- Kashchey the Immortal and Mozart and Salieri, both by Rimsky-Korsakov, January, 2018
- La Sonnambula, by Vincenzo Bellini, in March, 2018
Both will be at the Elks Ballroom on Santa Clara Avenue. I've never seen any of these and hope to attend.
Showing posts with label SA17/18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SA17/18. Show all posts
Monday, May 29, 2017
Island City Opera 2018
Island City Opera, Alameda's very own, has an interesting 2018 season!
Wednesday, March 08, 2017
That Was Fast.
The Met season announcement was on February 17, 2017. Yesterday, just two weeks later, came the first cast change announcement, and it is a doozy. Let's take a look at the first two paragraphs of the press release.
My translation of this? JK tried to get out of some of his appearances and the Met fired his ass. From Gelb's comments in the Times article, it seems that he quite rightly was concerned that something like this might happen, and he consequently had Grigolo in reserve.
It takes some guts to fire one of the world's most in-demand tenors, one of the few singers who can easily sell out the entire huge Met. I think this was well played by the Met.
And also, I deeply admire the author of the two quietly scorching paragraphs I quote above.
(The balance of the press release tells us about Vittorio Grigolo's recent appearances at the Met and tells us he's wonderful. Good. :)
UPDATED 3/8/2017: A follow-up article on the situation, again from Michael Cooper.
Vittorio Grigolo will sing the role of Cavaradossi for the first time in his career in next season’s much-anticipated new production of Puccini’s Tosca, opening on New Year’s Eve. Grigolo replaces the originally announced Jonas Kaufmann, after the Met learned earlier this week that Mr. Kaufmann was not able to meet his commitments for the rehearsal and performance schedule.
"Our disappointment in losing Jonas was quickly reversed at the prospect of Vittorio singing Cavaradossi," said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. "This season, Vittorio has proven himself to be one of opera's most thrilling performers."The invaluable Michael Cooper had an article about this in the Times in which Kaufmann is quoted saying that he is reconsidering his commitments for "personal and professional reasons," and in which there is also a hint that maybe JK would be available for some performances later in the run.
My translation of this? JK tried to get out of some of his appearances and the Met fired his ass. From Gelb's comments in the Times article, it seems that he quite rightly was concerned that something like this might happen, and he consequently had Grigolo in reserve.
It takes some guts to fire one of the world's most in-demand tenors, one of the few singers who can easily sell out the entire huge Met. I think this was well played by the Met.
And also, I deeply admire the author of the two quietly scorching paragraphs I quote above.
(The balance of the press release tells us about Vittorio Grigolo's recent appearances at the Met and tells us he's wonderful. Good. :)
UPDATED 3/8/2017: A follow-up article on the situation, again from Michael Cooper.
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
Prediction
San Francisco Symphony is announcing its 2017-18 season on Monday, and after gazing deeply into my own navel, I have two predictions:
- Bernstein. Because it's his centenary, and because he was a mentor to MTT. I don't know which Bernstein, but it could be one of his symphonies, it could be a show they haven't done yet, it could be the Mass, which has made quite the comeback in the last few years. (I honestly think that this is the easiest predication in the known universe.)
- Totentanz. Because we've had Adès' Chamber Symphony, Polaris, and Concentric Paths, the composer's violin concerto. Somebody at SFS is a fan, and Totentanz is making the rounds to great acclaim.
And if the Bernstein Mass and Totentanz aren't performed locally next season, why, the great orchestra to the south has performances of both.
If I were programming next season and it included a lot of Bernstein, I'd try to put him in context by programming music by his contemporaries in the Boston/Brandeis school: Irving Fine, and my teachers Arthur Berger and Harold Shapero.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Los Angeles Philharmonic, 2017-18
Walt Disney Concert Hall, October 2007
Photo by Lisa Hirsch
OMG, the LA Phil's 2017-18 season!!!
A friend in LA very kindly passed along some information to me about five minutes after the season went live around midnight, and OMG I wish I could work from LA for the year. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
Here's a very brief rundown, and note that the repertory must include the Green Umbrella New Music concerts. That's okay; all of this is happening under the aegis of an American orchestra. Nearly every other orchestra whose programming I've seen pales in comparison to this. (As previously noted, I'm very impressed by the adventurous programming of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, nearly all of whose concerts involve the new or unusual.)
There are 81 (EIGHTY-ONE) composers on the season. Of these, 31 are alive. That's right, the LA Phil and its associated programs have a season on which more than one-third of the composers are alive. Not only that, a significant further number composed entirely or primarily in the 20th c. These include Varese, R. Strauss, Eastman, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Sibelius, Zimmerman, Weinberg, Vaughan Williams, Bernstein, Bacewicz, Berg, Debussy, Holst, Martirano, Messiaen, and Shostakovich. (Eastman is JULIUS EASTMAN!!)
They're performing music by nine (9) women, 8 of whom are alive (see Bacewicz, whose music i don't know at all). There's one Asian woman (Chen Yi), one deceased African American man (Eastman), and a number of Mexican and other Latin American composers (one Brazilian man, one Cuban-American woman). There is a festival of music by living Mexican composers, looks like. There are also several living Italians, not all male. There are several works by Esa-Pekka Salonen. There are 23 commissions, 22 world premieres, 6 US premieres, and 2 west coast premieres.
Four women are conducting during the season: Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, Susanna Malkki, Emmanuelle Haim and Xian Zhang, all of whom have multiple concerts assigned.
I must note that there's no lack of 18th and 19th c. classics. There's Brahms, Mozart, and Beethoven. There's Bach. There's a nice heap of Schumann, including Das Paradies und die Peri and some symphonies. The 18th c. composers are nicely chosen and include Galuppi and Charpentier.
It is an astonishing season. See you at WDCH.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Opera Philadelphia Drops Jaws
I mean that in a good way.
Opera Philadelphia has announced their 2017-18 season, and it is astonishing:
Opera Philadelphia has announced their 2017-18 season, and it is astonishing:
- The Magic Flute
- Elizabeth Cree, Kevin Puts, libretto by Mark Campbell. World premiere.
- We Shall Not Be Moved, Daniel Bernard Roumain, libretto by Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Bill T. Jones directs & choreographs. World premiere.
