| San Francisco Opera - San Francisco | 17 October 2018 |
click here for a gallery of photos from recent productions
click here for more photos for
Click below forproduction trailers
Tosca
Pagliacci
Cavalleria Rusticana
Girls of the Golden West
Manon
You've been granted free access to this page.
Take a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL or SUBSCRIBE today to access the full content of theoperacritic.com.
Free access
Performance reviews
| Key | 
Photo gallery
|
Production details
|
Video link
|
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 |
Forceful lovers lead S.F. Opera’s Tosca |
| 6 Oct 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
more reviews [+]
Thoughtful new Tosca reflects #MeToo, and shows an eloquent orchestra |
| 6 Oct 18 / Seen and Heard |
Underdressed |
| 6 Oct 18 / parterre box |
SF Opera brings back ‘Tosca’ in a tame, not-so-new rendering |
| 5 Oct 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
San Francisco Opera stages powerful, timely ‘Tosca’ |
| 5 Oct 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
Carmen Giannattasio living up to hype in SF Opera’s new ‘Tosca’ |
| 5 Oct 18 / Mercury News |
Roberto DevereuxSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 11 | |
A second look at San Francisco Opera’s superb “Roberto Devereux” |
| 6 Oct 18 / Opera Warhorses |
The all American cast was in prime vocal condition |
| 29 Sep 18 / Opera Today |
Radvanovsky soars as troubled Queen in superb Devereux |
| 15 Sep 18 / Classical Voice North America |
more reviews [+]
World’s best ever “Roberto Devereux” performance |
| 15 Sep 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Radvanovsky heads a gripping, radiant bel canto classic |
| 12 Sep 18 / Seen and Heard |
The company’s return to Donizetti’s Tudor drama this fall was a triumph |
| 12 Sep 18 / Opera News |
Drama, queen |
| 11 Sep 18 / parterre box |
Sondra Radvanovsky reigns in Donizetti masterwork |
| 11 Sep 18 / OperaWire |
Radvanovsky reigns in S.F. Opera’s Roberto Devereux |
| 11 Sep 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
San Francisco Opera triumphs with regal ‘Roberto Devereux’ |
| 11 Sep 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
Radvanovsky blazes forth as Queen Elizabeth I in SF Opera’s thrilling ‘Roberto Devereux’ |
| 10 Sep 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
PagliacciSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
A Cav & Pag double bill with virtues and flaws at San Francisco Opera |
| 3 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
A second look at San Francisco Opera’s “Pagliacci” |
| 29 Sep 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Joshua Kosman’s all wrong on Cav/Pag at SF Opera |
| 23 Sep 18 / The Berkeley Daily Planet |
more reviews [+]
Thrilling performances |
| 15 Sep 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Double exposure |
| 11 Sep 18 / parterre box |
‘Cavalleria Rusticana,’ ‘Pagliacci’ stir emotions at War Memorial Opera House |
| 11 Sep 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
San Francisco Opera opens with tepid Cav/Pag |
| 11 Sep 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
SF Opera opens its season at a boil, with a thrilling double bill of ‘Cav/Pag’ |
| 9 Sep 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Cavalleria RusticanaSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
A Cav & Pag double bill with virtues and flaws at San Francisco Opera |
| 3 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
Joshua Kosman’s all wrong on Cav/Pag at SF Opera |
| 23 Sep 18 / The Berkeley Daily Planet |
A second look at San Francisco Opera’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” |
| 22 Sep 18 / Opera Warhorses |
more reviews [+]
Nicely sung, brilliantly staged |
| 15 Sep 18 / Opera Warhorses |
San Francisco Opera opens with tepid Cav/Pag |
| 11 Sep 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Double exposure |
| 11 Sep 18 / parterre box |
‘Cavalleria Rusticana,’ ‘Pagliacci’ stir emotions at War Memorial Opera House |
| 11 Sep 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
SF Opera opens its season at a boil, with a thrilling double bill of ‘Cav/Pag’ |
