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CMIM Finals: one out of three ain't bad?
The one must-pack item for any summer program
Talking with singers: John Brancy
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An Insightful, Relevant Look At Divas
But of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention Arielle Rogers as Sisieretta Jones. Arielle Rogers had easily the most to do throughout the night: Sisieretta eventually became the emotional core of the evening, and that is no small task.
Read Moredell'Arte Opera nods to Mozart & Salieri in 2018
"Because it's such a long process, and because of the intensity of the repertory/festival format at the end, our training regimen is quite intense for the singers. Some come away truly ready to leap forward in their careers; others in the ensemble and smaller roles get a real taste of what it takes to do things well - the tremendous amount of work and commitment required."
Read MoreDon't miss: the RCM's unsettling double-bill
"This piece shows us the extremes of real life relationships: friendships, dysfunctional marriages, unrequited love, toxic relationships, marital rape, etc. It explores how humans react differently to emotional and physical abuse, stress and loss. It really does cover a lot of ground for a work which is only 45 minutes or so in length!"
Read MoreThe Rose Elf: Hot Times In The Cool Catacombs
Early in the opera the lovers share a moment in which they assume the role of rose petals and enfold the elf, quite literally, within themselves. It was a wildly passionate action, which, like the presence of a life-size elf, distorts our sense of reality, even within the confines of this dark fairy tale.
Read MoreTalking with singers: Megan Marino
"We just had our first work-through, and I'm done; none of those tears are forced, they're just human. In this production, by the time we get to the end, it's set up so that the audience can most relate to Suzuki's journey and reactions. They see everything from her vantage point. She knows how it's all going to end from the moment the Americans enter the house, but stays the course."
Read MoreShining a light: Toward Tomorrow
Ko's rendition of Yentl's "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" and "A Piece of Sky" were both touching and fraught with emotion to open and close the show. Her aria "Elle a fui, la tourterelle" had wonderful moments of pathos, and her floated high notes were bright and brilliant.
Read MoreSimulacrum: Futuristic angst and dance
Broadly interpreted and playing to the opera's self styled emphasis on technology, Simulacrum is about the conflict between man and machine. More specifically, it is a story of futuristic angst told against a backdrop of techno-existentialism.
Read MoreDon't miss: The Other Side of the Sea
Werner is a Paris-born soprano with an extraordinary predisposition for creativity. Aided by a short gig as an au pair in the UK, and studying music at Cambridge University, the native French-speaker now also speaks fluent English. It's her bilingualism that inspired The Other Side of the Sea, a piece which uses the metaphor of the sea "to explore the tension of an identity split linguistically".
Read MoreOpera 5's Barber: fab singing & Spanish flair
One great concept is putting guitarist Andrew Cloutier into the action. He plays all the recitatives - a perfect sound that piques interest without pulling focus - and he plays a wordless role as the accompanist to Almaviva's serenades to Rosina, and to Rosina's singing lesson with "Don Alonso".
Read MoreMichael Tilson Thomas takes on Ruggles: Mozart & Mahler
Thomas knew Ruggles as well as anyone could get to know this feisty Yankee, prone to being stubborn, cranky and downright disagreeable. Nonetheless, Thomas championed Ruggles, recording his complete music with the Buffalo Philharmonic and including his works with some frequency on programs in San Francisco.
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