- War Stories, Philadelphia premiere,
- Il combatitmento di Tancredi e Clorinda, Monteverg
- I Have No Stories to Tell You, Lembit Beecher, libretto by Hannah Moscovitch
- The Wake World, music & libretto by David Hertzberg. World premiere.
- Written on Skin, George Benjamin
- Carmen
Three, count 'em, three world premieres, plus Written on Skin and a Philly premiere. Wow.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Metropolitan Opera 2017-18
Once again, shamelessly stealing from Opera Tattler:
September 25- December 16 2017: Norma
September 26- October 28 2017: Les Contes d’Hoffmann
September 27- October 14 2017: Die Zauberflöte
October 2 2017- March 10 2018: La Bohème
October 12 2017- April 5 2018: Turandot
October 26- November 21 2017: The Exterminating Angel
November 2 2017- March 16 2018: Madama Butterfly
November 11- December 2 2017: Thaïs
November 24- December 2 2017: Verdi's Requiem
November 25- December 9 2017 The Magic Flute
December 6 2017- January 19 2018: Le Nozze di Figaro
December 14 2017- January 11 2018: The Merry Widow
December 18 2017- January 6 2018: Hansel and Gretel
December 31 2017- May 12 2018: Tosca
January 8- February 1 2018: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci
January 16- February 17 2018: L'Elisir d'Amore
January 22- February 15 2018: Il Trovatore
February 5-27 2018: Parsifal
February 19- March 17 2018 Semiramide
March 1-23 2018: Elektra
March 15- April 19 2018: Così fan tutte
March 22- May 10 2018: Lucia di Lammermoor
March 29- April 21 2018: Luisa Miller
April 12- May 11 2018: Cendrillon
April 23- May 12 2018: Roméo et Juliette
Um....wow. There are 26 operas. With the exception of Thomas Adès's latest, The Exterminating Angel, which has its Met and US premiere, they are all by dead white men. Adès's, of course, is by a living white man.
His opera is also the only opera written after 1925. Way to go, Met! That's about as safe and dull a season as is possible. If I had 26 operas to schedule, I would take more chances. Yes, there is some excellent casting and there are some great singers (Mattei, Goerke, Vogt, etc.). The Met Orchestra concerts aren't listed above, but MGT will conduct one of them. (That is a surprise; I would expect them all to go to Levine.)
If I lived in NY, I would see Exterminating Angel, Elektra, Parsifal, Semiramide, Cendrillon, and Romeo, largely because I've never seen the last three. Oh, and maybe Thais, ditto.
September 25- December 16 2017: Norma
September 26- October 28 2017: Les Contes d’Hoffmann
September 27- October 14 2017: Die Zauberflöte
October 2 2017- March 10 2018: La Bohème
October 12 2017- April 5 2018: Turandot
October 26- November 21 2017: The Exterminating Angel
November 2 2017- March 16 2018: Madama Butterfly
November 11- December 2 2017: Thaïs
November 24- December 2 2017: Verdi's Requiem
November 25- December 9 2017 The Magic Flute
December 6 2017- January 19 2018: Le Nozze di Figaro
December 14 2017- January 11 2018: The Merry Widow
December 18 2017- January 6 2018: Hansel and Gretel
December 31 2017- May 12 2018: Tosca
January 8- February 1 2018: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci
January 16- February 17 2018: L'Elisir d'Amore
January 22- February 15 2018: Il Trovatore
February 5-27 2018: Parsifal
February 19- March 17 2018 Semiramide
March 1-23 2018: Elektra
March 15- April 19 2018: Così fan tutte
March 22- May 10 2018: Lucia di Lammermoor
March 29- April 21 2018: Luisa Miller
April 12- May 11 2018: Cendrillon
April 23- May 12 2018: Roméo et Juliette
Um....wow. There are 26 operas. With the exception of Thomas Adès's latest, The Exterminating Angel, which has its Met and US premiere, they are all by dead white men. Adès's, of course, is by a living white man.
His opera is also the only opera written after 1925. Way to go, Met! That's about as safe and dull a season as is possible. If I had 26 operas to schedule, I would take more chances. Yes, there is some excellent casting and there are some great singers (Mattei, Goerke, Vogt, etc.). The Met Orchestra concerts aren't listed above, but MGT will conduct one of them. (That is a surprise; I would expect them all to go to Levine.)
If I lived in NY, I would see Exterminating Angel, Elektra, Parsifal, Semiramide, Cendrillon, and Romeo, largely because I've never seen the last three. Oh, and maybe Thais, ditto.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Dallas Opera, 2017-18
Well, well, one of the more unusual operatic seasons in the US, and it's in Dallas. Good for you - I will finally make my first visit, maybe two, to Texas. Once again, I steal liberally from OT. The Dallas Opera web page about the season is here.
October 20- November 5 2017: Samson and Dalila
October 27-November 12 2017: La traviata
February 9-17 2018: Erich Wolfgang Korngold's The Ring of Polykrates
March 9-17 2018: Michel van der Aa's Sunken Garden
April 13-29 2018: Don Giovanni
The items of interest are obvious: the American premieres of both Korngold's The Ring of Polykrates and Michel van der Aa's Sunken Garden. I don't know van der Aa's music, and I admit that I poked this opera and The Secret Garden for the similarity of their sets. But, yeah, I'd really like to see it! And that's partly because I don't know his music at all.
I need to mention that the great British baritone Roderick Williams is in Sunken Garden. I've seen him twice, once in the Britten War Requiem at SFS and once in Harrison Birtwistle's Yan Tan Tethera, and he is one of the best you will ever hear.
There's some attractive casting elsewhere, too, most notably Mariusz Kwiecien as Don Giovanni.
October 20- November 5 2017: Samson and Dalila
October 27-November 12 2017: La traviata
February 9-17 2018: Erich Wolfgang Korngold's The Ring of Polykrates
March 9-17 2018: Michel van der Aa's Sunken Garden
April 13-29 2018: Don Giovanni
The items of interest are obvious: the American premieres of both Korngold's The Ring of Polykrates and Michel van der Aa's Sunken Garden. I don't know van der Aa's music, and I admit that I poked this opera and The Secret Garden for the similarity of their sets. But, yeah, I'd really like to see it! And that's partly because I don't know his music at all.
