09.14.11
A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M EN T 7
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SAN FRANCISCO OPERA TELLS THE DRAMATIC STORY OF A SEPT. 11 HERO Commemorating the 1oth anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks through the power of voice.
A
lcarmack@mail.sfsu.edu
S AMERICA PREPARED TO REMEMBER THE ATTACKS ON THE TWIN TOWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, one hero in particular was remembered through the art of opera on the eve of Sept. 11. The world premiere of “Heart of a Soldier” came to life on the San Francisco Opera stage to honor British-born war veteran Rick Rescorla, then-head of security at Morgan Stanley whose heroic actions spared the lives of 2,700 people on Sept. 11. Rescorla assisted occupants in evacuating the South Tower of the World Trade Center despite orders to remain inside the building. “It was hard for me to enjoy it until the end,” said composer Christopher Theofanidis Francisco Opera House. “But I think it was a The arduous role of Rescorla was played by acclaimed baritone Thomas Hampson who demonstrated an ability to master the arrangement of music. Hampson was joined by tenor William Burden as Rescorla’s lifelong friend and comrade Daniel Hill. Rescorla and Hill are shown in a famous wrestling match while on duty in “Who’s ready to wrestle the strongest man in Rhodesia?” Hampson belted during the performance, answered by Burden’s playful, “I’m ready to wrestle the second strongest man in Rhodesia!” The scenes depicting Rescorla during his swampy areas. The sets changed seamlessly The props depicting the Twin Towers were comprised of LiteSteel structural beams, each tower weighing a total of 16,000 pounds. During the dramatization of the aircraft hitting the North Tower, hundreds of pieces late atmosphere and accenting the panic of Rescorla’s charges in the South Tower. An emotional phone conversation between Rescorla and his wife, Susan Greer-Rescorla, takes place as he tells her “You made my life,” before re-entering the tower to check that all had been evacuated, never to be seen again. “It’s a powerful story,” said opera librettist Tiziana DellaRovere after the performance. “No matter what we thought, it was a landmark piece.”
Arts & Entertainment
Eos: Asian fusion standard kcrowell@mail.sfsu.edu
Eating the food provided on campus for days on end is all well and good, but at the end of the week most students are probably a little tired of the limited choices on-campus dining provides. With that in mind, I decided to branch out and visit a decidedly more upscale restaurant in Cole Valley called Eos Restaurant and Wine Bar. Opened in 1995, Eos quickly became a neighborhood favorite, and its location mere feet from the N-Judah line means it is easily accessible from other neighborhoods. Eos boasts the perfect atmosphere for a romantic date, with a modern but warm interior decorated with lots of natural wood and candlelight. Warm tinted lights hang from dark wooden beams that crisscross the ceiling while a huge polished and bare tree branch serves as the artistic centerpiece of the space. Tables of smooth black passing by the full length windows that border the dining room. Eos tries to be a few different things. One side of the space is a loud and casual wine bar, while on the other side of a wall, diners can sit down and enjoy either an
fect in portion and taste. The wild arugula and summer melon salad was a perfect balance of peppery bite and sweetness, and the lemongrass crusted ahi tuna practically melted
5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 7 days 901 Cole St (at Carl) San Francisco
order on their own from a menu of appetizers and entrees. Both menus offer dishes that combine aspects of Californian and Asian cuisine. While Asian fusion restaurants are more common now, many food writers (including the San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Bauer) cite Eos For my visit I opted for the tasting menu that I split with one other person. The price changes depending on the dishes offered, but for this night the price was $125, which included a bottle of wine. I was slightly worried that I might leave hungry
PARK(ing) Day 2011
since tasting menus can occasionally consist of micro-sized portions. That fear disappeared after about the third course, when I suddenly realized that this “tasting menu” could probably satisfy a linebacker, both in size and richness.
on top of crispy triangles of wonton chips. And then it was four courses of heavy, staggeringly rich food The fourth course consisted of a bowl of sweet corn risotto with julienned slices of apple atop. The ite things about corn and apples in a way I hadn’t had before. Unfortunately, a bowl of creamy risotto in the middle of a meal is a gastronomical speed bump that will leave even the most enthusiastic diners stagger-
ingly full. I wish I could comment more completely on the other courses, but I was so full after the risotto that I could only eat a few bites of the chicken dishes and goat cheese chicken was succulent, and the little pieces of fried skin that accompanied I did enjoy the last course of the slow-cooked pork belly with grits and plum chutney. The meat was deis usually very fatty and falls apart. The chutney was sweet but with enough acidity to cut through both the smoky pork and creamy grits. My appetite had returned by the time dessert arrived, which consisted of an ice cream sampler. Most were good, but the salted caramel tasted much more of salt than sweet. The standout here was the homemade mint chip, which I would happily buy in a gallon size to take home with me. The passion fruit sorbet was a close runner-up to being my favorite and offered a light reprieve from the heaviness of the rest of the meal. The only mildly annoying aspect of my visit to Eos was some strange service. It was casual to the point of being inattentive, and on multiple times our server asked us which dishes we had received. He also had a habit of setting our dishes down on they were, which is frustrating when you’re eating eight courses that you Overall, Eos is worth the price and unavoidable food hangover for a meal that is bound to leave a lasting positive impression even if you eat out on a regular basis. Just be sure to bring your appetite.
RATING:
3 out of 4
Art Explosion Fall Open Studios
Rock Make Music & Art Street Festival
California Coastal Clean-up Day
Friday//Sept. 16
Friday //Sept. 16
Saturday//Sept. 17
Sunday//Sept. 18
All day A city-wide event that will also take place on the SF State campus.
7 p.m. to 11 p.m. 744 Alabama St. at 19th St.
12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Treat St. and 18th St.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Beaches all along the California Coast.
http://www. theartexplosion.com/
http://www. rockmake.com/
http://bit.ly/3Sti6
http://parkingday.org/