Director Shawna Lucey’s Sensitive Scenes Stir #MeToo by Barry David Horwitz When Violetta (divine Pretty Yende) has been rejected publicly, all the elegantly dressed Parisian women flock around her. They have been having spats with their men, too, and they rally around Violetta, despite her reputation. The women in bright gowns circle her, protectively,…
Tchaikovsky’s Gorgeous Score Revels in Romance, Repression by Jennifer Ann Charron Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” shines as the perfect follow up to SF Opera’s Centennial extravaganza “Antony and Cleopatra.” Rather than the elaborate ‘love story of the ages,’ “Onegin” is a subtle, intimate story of romantic disappointments and the recovery of human dignity. Tchaikovsky, himself,…
John Adams Delivers Jam-Packed Journey into Empire by Jennifer Ann Charron Commissioned for San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Season, John Adams goes above and beyond with “Antony and Cleopatra”—an ambitious work of art with a world-renowned cast, a complicated and brilliant score, and the world-class staging that SF Opera does best. While Adams’ new work…
Millennial Notes Handel’s Opera Offers an Evening of Musical Delights by Julian Auston West Edge Opera’s production of Julius Caesar serves as a pleasant reminder that small stage opera is far from dead. A small but excellent pit orchestra, conducted by Christine Brandes, delivers a series of gorgeous accompaniments for an assortment of talented…