I need to mention that the great British baritone Roderick Williams is in Sunken Garden. I've seen him twice, once in the Britten War Requiem at SFS and once in Harrison Birtwistle's Yan Tan Tethera, and he is one of the best you will ever hear.
There's some attractive casting elsewhere, too, most notably Mariusz Kwiecien as Don Giovanni.
LA Opera 2017-18
Ooof. LA Opera relapses, has a season with nothing on the main stage that I would attend if I lived down there. List stolen, with thanks, from Opera Tattler. I have added (ms) to indicate the productions staged at the Dorothy Chandler.
September 9-23 2017: Carmen (ms)
October 7-28 2017: The Pearl Fishers (ms)
October 14-November 19 2017: Nabucco (ms)
October 28-31 2017: La Belle et la Bete
November 9-12 2017: Keeril Makan's Persona
January 27- February 18 2018 Bernstein's Candide (ms)
March 10-25 2018: Orpheus and Eurydice (ms)
May 12- 31 2018: Rigoletto (ms)
May 26 2018: Matthew Aucoin's Crossing
June 22-24 2018: Gordon Getty's Usher House and Canterville Ghost
Wow. I mean, what? Two by Bizet, including his greatest hit and a real stinker. I do not get why Pearl Fishers is suddenly popping up at all the majors, and I really hope SF doesn't stage it again. (Give us some Saint-Saens or Massenet or even Gounod's Romeo rather than this turkey.) Carmen has the novelty of a soprano in the title role; these days, it's unusual, but the legendary Emma Calvé was a famous Carmen and so was Regine Crespin. I have no idea how Ana Maria Martinez will do with the part. Orepheus is choreographed as well as staged as an opera.
You should avoid the Getty double bill. Usher House is....not good.
For further horrified thoughts on this, see All is Yar, where Mr. CKDH is sputtering, but reports on an enlightening chat with James Conlon, whom I'd still like to steal.
September 9-23 2017: Carmen (ms)
October 7-28 2017: The Pearl Fishers (ms)
October 14-November 19 2017: Nabucco (ms)
October 28-31 2017: La Belle et la Bete
November 9-12 2017: Keeril Makan's Persona
January 27- February 18 2018 Bernstein's Candide (ms)
March 10-25 2018: Orpheus and Eurydice (ms)
May 12- 31 2018: Rigoletto (ms)
May 26 2018: Matthew Aucoin's Crossing
June 22-24 2018: Gordon Getty's Usher House and Canterville Ghost
Wow. I mean, what? Two by Bizet, including his greatest hit and a real stinker. I do not get why Pearl Fishers is suddenly popping up at all the majors, and I really hope SF doesn't stage it again. (Give us some Saint-Saens or Massenet or even Gounod's Romeo rather than this turkey.) Carmen has the novelty of a soprano in the title role; these days, it's unusual, but the legendary Emma Calvé was a famous Carmen and so was Regine Crespin. I have no idea how Ana Maria Martinez will do with the part. Orepheus is choreographed as well as staged as an opera.
You should avoid the Getty double bill. Usher House is....not good.
For further horrified thoughts on this, see All is Yar, where Mr. CKDH is sputtering, but reports on an enlightening chat with James Conlon, whom I'd still like to steal.
Friday, February 10, 2017
The Lazy Way Out
So, looking at the season announcements that are appearing, I'm seeing some lazy bones programming.
First, every orchestra and opera company that can, and that means all of them, is going to capitalize on the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein. Both the CSO and LOC have some Bernstein scheduled, more at the CSO than LOC.
I can only imagine what we will be seeing at SFS, given MTT's relationship with Lenny. I am not sure when they are announcing, but I got the press release on February 29 last year, so, within the next three weeks.
Second, le big sigh at this, from the CSO:
First, every orchestra and opera company that can, and that means all of them, is going to capitalize on the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein. Both the CSO and LOC have some Bernstein scheduled, more at the CSO than LOC.
I can only imagine what we will be seeing at SFS, given MTT's relationship with Lenny. I am not sure when they are announcing, but I got the press release on February 29 last year, so, within the next three weeks.
Second, le big sigh at this, from the CSO:
Several programs during the 2017/18 season mark major composer anniversaries including the 150th anniversary of Gioachino Rossini’s death, the centennial of the birth of American composer Leonard Bernstein, the 150th birthday of Claude Debussy and the 200th birthday of Charles Gounod.Really, that does not a coherent season make. Also: Gounod??
Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017-18
Hmm.
September 23- October 15 2017: Orphee et Eurydice
October 7- November 3 2017: Rigoletto The production is ours, that is, with the wonderful Michael Yeargan sets. Attractive cast (Kelsey, Feola, Polenzani).
November 1-30 2017: Die Walküre. Their new production, with Christine Goerke and Eric Owens.
November 19- December 10 2017: The Pearl Fishers If the production photo looks vaguely familiar, yes, Zondra Rhodes, who did that very splashy Aida in SF. Even Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien could not get me to this turkey of an opera.
December 5 2017- January 27 2018: Turandot
February 4-28 2018: I Puritani An opera I've never seen, but...
February 17- March 16 2018: Così fan tutte
March 3-21 2018: Faust
March: Fellow Travelers. Singers not listed but worth seeing.
April 27- May 20 2018Jesus Christ Superstar
Piotr Beczala is giving a recital; there's a one-shot Bernstein celebration that will include Trouble in Tahiti on March 18, 2018. I'm thinking....Walkuere.
September 23- October 15 2017: Orphee et Eurydice
October 7- November 3 2017: Rigoletto The production is ours, that is, with the wonderful Michael Yeargan sets. Attractive cast (Kelsey, Feola, Polenzani).
November 1-30 2017: Die Walküre. Their new production, with Christine Goerke and Eric Owens.
November 19- December 10 2017: The Pearl Fishers If the production photo looks vaguely familiar, yes, Zondra Rhodes, who did that very splashy Aida in SF. Even Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien could not get me to this turkey of an opera.
