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- A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love.
- A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks like a million dollars but isn't bringing money, peace or love.
- The story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.
- Set in 1820, the story of Ahab, captain of the ill-fated whaleship Pequod, and the crew he commands. Having lost one of his legs to the white whale called Moby Dick, Captain Ahab is obsessed with finding and destroying him at any cost. Only the ship's first mate, Starbuck, sees the deadly implications of Ahab's obsession.
- George Gershwin miraculously melded classical music, popular song, jazz, blues and spirituals in this quintessentially American masterpiece that tells the poignant story of a crippled beggar, the headstrong woman he loves, and the community that sustains them both. San Francisco Chronicle praised Francesca Zambello's production as a "powerful Porgy and Bess...persuasively led by conductor John DeMain and sung by a strong cast headed by Eric Owens and Laquita Mitchell in the title roles.... Owens brought vocal heft and dramatic sensitivity to the part of Porgy. Mitchell gave an evocative performance as Bess, compounded of tempestuous need and penitence." "Dazzling and remarkable!" -San Jose Mercury News "Triumphant! A top-notch, sold-out Porgy and Bess." -San Francisco Examiner
- The first act takes place about a month before the bomb is to be tested, and the second act is set in the early morning of July 16, 1945. During the second act, time frequently slows down for the characters and then snaps back into reality.
- While the rest of the Hebrews bewail their fate, Samson alone trusts in God's promise of liberty. Abimelech, the Philistine satrap of Gaza, enters to mock the Hebrews' God, proclaiming the superiority of Dagon, and the Hebrews are afraid of him. But calls them to show some defiance, so Abimelech attacks Samson with his sword. Samson seizes the sword and strikes him dead. The Hebrews scatter and the High Priest of Dagon appears, cursing the Hebrews. When a messenger reports that the Hebrews are ravaging the harvest, the High Priest forms a plan to use Delilah to overcome Samson's strength. Delilah's beauty is such that Samson can't resist her for long. She begs to know the secret of his supernatural strength, but he refuses, though he says he loves her. Delilah betrays Samson by having some Philistine soldiers seize him and throw him into a prison in Gaza, where his hair is cut off.
- A thoroughly Italian work inspired by Viennese operetta, this rarely performed Puccini gem tells the story of love between a kept woman from high society and a naïve younger man of moderate means. From the composer's fabled Act I aria, "Chi il bel sogno," to the glorious Act II cafe scene, this San Francisco Opera production features two world renowned singers at their finest: Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu and Russian tenor Misha Didyk. Ion Marin conducts La Rondine ("The Swallow") in an opulent Art Deco production design by Nicolas Joël.
- The Don Juan legend crackles to life in the hands of the world's most well-known composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Carefully balancing brilliant comedy with heaping amounts of seduction and ultimate tragedy, Don Giovanni is often referred to as the greatest opera ever composed. From the sparkling overture to one hit musical number after another, this fast-paced San Francisco Opera production features extraordinary Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecien in the title role. Maestro Donald Runnicles leads the world renowned San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
- Donizetti's charming comedy is a celebration of innocence, so what setting could be better than a small Italian-American community in the Napa Valley, circa 1915? In this ingenious update, the naive Nemorino believes that a love potion will win him Adina's heart. Blossoming from a shy Italian immigrant to a plucky entrepreneur, he captures both his sweetheart and the American dream over the course of this delightful opera buffa. Tenor Ramon Vargas superbly embodies the role of the lovesick Nemorino. The beautiful but aloof Adina is sung by soprano Inva Mula. Recorded Fall 2008, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco.
- A true classic of American musical theater, this tale of life on the Mississippi from the 1880s onward is both a poignant love story and a powerful reminder of the bitter legacy of racism. With music by Jerome Kern & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II & P.G. Wodehouse, Show Boat stands as an archetypical representation of a time in America that the audiences of today must put into proper perspective.
- An idealistic artist, a celebrated singer and a corrupt police chief engage in a fierce battle of wills in this tempestuous tale of cruelty and deception. With its themes of political intrigue, sexual intimidation and official hypocrisy, Puccini's great melodrama set in 1800 is anything but dated. Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka makes her Company debut in the title role. Baritone Lado Ataneli (Scarpia) and Italian tenor Carlo Ventre make up the other sides of this fatal love triangle. Recorded Summer 2009, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco.
