| San Francisco Opera - San Francisco | 3 August 2021 |
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Il barbiere di Siviglia
Hansel und Gretel
Manon Lescaut
Le nozze di Figaro
Billy Budd
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Performance reviews
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Il barbiere di SivigliaSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
SF Opera outdoors: Rossini gets big stage as ‘Barber’ gets a trim |
 8 May 21 / Classical Voice North America |
Rossini at the drive-in, as San Francisco Opera returns |
| 1 May 21 / New York Times |
It is jaw-dropping grand opera by all standards |
| 29 Apr 21 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
San Francisco Opera does Rossini’s Barber live at the drive-in |
| 27 Apr 21 / Seen and Heard |
SF Opera’s live Barber of Seville creates delight out of necessity |
| 27 Apr 21 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
With a joyful, compressed ‘Barber’ production, S.F. Opera restarts live performance at last |
| 25 Apr 21 / San Francisco Chronicle |
The sound of cacophonous car horns was most welcome at the end of the performance |
| 25 Apr 21 / Broadway World |
San Francisco Opera’s clever ‘Barber’ lights up the drive-in |
| 25 Apr 21 / San Francisco Examiner |
Manon LescautSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
San Francisco Opera’s magnificent “Manon Lescaut”: A second look |
| 7 Dec 19 / Opera Warhorses |
Strangers when we meet |
| 19 Nov 19 / parterre box |
Lianna Haroutounian is in her vocal prime, may it endure for years to come |
| 16 Nov 19 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
A passionate “Manon Lescaut” led by Luisotti, Haroutounian and Jagde |
| 16 Nov 19 / Opera Warhorses |
Manon Lescaut pits love against money (and neither wins) |
| 13 Nov 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Overall, San Francisco Opera’s “Manon Lescaut” came through, and rose to a moving finale |
| 12 Nov 19 / OperaWire |
Favorite principals appeal in San Francisco Opera’s ‘Manon Lescaut’ |
| 11 Nov 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
A party girl gets her comeuppance |
| 10 Nov 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Hansel und GretelSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
A new “family friendly” production first seen last holiday season at London’s Royal Opera House |
| 23 Nov 19 / Opera Today |
A “must see” San Francisco Opera production of “Hansel and Gretel” |
| 23 Nov 19 / Opera Warhorses |
Grimm and proper |
| 20 Nov 19 / parterre box |
more reviews [+]
Sasha Cooke and Heidi Stober shine in Disney-fied take on classic tale |
| 20 Nov 19 / OperaWire |
SF Opera’s Hansel and Gretel is a visual delight |
| 19 Nov 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
The kids come out on top in SF Opera’s charming ‘Hansel and Gretel’ |
| 17 Nov 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
SF Opera sets holiday mood with gentler, charming ‘Hansel and Gretel’ |
| 17 Nov 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
Le nozze di FigaroSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | |
Take care of this house |
| 23 Oct 19 / parterre box |
San Francisco Opera rolled out the first installment of its new Mozart/DaPonte trilogy ... to lively if mixed result |
| 21 Oct 19 / Opera Today |
Arresting new production for “Marriage of Figaro” |
| 19 Oct 19 / Opera Warhorses |
more reviews [+]
SF Opera’s Figaro is early American: Susanna with fife |
| 19 Oct 19 / Classical Voice North America |
An American Figaro in San Francisco — and it works |
| 16 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard |
Jeanin De Bique, Serena Malfi, Nicole Heaston lead fantastic cast in Mozart’s masterpiece |
| 15 Oct 19 / OperaWire |
SF Opera’s new Figaro sets the mind soaring |
| 15 Oct 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
An American ‘Figaro,’ done with beauty and verve at SF Opera |
| 13 Oct 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
New production fine match for SF Opera’s ‘Marriage of Figaro’ |
| 13 Oct 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
associated articles [+]
The racial fault lines in opera
Casting of San Francisco Opera’s ‘Figaro’ lays bare the racial fault lines in opera.
Casting of San Francisco Opera’s ‘Figaro’ lays bare the racial fault lines in opera.
All-American Figaro inaugurates SF Opera trilogy
The idea to link the three Mozart/Da Ponte operas — Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte, — didn’t come to director Michael Cavanaugh in a flash; it was a little more gradual.
The idea to link the three Mozart/Da Ponte operas — Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte, — didn’t come to director Michael Cavanaugh in a flash; it was a little more gradual.
A voice to be heard
A conversation With Jeanine De Bique.
A conversation With Jeanine De Bique.
