San Francisco Opera Summer 2014 Brochure

JUNE 1–JULY 13

at SHOW BOAT

LA TRAVIATA

MADAME BUTTERFLY

T his Summer BE H E R E

FOR GLORIOUS MUSIC AND ELECTRIFYING LIVE PERFORMANCES SHOW BOAT JEROME KERN · OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

A magnificent score. A sweeping story. Stunning sets, exhilarating dancing and an incredible ensemble cast—experience this masterpiece of American musical theater in grand opera style!

LA TRAVIATA

GIUSEPPE VERDI

Discover the allure of Verdi’s ever-popular tale about the love and loss of the courtesan Violetta Valéry, in an opulent and elegant production featuring two superb casts.

MADAME BUTTERFLY

GIACOMO PUCCINI

Indulge your senses in a “truly mesmerizing” production (Opera News) of Puccini’s heartbreaking love story designed by renowned visual artist Jun Kaneko.

Company Sponsors John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn are proud to support Show Boat, which is also made possible, in part, by Roberta and David Elliott and by a generous challenge grant from Maurice Kanbar and Bernard Osher. Company Sponsor Jeannik Méquet Littlefield is proud to support La Traviata, which is also made possible, in part, by the Burgess and Elizabeth Jamieson Fund, Koret Foundation, Tad and Dianne Taube and United. Nicola Luisotti’s appearances are made possible by Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Patricia Racette’s appearances are made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan and David Traitel.

SHOW BOAT Music by JEROME KERN ∙ Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Based on the novel Show Boat by EDNA FERBER

“A towering work…there’s magnificence in its music, its narrative sweep, its deep awareness of something bigger than ourselves.”

— Houston Chronicle

COMPANY PREMIERE Spanning the decades from 1887 to 1927 and moving from Mississippi river towns to Chicago, this masterpiece of American musical theater weaves an absorbing tale around the lives of a troupe of riverboat performers, whose triumphs and sorrows are shaped by the racial injustices of their time.

The magnificent score is filled with one unforgettable song after another—from “Ol’ Man River,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” and “Make Believe” to “You Are Love.” Top it off with exhilarating dancing, an incredible ensemble cast and a set design that explodes with “a feast of vivid colors, an eye-popping moving boat” and “sumptuous period costumes” (The Huffington Post), this Show Boat is “a show for the ages” (National Public Radio). “No one should miss it” (Chicago Sun-Times)!

JUNE 1 2pm 3 8pm 10 7:30pm 13 8pm 19 7:30pm 22 2pm 26 7:30pm 28 8pm JULY 1

8pm 2 7:30pm

sfopera.com/showboat

OperaVision, HD projection screens, is featured in the Balcony.

With Heidi Stober, Patricia Racette, Angela Renée Simpson, Harriet Harris, Kirsten Wyatt, Michael Todd Simpson, Bill Irwin, John Bolton and Morris Robinson. Conductor John DeMain; director Francesca Zambello.

2 hours, 45 minutes including one intermission Sung in English with English supertitles Co-production with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera and Houston Grand Opera; presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals.

LA TRAVIATA GIUSEPPE VERDI

Verdi’s sublime music and compelling drama about love and loss have infinitely captivated audiences!

CLASSIC SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION A high-spirited but deceptively delicate woman living a life of luxury, the courtesan Violetta Valéry finds the love of her life, Alfredo Germont, and gives up her wayward existence. But all too soon she makes a more painful sacrifice when his disapproving father interferes.

Music Director Nicola Luisotti conducts the June cast featuring the sensual Sonya Yoncheva in the title role, rising tenor Saimir Pirgu as Alfredo and the distinguished baritone Vladimir Stoyanov as Alfredo’s father. Resident Conductor Giuseppe Finzi leads the July cast with the husband-and-wife team of Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello—who will light up the stage with their palpable chemistry and breathtaking portrayals of Verdi’s lovers—and the marvelous Quinn Kelsey as the older Germont.

JUNE 11 7:30pm 14 8pm 17 8pm 20 25 7:30pm 29 2pm JULY 5

8pm

8pm† 8 7:30pm† 11 8pm† 13 2pm†

sfopera.com/traviata

With Sonya Yoncheva / Ailyn Pérez†, Saimir Pirgu / Stephen Costello† (also June 17, 20) and Vladimir Stoyanov / Quinn Kelsey†.

