Matthew Polenzani is superb in San Francisco Opera's Tales of Hoffmann

By Jeffery S. McMillan, 10 June 2013

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Reviewed at War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco on 5 June 2013

Offenbach, Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann)

San Francisco Opera

Patrick Fournillier, Conductor

Laurent Pelly, Director

Matthew Polenzani, Hoffmann

Natalie Dessay, Antonia

Hye Jung Lee, Olympia

Irene Roberts, Giulietta

Jennifer Cherest, Stella

Angela Brower, Nicklausse

Christian Van Horn, Lindorf

Steven Cole, Frantz

Thomas Glenn, Pitichinaccio

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An excellent cast and smart, engaged direction make for an auspicious season launch in San Francisco Opera’s production of one of Verdi’s most sophisticated creations.

****1

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Jeffery S. McMillan

Jeffery holds an MA in Jazz History and Research from Rutgers University and spent ten years as an archivist for the Metropolitan Opera, where he helped develop the MetOpera Database. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and writes about opera and jazz for publications including Opera News and Musical America.