Roméo et JulietteSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Roméo et Juliette in San Francisco (bis) |
| 8 Oct 19 / Opera Today |
The star-crossed lovers were entrapped in an opera mess worlds away from the smooth elegance of Gounod’s score |
| 20 Sep 19 / Opera Today |
Pene Pati and Nadine Sierra brilliant in Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” |
| 14 Sep 19 / Opera Warhorses |
more reviews [+]
Get this Pati started |
| 10 Sep 19 / parterre box |
Nadine Sierra and Pene Pati deliver all you could hope for |
| 10 Sep 19 / OperaWire |
In SF Opera’s ‘Romeo,’ the tenor understudy walks off with the show |
| 8 Sep 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Pene Pati, Nadine Sierra shine in titular role debuts |
| 8 Sep 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
associated articles [+]
Composers beware
Shakespearean opera is a dangerous game.
Shakespearean opera is a dangerous game.
Trump protest disrupts 2019 SF Opera Ball
Two protesters of President Trump disrupted the opening of the 97th season of the San Francisco Opera, hoping to call out what they say were the GOP supporters in the crowd.
Two protesters of President Trump disrupted the opening of the 97th season of the San Francisco Opera, hoping to call out what they say were the GOP supporters in the crowd.
Tenor pulls out of SF Opera’s ‘Romeo’ days before opening night
Bryan Hymel, who was slated to sing the title role in the San Francisco Opera’s production of Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” has withdrawn from the entire run of the opera, citing “personal reasons.”
Bryan Hymel, who was slated to sing the title role in the San Francisco Opera’s production of Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” has withdrawn from the entire run of the opera, citing “personal reasons.”
Billy BuddSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 10 | |
An exemplary cast in an exemplary production, and enlightened conducting |
| 24 Sep 19 / Opera Today |
From Glyndebourne, a triumphant Billy Budd comes to San Francisco |
| 23 Sep 19 / Seen and Heard |
SF Opera keeps the HMS Indomitable shipshape |
| 18 Sep 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
more reviews [+]
An indomitable “Billy Budd” |
| 14 Sep 19 / Opera Warhorses |
Billy Budd swells SF Opera sails in billowing triumph |
| 14 Sep 19 / Classical Voice North America |
Miss me blond |
| 12 Sep 19 / parterre box |
John Chest leads a vibrant revival of Britten’s masterpiece |
| 11 Sep 19 / OperaWire |
SF Opera delivers a near-perfect production of Britten’s Billy Budd |
| 10 Sep 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
All male cast dazzles in Britten opera about good vs. evil |
| 10 Sep 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
‘Billy Budd’ an evocative but suspect fable of good and evil at SF Opera |
| 9 Sep 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
associated articles [+]
Why ‘Billy Budd’ is the opera of 2019
Benjamin Britten’s “Billy Budd” may have premiered in London in 1951, but it feels like the opera of America in 2019.
Benjamin Britten’s “Billy Budd” may have premiered in London in 1951, but it feels like the opera of America in 2019.
Baritone, John Chest
John Chest reflects on his journey to Billy Budd.
John Chest reflects on his journey to Billy Budd.
RusalkaSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | |
Watching ‘Rusalka,’ a liberal dystopian opera, in liberal dystopian San Francisco |
| 1 Jul 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
In San Francisco, Dvořák’s magnificently dark fairy tale |
| 27 Jun 19 / Seen and Heard |
No happy ending, but a glorious opera |
| 26 Jun 19 / Bay Area Reporter |
more reviews [+]
Under the silver lake |
| 26 Jun 19 / parterre box |
San Francisco Opera offers a dark, powerful Rusalka |
| 26 Jun 19 / Bachtrack |
Beautiful singing, insightful drama |
| 22 Jun 19 / Opera Warhorses |
Shadowy, fairy-tale ‘Rusalka’ is SF Opera at its best |
| 18 Jun 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
SF Opera bewitches with ‘Rusalka’ |
| 18 Jun 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
Everything is right with Rusalka |
| 18 Jun 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
OrlandoSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Exquisite Handelian singing in San Francisco Opera's Orlando |
| 25 Jun 19 / Bachtrack |
Countertenor outshines flashy Orlando cast in San Francisco |
| 19 Jun 19 / Seen and Heard |
Handel was both victim and survivor of the San Francisco Opera’s Orlando |
| 19 Jun 19 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
A finely sung “Orlando” melds Handel’s seductive music with Harry Fehr’s surreal staging |
| 15 Jun 19 / Opera Warhorses |
Handel’s best score gets solid music performance despite questionable production |
| 13 Jun 19 / OperaWire |
Handel’s Orlando is riveting at S.F. Opera |
| 12 Jun 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
In SF Opera’s ‘Orlando’ a clever modern setting obscures the artistic truth |
| 11 Jun 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
‘Orlando’ makes victorious return to War Memorial Opera House |
| 11 Jun 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
associated articles [+]
San Francisco Opera removes David Daniels from production
The San Francisco Opera has dropped countertenor David Daniels from its June production of Handel’s “Orlando” in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against the singer.