December 5 2017- January 27 2018: Turandot
February 4-28 2018: I Puritani An opera I've never seen, but...
February 17- March 16 2018: Così fan tutte
March 3-21 2018: Faust
March: Fellow Travelers. Singers not listed but worth seeing.
April 27- May 20 2018Jesus Christ Superstar
Piotr Beczala is giving a recital; there's a one-shot Bernstein celebration that will include Trouble in Tahiti on March 18, 2018. I'm thinking....Walkuere.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
LA Chamber Orchestra 2017-18
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra celebrates its 50th birthday next season. They are also looking for their next music director; Jeffrey Kahane has left that position after quite a few years.
Here's the season, which has a good helping of new music by interesting composers, including Andrew Norman:
Here's the season, which has a good helping of new music by interesting composers, including Andrew Norman:
LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
2017-18 SEASON
2017-18 SEASON
ORCHESTRAL SERIES
Joshua Bell Plays Bernstein
Saturday, September 30, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, October 1, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Jaime Martín, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
MOZART Overture to the opera, The Abduction from the Seraglio
BERNSTEIN Serenade (after Plato’s “Symposium) for Violin and Orchestra
BRAHMS Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11
Mozart in Focus: Symphony No. 40
Saturday, October 14, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, October 15, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Peter Oundjian, conductor
Jennifer Koh, violin
STRAVINSKY Suite from the ballet, Pulcinella
ANDREW NORMAN Violin Concerto (LACO Commission, World Premiere)
MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
Bach’s Brandenburgs!
Saturday, December 9, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, December 10, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Margaret Batjer, violin and leader
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
BACH The Six Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051
Midweek Mozart (Mozart in Focus: Symphony No. 41)
Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor
Menahem Pressler, piano
BRAHMS Selected Dances
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488
MOZART Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 550, “Jupiter”
Regal Classics
Saturday, February 24, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, February 25, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Douglas Boyd, conductor
Toby Spence, tenor
ELLEN REID TBA (LACO Commission, World Premiere)
BRITTEN Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31
HAYDN Symphony No. 104 in D Major, Hob.1:104, “London”
Kahane Returns!
Saturday, March 17, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, March 18, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
Margaret Batjer, violin
RESPIGHI Three Botticelli Pictures
PIERRE JALBERT Violin Concerto (LACO Co-Commission, West Coast Premiere)
HAYDN Symphony No. 99 in E-Flat Major, Hob.1:99
Beethoven!
Saturday, April 21, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, April 22, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Karina Canellakis, conductor
David Fray, piano
DAI FUJIKURA Secret Forest
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K. 491
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
Season Finale! (Mozart in Focus: Symphony No. 39)
Saturday, May 19, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, May 20, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
VIVALDI Concerto Grosso in D Minor, Op. 3 #11
SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107
DERRICK SPIVA From Here A Path
MOZART Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543
BAROQUE CONVERSATIONS
Thursdays, November 2, 2017, and January date TBA, March 1 and 22, and April 26, 2018, 7:30 pm, Zipper Hall, downtown Los Angeles
MUSIC + DANCE (“Formerly “Westside Connections”)
Dates, programs and San Gabriel Valley venue TBA; and Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at The Herb Alpert Educational Village at New Roads School, Santa Monica.
Joshua Bell Plays Bernstein
Saturday, September 30, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, October 1, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Jaime Martín, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
MOZART Overture to the opera, The Abduction from the Seraglio
BERNSTEIN Serenade (after Plato’s “Symposium) for Violin and Orchestra
BRAHMS Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11
Mozart in Focus: Symphony No. 40
Saturday, October 14, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, October 15, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Peter Oundjian, conductor
Jennifer Koh, violin
STRAVINSKY Suite from the ballet, Pulcinella
ANDREW NORMAN Violin Concerto (LACO Commission, World Premiere)
MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
Bach’s Brandenburgs!
Saturday, December 9, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, December 10, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Margaret Batjer, violin and leader
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
BACH The Six Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051
Midweek Mozart (Mozart in Focus: Symphony No. 41)
Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor
Menahem Pressler, piano
BRAHMS Selected Dances
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488
MOZART Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 550, “Jupiter”
Regal Classics
Saturday, February 24, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, February 25, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Douglas Boyd, conductor
Toby Spence, tenor
ELLEN REID TBA (LACO Commission, World Premiere)
BRITTEN Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31
HAYDN Symphony No. 104 in D Major, Hob.1:104, “London”
Kahane Returns!
Saturday, March 17, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, March 18, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
Margaret Batjer, violin
RESPIGHI Three Botticelli Pictures
PIERRE JALBERT Violin Concerto (LACO Co-Commission, West Coast Premiere)
HAYDN Symphony No. 99 in E-Flat Major, Hob.1:99
Beethoven!
Saturday, April 21, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, April 22, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Karina Canellakis, conductor
David Fray, piano
DAI FUJIKURA Secret Forest
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K. 491
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
Season Finale! (Mozart in Focus: Symphony No. 39)
Saturday, May 19, 2018, 8 pm, Alex Theatre
Sunday, May 20, 2018, 7 pm, Royce Hall
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
VIVALDI Concerto Grosso in D Minor, Op. 3 #11
SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107
DERRICK SPIVA From Here A Path
MOZART Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543
BAROQUE CONVERSATIONS
Thursdays, November 2, 2017, and January date TBA, March 1 and 22, and April 26, 2018, 7:30 pm, Zipper Hall, downtown Los Angeles
MUSIC + DANCE (“Formerly “Westside Connections”)
Dates, programs and San Gabriel Valley venue TBA; and Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at The Herb Alpert Educational Village at New Roads School, Santa Monica.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
San Francisco Opera 2017-18 Season Announcement and Press Conference
Francesca Zambello, John Adams, Peter Sellars, Matthew Shilvock
Photo: Scott Wall, courtesy of San Francisco Opera
As I said the other week to various friends, we have known the bulk of the SFO 2017-18 season for some time. David Gockley disclosed the summer, 2018 Ring sometime in 2015, and at the time named both Evelyn Herlitzius and Greer Grimsley as daughter and father, with the full cast announced this past fall. I have already commented on the cast; the production, which will be in its third complete bring-up, is a known commodity.
