The Fall 2016 San Francisco Opera broadcasts on Classical KDFC begin this Sunday, Aug. 7, with a broadcast of the gala concert honoring David Gockley's career as General Director of the Houston Grand Opera and SFO.
Hosted by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and baritone Thomas Hampson, the three-hour celebration features an all-star line-up of vocal soloists including sopranos Julie Adams, Renee Fleming, Ana Maria Martinez, Karita Mattila, Patricia Racette; mezzo-sopranos Catherine Cook, Sasha Cooke, Dolora Zajick; tenors Michael Fabiano, Brian Jagde, Simon O'Neill; baritone Edward Nelson; bass-baritone Eric Owens; basses Rene Pape and Anthony Reed.
SFO Music Director Nicola Luisotti, Company Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers, Jiri Belohlavek and John DeMain conduct the SFO Orchestra , Chorus and soloists in selections by Gershwin, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Wagner and others, including living composers John Adams, Carlisle Floyd, Andre Previn and Marco Tutino.
SFO's 1982 production of Handel's "Julius Caesar," conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras and starring mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos in the title role, will be broadcast on Sept. 4. Troyanos was a beloved artist who died in 1993 at 54. This "From the Archives" performance, sung in English, also features Valerie Masterson as Cleopatra, Sarah Walker as Cornelia and Delia Wallis as Sextus.
On Oct. 4, Bizet's "Carmen," starring Irene Roberts in the title role and Brian Jagde as Don Jose, will be the featured broadcast. Exploring the opera's realism and violence in a production by Calixto Bieito, the cast also included soprano Ellie Dehn as Micaela, baritone Zachary Nelson as the bullfighter Escamillo and Carlo Montanaro, in his Company debut, conducting.
Presented in the five-act, Italian version, Verdi's "Don Carlo" will air on Nov. 6. SFO Music Director Luisotti conducted Verdi's dark, majestic masterpiece. American tenor Fabiano made his role debut as Carlo, the prince torn between love and duty. Baritone Mariusz Kwiecien was Rodrigo. The cast also featured soprano Martinez as Elisabetta, mezzo-soprano Nadia Krasteva in her SFO debut as Princess Eboli, bass Pape as Philip II, and Andrea Silvestrelli as The Grand Inquisitor.
Leos Janacek's "Jenufa" concludes the fall broadcasts on Dec. 4. The June 2016 production of this gripping tale of a young woman's coming of age and the morally conflicted stepmother who attempts to protect her honor was a huge success. The cast featured Malin Bystrom in her SFO and role debut as Jenufa, veteran soprano Mattila as Kostelnicka, tenor William Burden as Laca, and Scott Quinn as Steva. Czech conductor Belohlavek led a dynamic performance.
The SFO broadcasts air on KDFC on the first Sunday of each month at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. for Don Carlo) and are hosted by radio announcer Dianne Nicolini. The performances are also available at kdfc.com for streaming on demand for four weeks after each initial broadcast.
On the Keys
Joey Alexander is a 13-year-old jazz piano prodigy whose second album, "Countdown," will release on Sept. 16 (Motema Music). Out There listened to an advance copy, and now we know the future of jazz pianism is promising. Alexander keeps up with the daunting fingerwork on John Coltrane's "Countdown" and Thelonious Monk's "Criss Cross." He puts his stamp on Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage," Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" and Wynton Marsalis' "For Wee Folks." Already the recipient of two Grammy awards (the youngest jazz artist to win), this talented musician's future looks bright.