| 9 Sep 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Der Ring des NibelungenSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 32 | |
Full cycle: C'era una volta in America |
| 25 Jul 18 / L'Ape musicale |
Full cycle: Wagner’s Ring an overwhelming marathon of music |
| 22 Jul 18 / The Toronto Star |
Götterdämmerung: Theorin, Brenna triumphant in Zambello’s “Götterdämmerung” |
| 7 Jul 18 / Opera Warhorses |
more reviews [+]
Siegfried: An heroic, passionate “Siegfried” |
| 7 Jul 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Die Walküre: Francesca Zambello’s Iconic “Walküre” |
| 30 Jun 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Segfried/Götterdämmerung: Why SF Opera’s ‘Ring’ festival has been a stunning revelation |
| 26 Jun 18 / Mercury News |
Siegfried: A gritty Siegfried continues the San Francisco Opera Ring |
| 26 Jun 18 / Bachtrack |
Siegfried: A Ring given truly rich life by conductor Donald Runnicles and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra |
| 25 Jun 18 / Opera Today |
Götterdämmerung: The Zambello Ring is big, and particularly Götterdämmerung is huge |
| 25 Jun 18 / Opera Today |
Die Walküre: Valkyries parachute into San Francisco |
| 23 Jun 18 / Bachtrack |
Full cycle: Revived staging, revivified concept sharpen S.F. Ring |
| 23 Jun 18 / Classical Voice North America |
Das Rheingold: Another Zambello Ring cycle begins |
| 23 Jun 18 / Opera Warhorses |
Das Rheingold: A strong start for San Francisco Opera's Ring |
| 21 Jun 18 / Bachtrack |
Siegfried: A gripping production and fine acting count for much, but this Siegfried is still holding out for a hero |
| 20 Jun 18 / Limelight |
Die Walküre/Siegfried/Götterdämmerung: SF Opera completes triumphant ‘Ring’ again |
| 20 Jun 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
Siegfried: Wagner’s Siegfried is hard to take |
| 20 Jun 18 / The Berkeley Daily Planet |
Full cycle: Runnicles and musicians deliver thrills in Zambello’s San Francisco Ring |
| 20 Jun 18 / Seen and Heard |
Götterdämmerung: Zambello's finely-judged Ring goes up in flames leaving the women to inherit what's left of the earth |
| 20 Jun 18 / Limelight |
Full cycle: S.F. Opera's Ring still resonates |
| 20 Jun 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Götterdämerung: SF Opera’s Ring cycle ends with a whimper |
| 20 Jun 18 / The Berkeley Daily Planet |
Götterdämmerung: With a fiery inferno, SF Opera’s ‘Götterdämmerung’ concludes a magnificent ‘Ring’ revival |
| 19 Jun 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Siegfried: Youth and age battle it out in SF Opera’s brilliantly vivid ‘Siegfried’ |
| 19 Jun 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Das Rheingold: The Ring, or Wagner as scam artist |
| 17 Jun 18 / The Berkeley Daily Planet |
Die Walküre: Die Walküre reaches the Ring's high point |
| 17 Jun 18 / The Berkeley Daily Planet |
Das Rheingold/Die Walküre: Wagner’s mighty ‘Ring’ rocks the house at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House |
| 15 Jun 18 / Mercury News |
Die Walküre: San Francisco’s Ring ripped relentlessly into the shredded emotional lives of its gods and mortals |
| 15 Jun 18 / Opera Today |
Die Walküre: A strongly cast production with real gravitas makes for a very fine second instalment in Wagner's Ring cycle |
| 15 Jun 18 / Limelight |
Die Walküre: Iréne Theorin steps in as a dazzling Brünnhilde in SF Opera’s ‘Walküre’ |
| 15 Jun 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Das Rheingold: A finely cast Rheingold makes an appropriately glittering start to Zambello's 'American' Ring |
| 15 Jun 18 / Limelight |
Das Rheingold: SF Opera launches ‘Ring’ with shimmering ‘Rheingold’ |
| 14 Jun 18 / San Francisco Examiner |
Das Rheingold: Conductor Donald Runnicles is lord of the ‘Ring’ at SF Opera’s ‘Rheingold’ |
| 14 Jun 18 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Das Rheingold: Wagner’s cumbersome nineteenth century mythology began unfolding last night here in Bayreuth-by-the-Bay |
| 14 Jun 18 / Opera Today |
associated articles [+]
The 150 years of urgency
'The Ring of the Nibelung' at San Francisco Opera. An interview with visionary director Francesca Zambello.