Then there was the surprise announcement last June of the John Adams commission, Girls of the Golden West. Between the Ring and Le Girls*, the company pre-announced most of the season.
And then, at the David Gockley gala, Michael Fabiano and Nadine Sierra sang a duet from Massenet's Manon, and there was so much nudge, nudge, wink, wink going on that you might think some hints were being dropped. Or so I've been told, since I wasn't there.
Now they've announced the season, and here it is, briefly; see the company web site for the full press release. Yes, Manon, plus the five pre-announced operas, plus three more, making nine for the season. Details and commentary below.
The press conference started with Matthew Shilvock talking about-opera company-as-community, given how many people it takes to stage one opera, let alone a mammoth undertaking such as the Ring. He lavished praise on Nicola Luisotti, whose name is on the announcement, but who wasn't able to be present "because he is conducting Pagliacci [looks at watch] at this very moment in Turin." Shilvock thanked a lot of people as he went through the announcement, and had some witty commentary on some of the casting. Announcing Stephanie Blythe (!) as Klytemnestra, he positively relished linking that role back to her very funny turn as Mrs. Lovett. Okay, but I do not think she baked Agamemmnon into a pie!
And, while thanking David Gockley along the way, he mentioned that Gockley planned this entire season. That was a smart thing to say. Next season is far better than the current season, but we are on notice that we can't tell from 2017-18 what the future artistic direction of the company will be. And, honestly, that is what I'm most curious about right now.
The structure of the press conference unfortunately did not really allow for asking that kind of question, because the bulk of it was taken up by an extended chat/Q&A session, with Shilvock asking quite good questions of guests John Adams, Peter Sellars, and Francesca Zambello. Those three were present for obvious reasons: the upcoming Adams commission and the season-ending Ring, in Zambello's production. The connecting thread really was gold and the fact that a good chunk of Rheingold is set in the Sierra Nevada.
There was only time at the end for a few questions from the press, alas, so I didn't get to ask any of the several questions I had in mind. By then, because Peter Sellars had had a lot to say, I had pretty much given up on them, in fact. That said, the three of them had good stuff to say, as well as a lot; I noted particularly some comments by Adams about how the music of mid-19th c. American didn't have much of a national character yet, and also that what the singer have to sing is more like songs than arias in this opera. He also mentioned the California history series written by Kevin Starr, former state historian; Starr died rather young of a heart attack this past weekend. His mid-19th c. volume might make a good introduction to the period of the opera.
Here's the season:
Turandot, split presentation, with six performances in September, including opening night, and six in November/December. Nicola Luisotti conducts. Turandot: Martina Serafin/Nina Stemme; Calaf: Brian Jagde; Liu: Maria Agresta & Toni Marie Palmertree (September)/Leah Crocetto (November/December); Timur: Raymond Aceto/Solomon Howard. It is the same old Hockney production (groan). Wish they'd replace this. Not only has it been done for more than 20 years, it would be excellent to have a production that "interrogates the opera," as musicologist Mark Berry might say. I am curious about Stemme, Serafin, Agresta, and Palmertree in their roles; I've seen Crocetto's Liu; I'm....dubious about how much of a success Jagde will be as Calaf.
Elektra, six performances, September. Henrik Nánási conducts. Elektra: Christine Goerke (cheering); Chrysothemis: Adrianne Pieczonka; Klytemnestra: Stephanie Blythe; Orest: Alfred Walker; Aegisthus: Robert Brubaker. New production by Keith Warner, co-produced with National Theatre of Prague and Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. I admit to being....dubious....about the Konzept, as described by Matthew Shilvock during the press conference. It's set in a museum that has an exhibit on the Elektra complex, and a woman who has somehow gotten stranded in the museum after hours looks it over and makes some personal discoveries. I think. This is such a deeply psychological opera that any sort of framing device adds unnecessary layers; there are already plenty of layers in the opera as written.
It's been around 20 years since Elektra was last done in SF, so, regardless of the production, it's about time. Along with the Adams, it's my pick for most interesting work of the season. Not to mention, what a great cast, with Goerke and Pieczonka both proven to be terrific with the sister act. Blythe should be an interesting Klytemnestra. The conductor is Hungarian and music director of the Komische Oper, Berlin.
La Traviata, ten performances in September and October. Nicola Luisotti conducts, and this will presumably be his last appearances as music director of SFO. (Matthew Shilvock did mention that they are in discussions with him about future guest appearances.) Curiously, Donald Runnicles' last run as MD was also in Traviata. I was at that performance, with Elizabeth Futral, David Lomeli, and Stephen Powell, and Runnicles got a bigger hand than anyone in the cast. Violetta: Aurelia Florian; Alfredo Germont: Atalla Ayan; Giorgio Germont: Artur Rucinski. The John Copley production, getting a little worn around the edges. I know nothing at all about Aurelia Florian and Atalla Ayan. I have heard Artur Rucinski at his web site, and he has a beautiful and impressive sound and style.
Manon, six performances in November. Patrick Fournillier conducts. Manon: Nadine Sierra; Chevalier des Grieux: Michael Fabiano; Comte des Grieux: James Creswell; Lescaut: David Pershall. New production by Vincent Boussard, who also designed the costumes. His work was last seen here in I Capuleti a few seasons ago; remember Nicole Cabell on the edge of a sink? It'll be interesting to see Fabiano and Sierra together. Fournillier conducted Cyrano de Bergerac, which was nicely done, a lovely but not very memorable bonbon.
Girls of the Golden West, eight performances in November and December, with the premiere - world premiere, that is - coming on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, an odd date. Grant Gershon of the LA Master Chorale conducts, his debut at SF Opera. He has conducted a lot of Adams in LA and is taking over The Gospel According to the Other Mary from Joana Carneiro at SFS. Dame Shirley: Julia Bullock; Ned Peters: Davone Tines; Josefa Segovia: J'Nai Bridges; Clarence King: Ryan McKinny; Joe Cannon: Paul Appleby; Ah Sing: Hye Jung Lee; Ramon: Elliot Madore; Lola Montez: SF Ballet dancer Lorena Feijoo. Peter Sellars directs and is credited with the libretto. Sound design by Mark Grey (amplification, as is usual with Adams). Co-production with The Dallas Opera, Nationale Opera & Ballet Amsterdam and Teatro La Fenice. In other words, miss it here, and you'll be able to see it elsewhere. The Met has never commissioned Adams - this seems inexplicable, given his history as an opera composer - but they've done three of his works, so they may well pick it up at some point.
