Tag Archives: San Francisco Opera

Barber of Seville SFOpera Review – Some new Twists on an old Favorite

Posted on November 17, 2013 by philip

There are some old favorites, such as Tosca in which the music, characters, and/or the plot are so complex that a skilled director can bring a new insight to the most jaded opera lover. Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is not one of these.   Continue reading »

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Flying Dutchman SFOpera Review – Who says Wagner is Inaccessible?

Posted on November 1, 2013 by philip

In her pre-opera talk on October 28, 2013, DesirÉe Mays referred to The Flying Dutchman as Wagner-Lite. Since I regard “Lite Beer” as an abomination, I don’t entirely like her term – I’d rather call it Wagner-Accessible or Wagner-User-Friendly. The music is still powerful, but I walk away with a couple of actual melodies running through my head; whereas I walk away from a performance of The Ring thoroughly awed by the cumulative effect and a head full of motifs fighting for my attention.  Continue reading »

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Falstaff SFOpera Review – A first rate Treatment with a strong Bass

Posted on October 22, 2013 by philip

When you start with a plot by Shakespeare, music by Verdi, libretto by Boito, an orchestra conducted by Nicola Luisotti, and title role sung by Bryn Terfel, it is not surprising that the result is a wonderful evening of entertainment.  Continue reading »

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Dolores Claiborne Review – Grim but Fascinating

Posted on September 26, 2013 by philip

Dolores Claiborne is unforgettable.
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Mefistofele Review – Boito’s Opera is truly epic

Posted on September 24, 2013 by philip

I walk into the War Memorial Opera House, I show my ticket, the usher hands me a program, I glance at the cover, and WOW!

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Mary Magdalene Review – A Tender Reverent Setting for the Recently Discovered Gospel

Posted on June 27, 2013 by philip

For weeks I had been looking forward to the night of Saturday, June 23 2013 and the second performance ever of the world premier production of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.  Continue reading »

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Cosé¬ Fan Tutte Review – A big company takes on a small opera

Posted on June 19, 2013 by philip

Over the years I have seen Cosé¬ Fan Tutte many times, and this is the third production for which I have written a review (read my previous reviews). I have seen it played as a light-hearted comedy. I have seen it played more darkly with Don Alfonso more of a villain playing with other people’s souls. I have seen Despina fully conniving with Don Alfonso’s schemes, and Continue reading »

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Tales of Hoffmann Review – San Francisco Opera does it differently

Posted on June 18, 2013 by philip

This is the seventh performance and the fourth different production of Tales of Hoffmann that I have seen during just the past year – and by far the most different. Since I have already written three reviews, I don’t want to repeat myself by talking about the plot. If you are not already familiar with the plot of a classic production, you may want to read my review of the Pocket Opera production before proceeding with this review. Continue reading »

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Tosca Review – All Toscas are Above Average

Posted on December 30, 2012 by philip

Years and years ago when I was a lad of sixty or so I attended performances of the Minneapolis Symphony and the Minnesota Opera.  I would then read the review of the performance in the Minneapolis paper and become extremely annoyed by the music critic 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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