Conductor Nicola Luisotti / Giuseppe Finzi†; original director John Copley; director Laurie Feldman.

3 hours including two intermissions Sung in Italian with English supertitles

OperaVision, HD projection screens, is featured in the Balcony.

MADAME BUTTERFLY GIACOMO PUCCINI

“A Butterfly that soars in style…the visual component of this production is so compelling, and so intelligent, that it lifts this opera to a new level.”

— The Globe and Mail, Vancouver

PRODUCTION NEW TO SAN FRANCISCO OPERA Experience Puccini’s heartbreaking love story as you’ve never seen it before—in a “truly mesmerizing” production by visual artist Jun Kaneko (The Magic Flute, 2012).

“The stage explodes with pattern and color” (Opera News), taking the audience on an emotionally charged sensory odyssey.

The exceptional Patricia Racette returns with her “robust, nuanced and passionate” portrayal (The New York Times) of the young geisha, who pays the ultimate price for loving so deeply when she falls for American

naval lieutenant Pinkerton, sung by the “forceful, decisive…powerful” Brian Jagde (Washington Times).

Rounding out the cast is Elizabeth DeShong, who gives a “rich, nuanced portrayal” of Butterfly’s faithful servant Suzuki (The New York Times), and Brian Mulligan, “an outstanding Sharpless” (The Times, London).

JUNE 15 2pm 18 24 8pm 27 8pm JULY 3

7:30pm

6

7:30pm 21 8pm

2pm† 9 7:30pm†

sfopera.com/butterfly

With Patricia Racette, Elizabeth DeShong, Brian Jagde and Brian Mulligan.

Conductor Nicola Luisotti / Giuseppe Finzi†; director Leslie Swackhamer.

2 hours, 50 minutes including one intermission Sung in Italian with English supertitles Co-production with Opera Omaha

Single Tickets ON SALE NOW WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE SECTIONS Box Seats

Dress Circle 2

Orchestra Premium or Grand Tier Premium

Balcony Circle

Orchestra or Grand Tier

Balcony Rear

Orchestra Ring

Balcony Side

Balcony Front

Dress Circle

English supertitles are visible from all sections.

Single ticket prices start at $24 and are available online when you select the performance and the seating section for your purchase.

Or contact the Box Office at (415) 864-3330 for more information.

Wheelchair access and locations are available for purchase at the Box Office or online. For information, please call (415) 864-3330.

A $1 per ticket facility fee is included in Balcony Front, Rear and Side section prices; all other sections include a $2 per ticket facility fee.

For hearing-impaired patrons, assistive listening devices (Sennheiser model) are available at North and South Lobby coat checks.

An $11 handling fee is charged per single ticket order, unless purchased in person.

Text-to-Voice Supertitles: Live Titles, headsets that provide a spoken version of the projected supertitles, are available at the North Lobby coat check.

Tickets for performances featuring OperaVision include a surcharge to help offset the cost of this service. (Balcony Front $7, Balcony Rear $5 and Balcony Side $3) All orders are final. No refunds or cancellations.

Cast, programs, prices and schedules are subject to change.

DESIGN YOUR OWN TRIO OF OPERAS AND SAVE 30% To create your own Trio of summer operas, simply select the performance you wish to see for each opera, and enjoy up to 30% off regular single ticket prices. Balcony Side not available for this offer. Subject to availability.

To purchase all three summer operas at 30% off, please call (415) 864-3330 or visit the Box Office. Summer subscriptions are not available for purchase online.

STUDENT and TEACHER SUMMER SEMESTER SERIES Choose from two weekday Summer Series and save 50% off regular single ticket prices, or mix and match from select performances to create your own series.

To purchase, please call (415) 864-3330 or visit the Box Office.

For details and requirements, visit sfopera.com/edu. Restrictions apply.

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO SAVE • Groups of 10 or more enjoy savings of up to 30% off regular ticket prices. Details at sfopera.com/groups, or call (415) 621-4403.

