 Rossini Marathon Sold Out
This Fall's A Passion for Opera class, Gioacchino Rossini & the Magic of Bel Canto, promises a rare focus on one of Opera's most influential composers. While Rossini is well known for The Barber of Seville, many of his other 39 operas are becoming popular attractions in the world's greatest opera houses, due to a plethora of outstanding Bel Canto artists, who have the vocal goods and deliver.
Great artists like Renee Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Juan Diego Florez & Ewa Podles know the joys and rewards of singing Rossini. Fleming has announced that she will star in Rossini's fantastical Armida at the Met during the 2009-2010 season and Florez continues to essay many Rossini rarities at Pesaro and elsewhere. Bartoli & Podles make Rossini a centerpiece of their repertoires. And speaking of Fleming, we can only hope that she decides to "try out" Armida in San Francisco before its Met debut!
The class is Sold Out. For those of you enrolled, please be aware that due to major road construction in the SRJC area, you should leave plenty of time to get to Newman Auditorium & park. The Auditorium will be open for seating by 6:30 p.m. and between that time and the start of class at 7:00 p.m. you can enjoy many of Rossini's great Overtures while you network and chat with other opera lovers.
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Elizabeth Schwarzkopf Dies at age 90
I never saw the legendary soprano, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, but from my early years as an opera fanatic, I listened again and again to her cool, aristocratic (yet romantic in its own way) Marschallin on LP. It remains my favorite recording of Der Rosenkavalier, with its superb cast that also features Teresa Stich-Randall and Christa Ludwig.
This would be a great starting point for preparing for the opera in June, 2007 at San Francisco Opera. Click Here to hear Schwarzkopf sing a bit of the Marschallin's monologue "Da geht er hin", from Richard Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier". (Vienna, 1962)
Complete Obituary, San Francisco Chronicle.
The Fall Opera Tour to the Met & NYC with James Sokol
Our very own James is leading another tour to NYC this Fall ( October 12 to October 16) to see three great operas including The Magic Flute & La Gioconda at the Met and L'Elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) at NYC Opera. Of course James is lecturing and entertaining the entire time, which alone is worth the price. For more information, click: Printer-Friendly PDF Flyer.
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An Opera Revolution on YOU TUBE
For those of you who know YouTube, I don't need to explain. For those of you who don't, I can't explain. Suffice it to say, one could spend days looking at all of the amazing opera video clips posted from around the world on this internet site. There seems to be little or no concern for copyright laws, and almost anything goes from mining the best moments on commercial DVD's to scouring in-house opera camera records of rehearsals never meant for the public to see.
Don't spend much time wondering, just look for yourself
at my selection of the 10 Best YouTube Opera Clips. Of course
they are weighted towards Rossini & Bel Canto for the
upcoming class.
When you have seen them all, please vote
for your favorite!
YouTube Opera Clips:
Bryn Terfel sings 'Miei rampolli femminini' from Rossini's La Cenerentola.
The great Welsh Bass-Baritone demonstrates to perfection Rossini's comedic style - a perfect teaser for the Fall Class, "Gioacchino Rossini & The Magic of Bel Canto".
In this aria, the once wealthy Don Magnifico, who lives in his crumbling villa with two spoiled and lazy daughters and his over burdened step-daughter (Cinderella), is awakened by his two daughters. Don Magnifico curses them and then goes on to tell them all about the dream he had of how he was turned into a donkey. He then goes on to interpret his dream, finishing with the idea that the dream predicts the family's rise to royalty and their return to fortune!
Click to View Clip.
Placido Domingo & Anna Netrebko as Otello & Desdemona,
Act l Duet, "Gia nella notte densa" Verdi's Otello. July, 2006
The greatest Otello of our times meets the newest Prima Donna of our times, and no one will notice or care that he's old enough to be her GRANDFATHER!
Click to View Clip.
Juan Diego Florez, the quintessential Rossini / bel canto tenor today,
sings "Pour mon Ame" from Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment.
This performance is from the Teatro Carlo Felice, Genova. The aria features 9 high C's and made Pavarotti a star. Florez's star is shining more brightly each day.
Click to View Clip.
 Rolando Villazon & Anna Netrebko. "Tonight", West Side Story, Bernstein.
This is the starry operatic pairing that every opera house in the world clamors for. Villazon & Netrebko are the Pavarotti & Sutherland of the 21st century minus a number of pounds and inches.
Click to View Clip.
Rolando Villazon sings "O
Souverain" from Massenet's Le Cid
"O Souverain" is for Villazon what "Nessun dorma" was for Pavarotti. It is becoming Villazon's signature; perhaps only until he essays Calaf, however.
Click to View Clip.
 Bel Canto Masterpiece: Patrizia Ciofi, Finale to the Mad Scene,
"Spargi d'amaro pianto", Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti.
By the miracles of the internet, I am writing this on 8/2 and this performance took place in the Ancient Outdoor Theater in Orange, France, yesterday!! Ciofi is the most overlooked (at least in this country) soprano singing today. She has sung all over Europe but little in the U.S. Wake up, San Francisco Opera and the MET!
Click to View Clip.
New Rossini tenor on the Block: Maxim Miranov sings
"Languir per una bella", Act I, L'Italiana in Algeri. Rossini.