* Le Girls, after Giacomo Puccini. There's a sketch of the opening of La Fanciulla del West at the Morgan Library in NYC on which he called the opera La Girl. I am not making this up, you know: I saw it with my own eyes many years ago.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Seattle Opera Season 2017-18
I noted a couple of weeks ago that Seattle will have Berlioz's Beatrice et Benedict next season, but I didn't write up the rest of the season.
I also want to point out that next month they've got what looks like a strongly-cast Kat'ya Kabanova, by Janacek. Cast includes Melody Moore and Corinne Winters in the title role; Victoria Livengood as Kabanicha; Joseph Dennis and Scott Quinn as Boris (Quinn was Steva in last season's shattering Jenufa in SF); Maya Lehyani as Varvara.
Here's Seattle for 2017-18; you probably know who wrote all of these, so I left out composer names:
Madame Butterfly
Performances: August 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 2017
Cio-Cio-San Liana Haroutounian* (Aug. 5, 9, 13, & 18) [So if you missed her here....]
Alexia Voulgaridou* (Aug. 6, 12, 16, & 19)
Pinkerton Alexey Dolgov* (Aug. 5, 9, 13, & 18)
Dominick Chenes* (Aug. 6, 12, 16, & 19)
Sharpless Weston Hurt (All dates)
Suzuki Renée Rapier (All dates)
Director Kate Cherry*
Conductor Carlo Montanaro
Production Design Christina Smith*
Lighting Design Matt Scott*
* Company Debut
The Barber of Seville
Performances: October 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 2017
Rosina Sofia Fomina* (Oct. 15, 18, 21, & 28)
Almaviva Matthew Grills* (Oct. 14, 20, 22, & 25)
Andrew Owens (Oct. 15, 18, 21, & 28)
Figaro John Moore (Oct. 14, 20, 22, & 25)
Will Liverman (Oct. 15, 18, 21, & 28)
Dr. Bartolo Kevin Glavin (All dates)
Don Basilio Daniel Sumegi (All dates)
Director Lindy Hume
Conductor Giacomo Sagripanti
Production Design Tracy Grant Lord*
Lighting Design Matthew Marshall*
Così fan tutte
Performances: January 13, 14, 17, 20, 24, 26, 27, 2018
Fiordiligi Marina Costa-Jackson* (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Marjukka Tepponen* (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Ferrando Ben Bliss* (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Tuomas Katajala* (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Dorabella Ginger Costa-Jackson* (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Hanna Hipp (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Guglielmo Craig Verm (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Michael Adams* (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Despina Laura Tatulescu (All dates)
Don Alfonso Kevin Burdette (All dates)
Original Stage Director Jonathan Miller
and Production Design
Conductor Paul Daniel*
Beatrice & Benedict!!!!!!
[Yes, I am unusually enthused about this. Hen's teeth, etc.]
Music by Hector Berlioz
Libretto by Berlioz and Shakespeare. Singing translation by Amanda Holden.
In English with English captions [This might sound odd to you but in email Rob Gordon gave me some background about the opera that makes it sound like a good choice.]
Performances: February 24, 25, 28, March 3, 7, 9, 10, 2018
Beatrice Daniela Mack* (Feb. 24, 28, Mar. 7, & 10)
Hanna Hipp (Feb. 25, Mar. 3, & 9)
Benedict Alek Schrader (Feb. 24, 28, Mar. 7, & 10)
Andrew Owens (Feb. 25, Mar. 3, & 9)
Hero Laura Tatulescu (All dates)
Ursule Avery Amereau* (All dates)
Somarone Kevin Burdette (All dates)
Claudio Craig Verm (All dates)
Don Pedro Daniel Sumegi (All dates)
Director John Langs*
Conductor Ludovic Morlot* [He is MD of the Seattle Symphony and darned good in French music.]
Aida
[If this cast, production, and director look familiar, well.....]
Performances: May 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 2018
Aida Leah Crocetto* (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
Alexandra LoBianco (May 6, 9, & 12)
Amneris Milijana Nikolic* (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
Elena Gabouri* (May 6, 9, & 12)
Radames Brian Jagde* (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
David Pomeroy* (May 6, 9, & 12)
Amonasro Gordon Hawkins (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
Alfred Walker (May 6, 9, & 12)
Ramfis Daniel Sumegi (all dates)
Director Francesca Zambello
Conductor John Fiore
Scenic Concept RETNA*
Set Design Michael Yeargan
Costume Design Anita Yavich*
Lighting Design Mark McCullough
Choreographer Jessica Lang*
I also want to point out that next month they've got what looks like a strongly-cast Kat'ya Kabanova, by Janacek. Cast includes Melody Moore and Corinne Winters in the title role; Victoria Livengood as Kabanicha; Joseph Dennis and Scott Quinn as Boris (Quinn was Steva in last season's shattering Jenufa in SF); Maya Lehyani as Varvara.
Here's Seattle for 2017-18; you probably know who wrote all of these, so I left out composer names:
Madame Butterfly
Performances: August 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 2017
Cio-Cio-San Liana Haroutounian* (Aug. 5, 9, 13, & 18) [So if you missed her here....]