• Student/senior/military rush tickets may be available on the day of performance. Details at sfopera.com/rush, or call (415) 864-3330.

• Join BRAVO! CLUB, a group of young professionals aged 21–40, to purchase $52 Orchestra and $37 Dress Circle seats.

Details at sfopera.com/bravotix.

• Standing Room tickets, $10 each, cash only, go on sale at 10am on the day of each performance.

Limit 2 tickets per person.

SUMMER 2014 JUNE

SUN 1

MON Show Boat

M, O

2

3

Show Boat

A, C

2pm

8

TUE

9

10

Butterfly 16

7:30pm

17

SAT

4

5

6

7

Traviata 12

D, E

8pm

13

Butterfly 19

D, F

Show Boat 14

G, I

7:30pm

Traviata 18

A, B

2pm

FRI

Show Boat 11

RBW

M, N

THU

8pm

R, S 15

WED

X

7:30pm

Show Boat 20 7:30pm

G, H

8pm

J, L

Traviata 21 8pm

J, K

Traviata 8pm

Butterfly 8pm

FATHER’S DAY

22

Show Boat 23

W

2pm

29

Traviata 30

M, O

24

Butterfly

7

W

2pm

13

Traviata 14 2pm

8pm

Traviata 26

R, T

D, E

7:30pm

Show Boat 27 7:30pm

G, H

Butterfly 28 8pm

J, K

Show Boat 8pm

JULY

2pm PRIDE

6

Butterfly 25

A, C

1

Show Boat

2

Show Boat

B

8pm

T

7:30pm

8

Traviata

X

7:30pm

15

9

3

R, S RBW

Butterfly 10 7:30pm

16

17

Letters denote subscription series (A, B, C, D, E, F…).

peraVision, HD projection screens featured O in the Balcony, is made possible by the Koret-Taube Media Suite. Visit sfopera.com/operavision.

For the most up-to-date calendar of events, visit sfopera.com/calendar.

ORDER TODAY!

Butterfly

4

5

7:30pm

Traviata 8pm

INDEPENDENCE DAY

AT&T PARK SIMULCAST

11

Traviata 12

I

8pm

18

19

Highlighted boxes denote opening performances.

Exploration Workshops for Families will be presented by the San Francisco Opera Education Department prior to the June 1 and 22 matinee performances of Show Boat.

Sign up for our e-newsletters at sfopera.com/eopera to receive all the latest updates.

sfopera.com · (415) 864-3330

Opera Box Office

301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102 Monday 10am–5pm, Tuesday–Friday 10am–6pm, Saturday (phone only) 10am–6pm Beginning May 17, Box Office window also open Saturday 10am–6pm

FREE OUTDOOR EVENTS LA TRAVIATA LIVE SIMULCAST AT AT&T PARK Opera at the Ballpark Saturday, July 5, 8pm Sign up now: sfopera.com/simulcast

MEROLA’S SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT Yerba Buena Gardens Saturday, July 19, 2pm merola.org

OPERA IN THE PARK

Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park Sunday, September 7, 1:30pm sfopera.com/park

Photos: Madame Butterfly (cover & inside)/Jon Silla/Opera Carolina; Madame Butterfly (inset)/Tim Matheson/Vancouver Opera; Show Boat (inside & back cover)/ Scott Suchman/Washington National Opera; La Traviata/Rozarii Lynch/Seattle Opera; Ailyn Pérez/Philip Groshong/Cincinnati Opera; Patricia Racette/Terrence McCarthy/ San Francisco Opera; Opera at the Ballpark/Edgar Lee.

COMPANY SPONSORS Norby Anderson Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Franklin and Catherine Johnson Edmund W. and Jeannik M茅quet Littlefield Fund Bernard and Barbro Osher Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Diane B. Wilsey

Music Director

NIC OL A LUI SOTTI

General Director

DAVI D G OC KLE Y

SEASON SPONSOR

sfopera.com 路 (415) 864-3330

War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102-4509

CORPORATE PARTNERS San Francisco Opera is supported, in part, by a grant from Grants for the Arts/ San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund.

$24

ORDER TODAY FOR SUMMER 2014

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SHOW BOAT LA TRAVIATA MADAME BUTTERFLY

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA

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