An Internet discovery. If not completely polished, the voice has real promise, which is more than one can say for this orchestra, band and its conductor.
Click to View Clip.
Angela Gheorghiu sings Chi il bel sogno di Doretta from Puccini's La Rondine
David Gockley, new general manager of San Francisco Opera, has promised opera goers more "marquee" singers in the future, and as an example he names Gheorghiu. She will be making her debut at SF Opera in 2007 as Magda, her calling card role in La Rondine. Here she shows what is promised and as a bonus, the Jewell Song from Gounod's Faust. Very Exciting!
Click to View Clip.
 Ewa Podles, contralto extraordinaire, sings
"Amici...pensa alla patria" from Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri
Podles is simply a vocal phenomenon. She has that rare combination of a true contralto voice and incredible agility. While many major Opera Houses have shunned her, it is their loss. True opera aficionados flock to her concerts and performances all over the globe. Don't let the rather lengthy but lovely recitative deter you. Get into it for the full picture.
Click to View Clip.
Leontyne Price sings 'D'amor sull'ali rosee',
from Verdi's Il Trovatore. Boston 1981
What a surprise for me to see this clip. In 1981, I had just arrived in Boston to start a Fellowship at Boston Childrens' Hospital and got a scalper's ticket to hear the legendary soprano in this concert. It's as I remember. How still and elegant she is - and the VOICE!
Click to View Clip.
Vote: Let me know which clip is your favorite!
Bus Tours To San Francisco Opera
3 Performances for 2006 Season
Nancy Berto, who has arranged bus transportation for our class trip to the Opera, also leads her own group of opera lovers to the War Memorial Opera House each Fall. This year Nancy again has incredibly reasonable prices to see 3 Operas : Un ballo in maschera (The Masked Ball , Verdi), Rigoletto (Verdi) and Carmen (Bizet).
This is her 25th year arranging these trips, which are most popular with Sonoma County Opera cognoscenti. For more information contact Nancy at nancyb@flyingdutchmentravel.com or by telephone at 546-2870 / 546-1212.
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PREMIER of SONOMA CITY OPERA'S
EVERY MAN JACK
Sonoma City Opera presents the world premiere of
EVERY MAN JACK
November 11th (8pm), 12th (3pm), 15th (7:30pm), 18th 8pm) and 19th (3pm)
at Person Theater
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA
 "Every Man Jack" is an exciting new opera about the life of legendary literary giant and Sonoma Valley resident, Jack London, starring world renowned operatic baritone Rod Gilfry as Jack London. "Every Man Jack," explores the life of Jack London, charismatic and controversial writer of national and international renown and early twentieth Century resident of Sonoma Valley.
His life and works have a mystique and following that have stretched well beyond this area that he loved and where he lived, wrote and died at the age of 40 in 1916. As a writer, adventure-seeker, socialist, rancher, he lived a short but driven life. He said: "I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot." "Every Man Jack" features music by composer Libby Larsen set to a libretto by Philip Littell.
To order tickets:
City Box Office
877-778-3378
www.cityboxoffice.com
(prices from $34 - $68 for non-opening night performances)
Bus Service for The Barber of Seville
Bus Service to The Barber of Seville at San Francisco Opera will be handled this year by Ellen Eppler, Travel Consultant and Cruise Specialist. Ellen has arranged for buses from Black Oak Charters for the class trip on Friday, November 17th. Pick up will be at 5 p.m. from Santa Rosa, and possibly Petaluma.
Arrival at San Francisco Opera will be between 7-7:30 p.m., which should leave plenty of time to catch all or part of 7 p.m. lecture, have a glass of wine and visit the Opera Shop before the 8 p.m. curtain. A round trip ticket is $30, which is excellent considering spiraling fuel costs. Further Information and sign up will be available at the first class. Oh, and by the way, we have outstanding Orchestra seats for this performance, thanks to San Francisco Opera's appreciation for your great support year round!!
Parking Passes for SRJC OPERA Class
For those of you who have taken A Passion for Opera before , this may be the biggest and best announcement you've heard in a long time. The college has finally heard YOUR voices and shortly will be mailing you information on how to purchase parking passes in advance for the class! No more hassle about the right change, waiting in an auto queue for a machine that doesn't work and is extremely picky about the bills you insert. Now, you'll be able to zip right in and only worry about finding a parking space. And that too should be resolved in the next year when the new parking structure is opened on campus. Alas, there's no excuse for being late to class. Now SRJC, how about SURROUND SOUND?
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Hot Tickets for the Fall
Here is my short list of 5 Operatic Events this Fall that you should not miss:
Rolando Villazon in Recital
at Cal Performances (Hertz Hall), Berkeley. Sunday, September 24.
Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera ( Masked Ball ) with Deborah Voigt
at San Francisco Opera. September.
Massenet's Manon with Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon
at Los Angeles Opera. October
Verdi's La Traviata with Renee Fleming & Rolando Villazon
at Los Angeles Opera (3 Performances only) Early September
Puccini's Manon Lescaut with Karita Mattilla at San Francisco Opera November 19 to December 10
Information:
www.sfopera.com
www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/
www.losangelesopera.com
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