2010 is a year of two centennial celebrations, the 100th anniversary of the birth of spinto soprano Dorothy Kirsten in July, 1910 and five months later, the first performance, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, of Puccini’s “Girl of the Golden West (La Fanciulla del West)”.
In 1960, the San Francisco Opera celebrated the [...]
Entries Tagged as '50 Year Anniversaries'
50th Birthday Celebrations: Dorothy Kirsten Rides High in “Girl of the Golden West” – San Francisco Opera, October 1, 1960
March 31st, 2010
Tags: 50 Year Anniversaries
Mario del Monaco’s Overpowering Otello: S. F. Opera’s San Diego Tour – November 5, 1959
December 14th, 2009
In 1950, the American debut of 35 year old operatic tenor Mario del Monaco took place at the San Francisco Opera. His American debut role was Rhadames in Verdi’s “Aida”. Making her American debut with del Monaco was the soprano in the title role, 28 year old Renata Tebaldi. She had first sung the role [...]
Tags: 50 Year Anniversaries
50 Years Ago: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s American Debut at San Francisco Opera
December 22nd, 2008
The “standard repertory” of opera is dominated by works created by citizens of four European countries – Italy, Germany, Austria and France. Many of the singers, conductors, set designers and stage directors associated with opera production are themselves from those four countries, although if you look at the world supply of operatic performers, there would [...]
Tags: 50 Year Anniversaries