- This evening of one-acts is like a lavish three-course dinner, prepared by a master and promising something for everyone's taste. Not since 1952 had San Francisco audiences had the rare opportunity to enjoy this unique work the way its creator intended-in its entirety and with an ideal cast. "Smartly directed by James Robinson and conducted with sweeping lyricism by Patrick Summers" (San Francisco Chronicle). Soprano Patricia Racette, whose many San Francisco Opera triumphs include her incisive portrait of Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly,"tackled all three soprano roles...and emerged triumphant" (San Francisco Chronicle). In the three diverse soprano roles, "Racette modulated the quality and tone of her radiant, muscular sound accordingly. The title role in Suor Angelica is the real soprano showcase, a virtuoso exercise in both soaring vocalism and emotional specificity, and Racette rose superbly to the challenge."
- In this Mussorgsky masterpiece, a Russian czar is haunted by a horrible act he committed years earlier. The concise original version of the opera, focusing on the emotional disintegration of the title character, creates a theatrical experience of searing intensity. Legendary bass Samuel Ramey wowed audiences in the title role, "singing with unflagging stamina, resonance and an air of tragic death, he created a character at once charismatic and fatally flawed" (San Francisco Chronicle). Also from the San Francisco Chronicle: "Tenor Vsevolod Grivnov made a magnificent counterweight...And bass Vitalij Kowaljow gave a weighty, gorgeously precise performance as the monk Pimen."
- Walther von Stolzing is in love with Eva Pogner but she is set to be given as the prize for the winner of the upcoming master singer's contest.
- In a tavern in Nuremberg, the young poet Hoffmann recounts his three unfortunate love stories to his friend Nicklausse. The Tales of Hoffmann, here in the fairy production of Giancarlo del Monaco, illustrates the Romantic quest of an idealized Love that should be transcended in the research of an artistic absolute. Aquilles Machado embodies brilliantly the main character of this fantastic opera.
- Filled with ritual and symbolism, Mozart's final masterpiece is a playful but profound look at man's search for love and his struggle to attain wisdom and virtue. From the virtuosic arias of the Queen of the Night to the folksong-like melodies of the bird catcher Papageno, the full range of Mozart's miraculous talent is on display in this magical fairy-tale opera, "designed gloriously by Gerald Scarfe" (San Francisco Examiner). Donald Runnicles conducts an enchanting cast headed by soprano Dina Kuznetsova, who is "a poignant Pamina, her dark, sumptuous tone lending an air of majesty to the performance" (San Francisco Chronicle); and the lauded lyric tenor Piotr Beczala, who "seems born for Tamino" singing with a voice "exactly of the right weight and timbre.... Hungarian soprano Erika Miklósa is superb as Queen of the Night...not only nailing the impossibly demanding coloratura acrobatics, but singing it beautifully as well" (San Francisco Examiner). As Papageno, Christopher Maltman is unmatched in his "vocal brio and theatrical flair...there was no resisting a performance this resplendent. [His] singing is impossibly rich, with a wealth of tonal color and plenty of easy power" (San Francisco Chronicle).
- Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka's magical masterpiece in its entirety, inspired by Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin's poem of a Russian tale. An evil sorcerer Chernomor casts a spell over wedding celebrations for Ruslan and Lyudmila at the court of Svetozar, the Prince of Kiev. Lyudmila vanishes and her father promises her hand and half his kingdom to the knight who rescues her. Ruslan on this quest of rescue encounters the knights Ratmir and Farlaf, the wise wizard Finn, the slave of Ratmir, Gorislava and sorceress Naina before confronting Chernomor in his magic garden. After all the challenges for Ruslan, true love prevails.
- Nicola Luisotti, San Francisco Opera's music director and a master of the Italian repertoire, conducts Puccini's most beloved opera. This heartwarming story of starving artists falling in and out of love in 19th-century Paris is a seamless mix of romantic passion, poignant tragedy and high spirited fun. The outstanding cast is headed by superstar Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu as the ill-fated Mimì and by Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as her lover, the poet Rodolfo. Recorded Fall 2008, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco.