Ring.  Believe it or not, last night, (October 24, 2012) was the first time I had ever seen his Lohengrin.  And have I been missing something wonderful!  Continue reading »

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Moby Dick Review – Thrilling Interpretation of a Classic American Novel

Posted on October 23, 2012 by philip

How do you start with an 800-page book that has stood the test of time and create a three-hour opera from it?  Here are a couple of quotes from Composer Jake Heggie’s fascinating article in the program:  Continue reading »

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Hoffmann Review – West Bay Opera presents a wonderfully integrated production

Posted on October 18, 2012 by philip

I never get tired of seeing Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann.  And a good thing, too, since in the space of three months I will have seen 6 performances of three quite different productions of the opera:  Continue reading »

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Capulets and Montagues Review – Shakespeare It Ain’t

Posted on October 10, 2012 by philip

I had seen Shakespeare’s play; I had seen Gonoud’s opera a couple of times; I had seen many, many performances of Prokofiev’s ballet.  But at the San Francisco Opera on October 3, 2012, I saw I Capuleti e i Montecchi, an 1830 opera by Vincenzo Bellini, for the first time.  And from the first few notes of the overture, I knew I was about to see a story different from the one told by S, G, and P.  Continue reading »

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Mikado Review II – Memories

Posted on September 24, 2012 by philip

I was raised on Gilbert & Sullivan.  Continue reading »

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Rigoletto Review – SF Opera’s Stunning Setting of Verdi’s Masterpiece

Posted on September 23, 2012 by philip

It is 8:00 PM, on Saturday, September 7, 2012.  Last night San Francisco Opera opened its 89th season with Verdi’s Rigoletto.  However, tonight will be “opening night” for the three principal members of the cast -Albina Shagimuratova (Gilda), Marco Vratogna (Rigoletto), and Francesco Demuro (The Duke of Mantua), since the company is splitting the 12 September performances between two casts. 

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The Pearl Fishers Review -Bizet’s Other Opera

Posted on September 17, 2012 by philip

I had seen three productions of The Pearl Fishers by the Minnesota Opera (1986, 1991, and 2009), and one by Opera San Jose (2004), so it wasn’t a brand new experience for me.  Nor was it brand new for the company who had produced it three times at Montgomery Theatre (1990, 1994, 2004) before the current production at the California Theatre, which I have just seen on September 9, 2012.  Still, I feel that I am just beginning to know and appreciate it.  Continue reading »

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Mikado Review I – Lamplighters Will Leave You Humming and Laughing

Posted on August 21, 2012 by philip

The anticipation began when I saw the first poster for the Lamplighters’ 60th season and found that they would be performing The Mikado here in Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.  Continue reading »

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