Merola Opera Program presents Susa’s Transformations

By Jaime Robles, 23 July 2016

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Reviewed at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco on 21 July 2016

Susa, Transformations

San Francisco Opera: Merola

Neal Goren, Conductor

Roy Rallo, Director

Marsha Ginsberg, Set Designer

Teresa Castillo, Soprano

Shannon Jennings, Soprano

Mary Evelyn Hangley, Soprano

Chelsey Geeting, Soprano

Boris Van Druff, Tenor

Brian Michael Moore, Tenor

Andrew Manea, Baritone

Isaac Frishman, Tenor

Matthew Anchel, Bass

Merola's “Così fan tutte” is something to sing about

Jaime Robles, 4th August

While updated from the 18th century, the Merola Opera Program’s version of Così maintained a gaiety and sly wit that depended on the singers’ beautiful and virtuosic voices for its success.

***11

A gaudy stand-and-sing Semiramide at the Met

Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 19th February

Despite a great cast, the Metropolitan Opera's revival of Semiramide bores with tacky costumes and no direction.

**111

Irish National Opera’s new Rusalka intrigues more than it convinces

Andrew Larkin, 22nd March

Netia Jones’ modern reimagining intrigues more than it convinces, but still makes a strong case for Dvořák’s dark fairy tale.

***11

Billy Budd, or the Triumph of Beauty at the Opéra de Lyon

Stéphane Lelièvre, 21st March

The Opéra de Lyon presents Britten’s masterpiece for the first time: a triumph, both visually and musically, which is received with great enthusiasm by the audience.

****1

Magnifying Glass: a magnificent Les Enfants terribles in Lille

Elena Luporini, 20th March

A new production of Les Enfants terribles at the Opéra de Lille drags the audience into a terribly marvelous labyrinth, courtesy of conductor Virginie Déjos and directors Matthias Piro and Lisa Moro.

*****

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

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Jaime Robles

Jaime Robles has previously written in the San Francisco Bay Area, including for the San Francisco Classical Voice. Also a poet, she has written song lyrics and librettos for several one-act operas, including Inferno (music by Peter Josheff), staged in 2009 by San Francisco Cabaret Opera, and Vladimir in Butterfly Country (music by Anne Callaway), staged in 2012.

Opera tranforms: The Merola Opera Program presents Susa’s Transformations