Alexia Voulgaridou* (Aug. 6, 12, 16, & 19)
Pinkerton Alexey Dolgov* (Aug. 5, 9, 13, & 18)
Dominick Chenes* (Aug. 6, 12, 16, & 19)
Sharpless Weston Hurt (All dates)
Suzuki Renée Rapier (All dates)
Director Kate Cherry*
Conductor Carlo Montanaro
Production Design Christina Smith*
Lighting Design Matt Scott*
* Company Debut
The Barber of Seville
Performances: October 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 2017
Rosina Sofia Fomina* (Oct. 15, 18, 21, & 28)
Almaviva Matthew Grills* (Oct. 14, 20, 22, & 25)
Andrew Owens (Oct. 15, 18, 21, & 28)
Figaro John Moore (Oct. 14, 20, 22, & 25)
Will Liverman (Oct. 15, 18, 21, & 28)
Dr. Bartolo Kevin Glavin (All dates)
Don Basilio Daniel Sumegi (All dates)
Director Lindy Hume
Conductor Giacomo Sagripanti
Production Design Tracy Grant Lord*
Lighting Design Matthew Marshall*
Così fan tutte
Performances: January 13, 14, 17, 20, 24, 26, 27, 2018
Fiordiligi Marina Costa-Jackson* (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Marjukka Tepponen* (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Ferrando Ben Bliss* (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Tuomas Katajala* (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Dorabella Ginger Costa-Jackson* (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Hanna Hipp (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Guglielmo Craig Verm (Jan. 13, 17, 24, & 27)
Michael Adams* (Jan. 14, 20, & 26)
Despina Laura Tatulescu (All dates)
Don Alfonso Kevin Burdette (All dates)
Original Stage Director Jonathan Miller
and Production Design
Conductor Paul Daniel*
Beatrice & Benedict!!!!!!
[Yes, I am unusually enthused about this. Hen's teeth, etc.]
Music by Hector Berlioz
Libretto by Berlioz and Shakespeare. Singing translation by Amanda Holden.
In English with English captions [This might sound odd to you but in email Rob Gordon gave me some background about the opera that makes it sound like a good choice.]
Performances: February 24, 25, 28, March 3, 7, 9, 10, 2018
Beatrice Daniela Mack* (Feb. 24, 28, Mar. 7, & 10)
Hanna Hipp (Feb. 25, Mar. 3, & 9)
Benedict Alek Schrader (Feb. 24, 28, Mar. 7, & 10)
Andrew Owens (Feb. 25, Mar. 3, & 9)
Hero Laura Tatulescu (All dates)
Ursule Avery Amereau* (All dates)
Somarone Kevin Burdette (All dates)
Claudio Craig Verm (All dates)
Don Pedro Daniel Sumegi (All dates)
Director John Langs*
Conductor Ludovic Morlot* [He is MD of the Seattle Symphony and darned good in French music.]
Aida
[If this cast, production, and director look familiar, well.....]
Performances: May 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 2018
Aida Leah Crocetto* (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
Alexandra LoBianco (May 6, 9, & 12)
Amneris Milijana Nikolic* (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
Elena Gabouri* (May 6, 9, & 12)
Radames Brian Jagde* (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
David Pomeroy* (May 6, 9, & 12)
Amonasro Gordon Hawkins (May 5, 11, 13, 16, & 19)
Alfred Walker (May 6, 9, & 12)
Ramfis Daniel Sumegi (all dates)
Director Francesca Zambello
Conductor John Fiore
Scenic Concept RETNA*
Set Design Michael Yeargan
Costume Design Anita Yavich*
Lighting Design Mark McCullough
Choreographer Jessica Lang*
Houston Grand Opera Season Announcement, 2017-18
Houston Grand Opera season 2017-18, copy/paste from PDF. Some comments in line.
Verdi: La traviata
October 20, 22m, 28, Nov. 1, 3, 5m†, 11†, 2017
Violetta Valéry Albina Shagimuratova #
Alfredo Germont Dimitri Pittas
Giorgio Germont George Petean *
Conductor Eun Sun Kim *
Director Arin Arbus
Set Designer Riccardo Hernandez
Costume Designer Cait O’Connor *
Lighting Designer Marcus Doshi *
Projection Designer Christopher Ash *
Choreographer Austin McCormick *
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Canadian Opera Company
Handel: Julius Caesar
October 27, 29m, Nov. 4, 8, 10, 2017
Julius Caesar Anthony Roth Costanzo *
Cleopatra Heidi Stober #
Cornelia Stephanie Blythe
Sextus Megan Mikailovna Samarin #
Ptolemy David Daniels
Achillas Federico De Michelis #
Conductor Patrick Summers
Director James Robinson
Associate Director Michael Shell *
Set Designer Christine Jones
Costume Designer James Schuette
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra
A Houston Grand Opera production
World Premiere
The House without a Christmas Tree
A Chamber Opera in One Act
Based on The House without a Christmas Tree, a book by Gail Rock
Music by Ricky Ian Gordon; Libretto by Royce Vavrek
Sung in English with projected English text
November 30, Dec. 2, 3m, 6, 8, 10m, 14, 16m, 17m, 2017
Addie Mills Lauren Snouffer #
James Addison Mills III (“Dad”) Daniel Belcher #
Miss Thompson/ Heidi Stober #
Helen Mills/
Adelaide Mills
Grandma Mills Patricia Schuman
Conductor Bradley Moore
Director James Robinson
Set Designer Allen Moyer
Costume Designer James Schuette
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Juvenile Chorus
Commissioned and produced by Houston Grand Opera
R. Strauss: Elektra
January 19, 21m, 27, 31, Feb. 2, 2018 [Nice cast and maybe this offers clues to us.]
Elektra Christine Goerke
Chrysothemis Tamara Wilson #
Klytaemnestra Michaela Martens *
Orest Greer Grimsley #
Aegisth Chad Shelton #
Conductor Patrick Summers
Production David McVicar
Revival Director Nick Sandys*
Set and Costume Designer John Macfarlane
Lighting Designer Jennifer Tipton
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Orchestra Orchestra and Chorus
A Lyric Opera of Chicago production
Rossini: The Barber of Seville
January 26, 28m, Feb. 3, 8, 10, 2018
Figaro Lucas Meachem *
Count Almaviva David Portillo
Rosina Sofia Selowsky#
Don Basilio Eric Owens #
Doctor Bartolo Peixin Chen #
Conductor Julian Wachner *
Director Joan Font
Set and Costume Designer Joan Guillén
Lighting Designer Albert Faura
Choreographer Xevi Dorca
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Opéra National de Bordeaux, and Opera Australia
West Side Story
Based on a Conception of JEROME ROBBINS
Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS, Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN, Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Entire Original Production Directed and Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS
Sung in English with projected text
April 20, 22m, 28, May 1, 3, 4, 6m, 2018
Maria Andrea Carroll #
Tony Norman Reinhardt #
Anita Alicia Gianni #
Riff Brian Vu *
Conductor Timothy Myers
Director Francesca Zambello [Well, she did direct our Show Boat!]
