She is totally clueless as to his true identity, political power, enormous ego, and lack of morality. Ripe for the plucking, Gilda's only outings have been to the local church where she has exchanged glances with the licentious Duke of Mantua. Rigoletto is likely to follow Lučić around for a very long time.Īleksandra Kurzak is ultimately lovely as Rigoletto's naive daughter, "Gilda." The girl is devoted to her father, but is unaware of the nature of his day job and doesn't even know his name. Lučić will recreate the role this November at La Scala. His anger and contempt was furious and his climactic High F-sharps formidable and secure.
Sf opera aida full#
Lučić was in full throttle for the challenging aria of Act II, "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" (Courtiers, you vile and damnable race). His Act I aria, "Pari Siamo" (We are equally skilled) captured the frustration and bitterness of the deformed court jester who will eventually engage an assassin for hire ("Sparafucile") to avenge the ravishing of his daughter by the Duke of Mantua. Lučić's opening night performance was strong and consistent throughout. Željko Lučić has 23 Verdi roles in his repertoire, including two he has performed with SF Opera prior to this season - "Germont" in La Traviata (2004) and "Don Carlo" in La Forza del Destino (2005). Željko Lučić, like his predecessors Robert Merrill and Leonard Warren who also thrived in the part, share other roles in common - coming through the ranks with such operas as Pagliacci, Lucia, Carmen and other Verdi operas including La Traviata, Il Trovatore, and Aïda. It takes time and opportunity to build the required vocal chops to sing the role - especially in as large a house as the War Memorial. Historically, the title role of "Rigoletto" comes to most dramatic baritones toward the middle of their careers. Though challenged by an impossible plot and the inherent difficulties that go with its staging, the opera nevertheless thrives as a virtual showcase for the great artists of the world. Its continuous box office appeal is due primarily to the glorious arias composed for its three principal characters. Verdi's Rigoletto premiered in Venice in 1851 and had its first performance with San Francisco Opera in 1923.
Sf opera aida free#
Since then, these annual free broadcasts have proven to be one of the most effective innovations by SF Opera's General Director David Gockley. A gathering of 14,000 fans viewed the opera on an elevated screen and marveled at the amazing sound quality of the curvilinear speakers. The production debuted in 1997 and for the 2006 revival it was simulcast across the street in Civic Center. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti and directed by Harry Silverstein, the live performance at the War Memorial Opera House will be captured by multiple cameras and viewed on one of the best Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision scoreboards in the nation. In the title role was Serbian baritone Željko Lučić and making their SF Opera debuts were Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak as "Gilda" and Serbian tenor Francesco Demuro as "The Duke of Mantua." This Saturday night, September 15th, it's Opera at the Ballpark, featuring the same cast in the Company's annual and admission-free simulcast at AT&T Park. Overall, very good mostly.The 2012 San Francisco Opera Season opened this past Friday night with Giuseppi Verdi's Rigoletto. Kurt Rydll is chillingly effective as Ramfis, however my favourite was the performance of Amneris sung and acted brilliantly by Stefania Toczyska. Margaret Price is wonderful as Aida, and acting-wise and vocally Simon Estes is a powerful Amonasro. Luciano Pavarotti is in great voice and makes for a heroic Rhadames. The orchestra is fine mostly, if having the odd uncomfortable moment and as phenomenal it sounded had a tendency to overpower Estes during his big moment in Act 3, likewise with the conducting though it can plod sometimes. When it came to the staging, I was very impressed overall, especially with the tear-jerker that is the final scene and the ballet. However the story is as dramatic as ever, the characters compelling and the music sublime. The costumes and sets are grand and lavish, however the picture quality is grainy and the video directing does look dated at times. I love Aida as an opera, and I liked this production a good deal.
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