Friday, December 12, 2008

San Francisco Opera, 2009 Broadcasts

Received today and notable for what's missing: The Bonesetter's Daughter and Idomeneo.  I wonder why. You can hear these on KDFC.

Sunday, January 4 at 8 p.m. – Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra [Fall 2008]

Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky stars in the title role of Verdi’s gripping drama. Barbara Frittoli makes her Company debut as the Doge’s daughter and is joined by Ukrainian bass Vitalij Kowaljow as Jacopo Fiesco and tenor Marcus Haddock as Gabriele Adorno. Donald Runnicles, conductor; David Edwards, director.

 Sunday, February 1 at 8 p.m. – Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt [Fall 2008]

Torsten Kerl makes his San Francisco Opera debut as Paul, a man unable to come to terms with his wife’s death. Emily Magee, also making her Company debut, appears as the object of Paul’s obsession and former Adler Fellow Lucas Meachem returns to the Company in the combined roles of Fritz and Frank.  Donald Runnicles, conductor; Meisje Hummel, director.

 Sunday, March 1 at 8 p.m. – Listener’s Choice

Listeners will be asked to write in and vote for their favorite opera from the prior broadcast season (January–December 2008).  The opera receiving the most votes will be rebroadcast on March 1.

 Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. – Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov [Fall 2008]

In this Russian masterpiece, a ruler is haunted by a horrible act he committed years earlier. Samuel Ramey, recipient of the 2003 San Francisco Opera Medal, returns in the title role. He is joined by returning artists Vitalij Kowaljow as Pimen, Vsevolod Grivnov as Grigory and Vladimir Ognovenko as Varlaam. Vassily Sinaisky, conductor; Julia Pevzner, director.

 Sunday, May 3 at 8 p.m. – Puccini’s La Bohème [Fall 2008]

This heartwarming story of starving artists falling in and out of love in 19th-century Paris is a seamless mix of romantic passion and poignant tragedy. Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu (Mimì) returns in one of her signature roles and Piotr Beczala sings the role of Rodolfo. Quinn Kelsey is Marcello and Norah Amsellem is Musetta.  Nicola Luisotti, conductor; Harry Silverstein, director.

 

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