The San Francisco Opera has dropped countertenor David Daniels from its June production of Handel’s “Orlando” in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against the singer.
CarmenSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
A razzle-dazzle, bloodless Carmen |
| 13 Jun 19 / Opera Today |
Nice nice baby |
| 11 Jun 19 / parterre box |
San Francisco Opera plays Carmen with a heavy hand |
| 9 Jun 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
more reviews [+]
Francesca Zambello’s theatrically compelling “Carmen” |
| 8 Jun 19 / Opera Warhorses |
In SF Opera’s ‘Carmen,’ a secondary character steals the show |
| 7 Jun 19 / San Francisco Chronicle |
SF Opera’s ‘Carmen’ enchants with zesty performance |
| 7 Jun 19 / San Francisco Examiner |
First-timers in Bizet’s classic yield uneven results in San Francisco |
| 7 Jun 19 / Seen and Heard |
It's a Wonderful LifeSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | |
It’s a wonderful opera |
| 4 Dec 18 / parterre box |
A visual treat |
| 27 Nov 18 / The Stage |
Mr. Heggie and Mr. Scheer’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a tight, beautifully crafted opera |
| 26 Nov 18 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
It's a Wonderful Life: a new holiday tradition for the opera world |
| 23 Nov 18 / Bachtrack |
Sentimental, colorful, effective, and mostly ‘Wonderful’ |
| 22 Nov 18 / Seen and Heard |
Fine singing can't lift Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s new opera to higher realms |
| 21 Nov 18 / OperaWire |
SF Opera’s ‘Wonderful Life’ is so good — and so necessary |
| 20 Nov 18 / Mercury News |
SF Opera sets holiday mood with gratifying ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ |
| 20 Nov 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
At SF Opera, new version of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ earns its wings |
| 19 Nov 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
associated articles [+]
The movies go to the opera
It’s a Wonderful Life comes to the War Memorial Opera House.
It’s a Wonderful Life comes to the War Memorial Opera House.
ArabellaSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Hidden trove of seductive beauty |
| 27 Oct 18 / Classical Voice North America |
Dehn and Mulligan illumine Albery’s stylish “Arabella” |
| 27 Oct 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Ellie Dehn and Brian Mulligan solid though Strauss’ work never soars |
| 21 Oct 18 / OperaWire |
more reviews [+]
S.F. Opera’s Arabella plays it safe |
| 20 Oct 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Marc Albrecht makes his U.S. debut conducting Arabella |
| 19 Oct 18 / Seen and Heard |
At SF Opera, Strauss’ ‘Arabella’ gets a workout but never takes flight |
| 18 Oct 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
SF Opera’s new ‘Arabella’ makes glowing impression |
| 18 Oct 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
ToscaSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
An evening of powerful theater |
| 15 Oct 18 / Opera Today |
An appealing new “Tosca” for San Francisco Opera |
| 13 Oct 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Underdressed |
| 6 Oct 18 / parterre box |
more reviews [+]
Thoughtful new Tosca reflects #MeToo, and shows an eloquent orchestra |
| 6 Oct 18 / Seen and Heard |
Forceful lovers lead S.F. Opera’s Tosca |
| 6 Oct 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Carmen Giannattasio living up to hype in SF Opera’s new ‘Tosca’ |
| 5 Oct 18 / Mercury News |
Reviews search
Performance schedule
Puccini
21 Aug to 5 Sep 2021
Beethoven
14 to 30 Oct 2021
Mozart
21 Nov to 3 Dec 2021
Mozart
4 Jun to 2 Jul 2022
Sheng
14 Jun to 3 Jul 2022
News & Articles
| San Francisco Opera to require proof of vaccination for patrons |
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent surge in delta variant cases, the company said it would now require proof of vaccination for all patrons age 12 and older. |
| 29 Jul 2021 / San Francisco Chronicle |
| S.F. Opera to return with a season like no other |
In a season like no other in the company’s 99-year history, San Francisco Opera plans to return to live performance with an abbreviated 2021-22 bill of five fully staged productions and two special concerts. |
| 23 Jun 2021 / San Francisco Chronicle |
| The Ring in San Francisco |
The history of Wagner’s tetralogy in San Francisco. |
| 30 Mar 2021 / OperaWire |
| SF Opera revisits Wagner’s Ring and inaugurates live, drive-in opera |
A whole year after San Francisco Opera has gone into COVID-19 hibernation, the company is awakening with a bang. |
| 17 Feb 2021 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
| San Francisco Opera announces upcoming schedule of free streams |
Programming includes Verdi’s La Traviata January 30–31, Wagner’s Lohengrin February 6–7 and more. |
| 26 Jan 2021 / Broadway World |
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