'The Ring of the Nibelung' at San Francisco Opera. An interview with visionary director Francesca Zambello.
New special effects for the Ring Cycle at S.F. Opera
"Lots of changes have been made to the production,” says Jeffery McMillan, senior communications manager at S.F. Opera. “Everything works on a new system, with one ‘mission control’ computer.”
"Lots of changes have been made to the production,” says Jeffery McMillan, senior communications manager at S.F. Opera. “Everything works on a new system, with one ‘mission control’ computer.”
In the Ring with Iréne Theorin
Fresh from a successful Ring Cycle in Vienna in April, Iréne Theorin is unexpectedly filling out her summer with a full complement of Brünnhildes at San Francisco Opera’s Ring Cycle.
Fresh from a successful Ring Cycle in Vienna in April, Iréne Theorin is unexpectedly filling out her summer with a full complement of Brünnhildes at San Francisco Opera’s Ring Cycle.
Evelyn Herlitzius pulls out of SF Opera 'Ring'
Evelyn Herlitzius, who was to make her San Francisco Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Wagner’s “Ring” Cycle in June, has withdrawn from the production for health reasons. She will be replaced by Iréne Theorin.
Evelyn Herlitzius, who was to make her San Francisco Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Wagner’s “Ring” Cycle in June, has withdrawn from the production for health reasons. She will be replaced by Iréne Theorin.
Catching up with Evelyn Herlitzius
Anyone who has witnessed a live performance by soprano Evelyn Herlitzius or seen her on DVD is likely to come away with at least one common impression of her: intensity.
Anyone who has witnessed a live performance by soprano Evelyn Herlitzius or seen her on DVD is likely to come away with at least one common impression of her: intensity.
Ring resounds 'round town
As Ring fever heats up, S.F. Opera reaches out with surprising and fun new ancillary programs.
As Ring fever heats up, S.F. Opera reaches out with surprising and fun new ancillary programs.
TurandotSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 17 | |
San Francisco Opera wrapped up its 95th fall opera season just now with a bang up Turandot |
| 14 Dec 17 / Opera Today |
A Turandot to remember in San Francisco |
| 7 Dec 17 / Bachtrack |
Second time around, Turandot even better in San Francisco |
| 30 Nov 17 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
Stemme, Crocetto, Howard join cast |
| 25 Nov 17 / Opera Warhorses |
Exquisite Nina Stemme, Leah Crocetto, Brian Jagde lead socially relevant interpretation of Puccini masterwork |
| 21 Nov 17 / OperaWire |
Stemme headlines a glorious ‘Turandot’ revival at SF Opera |
| 20 Nov 17 / South Florida Gay News |
A second look |
| 7 Oct 17 / Opera Warhorses |
Homicidal princesses Elektra and Turandot at SF Opera |
| 25 Sep 17 / SFist |
Nicola Luisotti triggered timeless lyricism into the Puccini’s sonically massive score |
| 18 Sep 17 / Opera Today |
Sonic splendor, visual delight |
| 16 Sep 17 / Opera Warhorses |
A real fairy tale in the bay area led by Martina Serafin and Brian Jagde |
| 15 Sep 17 / OperaWire |
Hockney’s Turandot returns, vigorously refreshed |
| 15 Sep 17 / Seen and Heard |
A colorful Turandot opens the San Francisco Opera season |
| 14 Sep 17 / Bachtrack |
S.F. Opera’s Turandot is still stunning |
| 13 Sep 17 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
This is a man’s world |
| 12 Sep 17 / parterre box |
SF Opera’s ‘Turandot’ takes flight toward the end |
| 10 Sep 17 / San Francisco Chronicle |
Vivid, commanding S.F. Opera ‘Turandot’ |
| 10 Sep 17 / San Francisco Examiner |
associated articles [+]
More questions for the Calaf
A conversation with Brian Jagde.