Choreographer Julio Monge *
Set Designer Peter J. Davison
Costume Designer Jessica Jahn
Lighting Designer Mark McCullough
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra
A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, and Lyric Opera of Chicago [And that tells you where this production is headed, eh?]
Bellini: Norma
Sung in Italian with projected English translation
April 27, 29m, May 5, 8, 11, 2018
Norma Liudmyla Monastyrska
Adalgisa Jamie Barton #
Pollione Simon O’Neill
Oroveso Peixin Chen #
Conductor Patrick Summers
Director Kevin Newbury
Set Designer David Korins *
Costume Designer Jessica Jahn
Lighting Designer Duane Schuler
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
A co-production of San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Gran Teatre del Liceu [If you're a subscriber to SFO, you have likely seen this, with a different cast]
Verdi: La traviata
October 20, 22m, 28, Nov. 1, 3, 5m†, 11†, 2017
Violetta Valéry Albina Shagimuratova #
Alfredo Germont Dimitri Pittas
Giorgio Germont George Petean *
Conductor Eun Sun Kim *
Director Arin Arbus
Set Designer Riccardo Hernandez
Costume Designer Cait O’Connor *
Lighting Designer Marcus Doshi *
Projection Designer Christopher Ash *
Choreographer Austin McCormick *
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Canadian Opera Company
Handel: Julius Caesar
October 27, 29m, Nov. 4, 8, 10, 2017
Julius Caesar Anthony Roth Costanzo *
Cleopatra Heidi Stober #
Cornelia Stephanie Blythe
Sextus Megan Mikailovna Samarin #
Ptolemy David Daniels
Achillas Federico De Michelis #
Conductor Patrick Summers
Director James Robinson
Associate Director Michael Shell *
Set Designer Christine Jones
Costume Designer James Schuette
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra
A Houston Grand Opera production
World Premiere
The House without a Christmas Tree
A Chamber Opera in One Act
Based on The House without a Christmas Tree, a book by Gail Rock
Music by Ricky Ian Gordon; Libretto by Royce Vavrek
Sung in English with projected English text
November 30, Dec. 2, 3m, 6, 8, 10m, 14, 16m, 17m, 2017
Addie Mills Lauren Snouffer #
James Addison Mills III (“Dad”) Daniel Belcher #
Miss Thompson/ Heidi Stober #
Helen Mills/
Adelaide Mills
Grandma Mills Patricia Schuman
Conductor Bradley Moore
Director James Robinson
Set Designer Allen Moyer
Costume Designer James Schuette
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Juvenile Chorus
Commissioned and produced by Houston Grand Opera
R. Strauss: Elektra
January 19, 21m, 27, 31, Feb. 2, 2018 [Nice cast and maybe this offers clues to us.]
Elektra Christine Goerke
Chrysothemis Tamara Wilson #
Klytaemnestra Michaela Martens *
Orest Greer Grimsley #
Aegisth Chad Shelton #
Conductor Patrick Summers
Production David McVicar
Revival Director Nick Sandys*
Set and Costume Designer John Macfarlane
Lighting Designer Jennifer Tipton
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Orchestra Orchestra and Chorus
A Lyric Opera of Chicago production
Rossini: The Barber of Seville
January 26, 28m, Feb. 3, 8, 10, 2018
Figaro Lucas Meachem *
Count Almaviva David Portillo
Rosina Sofia Selowsky#
Don Basilio Eric Owens #
Doctor Bartolo Peixin Chen #
Conductor Julian Wachner *
Director Joan Font
Set and Costume Designer Joan Guillén
Lighting Designer Albert Faura
Choreographer Xevi Dorca
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Opéra National de Bordeaux, and Opera Australia
West Side Story
Based on a Conception of JEROME ROBBINS
Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS, Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN, Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Entire Original Production Directed and Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS
Sung in English with projected text
April 20, 22m, 28, May 1, 3, 4, 6m, 2018
Maria Andrea Carroll #
Tony Norman Reinhardt #
Anita Alicia Gianni #
Riff Brian Vu *
Conductor Timothy Myers
Director Francesca Zambello [Well, she did direct our Show Boat!]
Choreographer Julio Monge *
Set Designer Peter J. Davison
Costume Designer Jessica Jahn
Lighting Designer Mark McCullough
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra
A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, and Lyric Opera of Chicago [And that tells you where this production is headed, eh?]
Bellini: Norma
Sung in Italian with projected English translation
April 27, 29m, May 5, 8, 11, 2018
Norma Liudmyla Monastyrska
Adalgisa Jamie Barton #
Pollione Simon O’Neill
Oroveso Peixin Chen #
Conductor Patrick Summers
Director Kevin Newbury
Set Designer David Korins *
Costume Designer Jessica Jahn
Lighting Designer Duane Schuler
Chorus Master Richard Bado #
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
A co-production of San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Gran Teatre del Liceu [If you're a subscriber to SFO, you have likely seen this, with a different cast]
Thursday, December 29, 2016
San Francisco Opera, Streaming Its Season Announcement
This came in subscriber email; if you want to see the SFO 2017-18 season announcement*, you can, from the comfort of your own home or desk.
2017–18 Season Announcement
2017–18 Season Announcement
Tuesday, January 17 at 12:30pm
Live stream via Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and sfopera.com
Live stream via Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and sfopera.com
With the new year brings the announcement of our next season, and we can’t wait to share the news with you! Join us on January 17 at 12:30pm for a live stream of our 2017–18 Season announcement with General Director Matthew Shilvock. Subscriptions go on sale on January 17—buy early to secure the best seats at the best prices!
* I need to mention that we already know five of the operas:
- John Adams commission, Girls of the Golden West, fall, 2017
- Richard Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen, summer, 2018 (cast announced in September, 2016)
We don't know whether it's an 8, 9, or 10 opera season. There could be three, four, or five more operas announced next month.
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