A conversation with Brian Jagde.
Girls of the Golden WestSan Francisco OperaNo. of reviews: 16 | |
John Adams’s Girls of the Golden West fails to find the mother lode |
| 13 Dec 17 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Golden wreck |
| 12 Dec 17 / parterre box |
World premiere by John Adams and Peter Sellars |
| 4 Dec 17 / Berkshire Fine Arts |
more reviews [+]
John Adams’ eighth opera takes his now astonishing sonic and dramatic vocabulary to ever greater depths |
| 1 Dec 17 / Opera Today |
It offers a richly imagined score, a libretto drawn from historical sources, and an affectingly staged production |
| 28 Nov 17 / Opera News |
Where to look for treasure in California's new gold rush? Try John Adams' new opera |
| 27 Nov 17 / Los Angeles Times |
Too much pyrite, not enough gold in Adams world premiere |
| 27 Nov 17 / Seen and Heard |
John Adams’s opera offers an arresting vision of California during the gold rush |
| 25 Nov 17 / Financial Times (via Google) |
Mining for gold: new Adams opera finds darker veins |
| 25 Nov 17 / Classical Voice North America |
John Adams’ new opera proves there’s gold in them thar girls |
| 24 Nov 17 / Limelight |
With ‘Girls,’ S.F. Opera pans for gold and comes up empty. |
| 23 Nov 17 / San Francisco Chronicle |
associated articles [+]
John Adams seeks gold with a California opera
John Adams and Peter Sellars’s Girls of the Golden West is set to open at the San Francisco Opera this week.
John Adams and Peter Sellars’s Girls of the Golden West is set to open at the San Francisco Opera this week.
Has all of opera's gold already been mined? John Adams thinks not
Hiking in California’s gold country with John Adams, an enfant-terrible-turned-elder-statesman whose new Gold Rush opera is definitely not Puccini’s.
Hiking in California’s gold country with John Adams, an enfant-terrible-turned-elder-statesman whose new Gold Rush opera is definitely not Puccini’s.
Reviews search
Performance schedule
News & Articles
| The 150 years of urgency |
'The Ring of the Nibelung' at San Francisco Opera. An interview with visionary director Francesca Zambello. |
| 18 Jun 2018 / Forbes |
| Evelyn Herlitzius pulls out of SF Opera 'Ring' |
Evelyn Herlitzius, who was to make her San Francisco Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Wagner’s “Ring” Cycle in June, has withdrawn from the production for health reasons. She will be replaced by Iréne Theorin. |
| 10 May 2018 / San Francisco Chronicle |
| S.F. Opera announces 2018-19 season, with debuts by 6 conductors |
The season, which with the traditional double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci,” and runs through June 2019, comprises only eight productions down from the traditional ten. |
| 18 Jan 2018 / San Francisco Chronicle |
| David Hockney receives S.F. Opera’s highest award |
Hockney, 80, was awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal, the company’s most prestigious award. |
| 5 Dec 2017 / San Francisco Chronicle |
| John Adams seeks gold with a California opera |
John Adams and Peter Sellars’s Girls of the Golden West is set to open at the San Francisco Opera this week. |
| 22 Nov 2017 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
 |