Anthony Reed News

San Francisco Opera presents Giuseppe Verdi's Aida in a new production directed by Francesca Zambello and featuring designs by Los Angeles-based, contemporary visual artist RETNA(Marquis Duriel Lewis). A co-production with Washington National Opera, Seattle Opera and Minnesota Opera, this striking and bold vision for Verdi's enduring classic will feature soprano Leah Crocetto and tenor Brian Jagde in their role debuts as the lovers at the heart of the opera, the enslaved princess Aida and the Egyptian war hero Radames. Mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk is Amneris, the daughter of the king who desires Radames' love, baritoneGeorge Gagnidze portrays Aida's vengeful father, Amonasro, and bass Raymond Aceto is Ramfis. The international cast and San Francisco Opera Orchestra will be conducted by Company Music Director Nicola Luisotti. Resident Conductor Jordi Bernacer will conduct the final performance on December 6. Ian Robertson is Chorus Director.

San Francisco Opera's partnership with the Bay Area's Classical KDFC continues with a fall season of opera radio broadcasts beginning August 7 with the star-studded, June 16, 2016 gala concert celebrating San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley. The Company's highly acclaimed 2016 Summer Season productions of Bizet's Carmen, Verdi's Don Carlo and Jana?ek's Jen?fa, along with a special 1982 'From the Archives' broadcast of Handel's Julius Caesar, will air each month through December 4. All performances were recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House and feature the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Chorus.

On Thursday, June 16, the San Francisco Opera honored Company General Director David Gockley with a gala evening and concert titled Celebrating David! Many of the leading artists from the world of opera gathered to honor one of the great careers in the modern history of the art form. Gockley, who in 2014 announced that he would retire from his position as General Director at the completion of the 2015­­-16 Season on July 31, has led a storied career of more than 40 years as an opera impresario.

On Thursday, May 5, 2016, Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) will host the 2016 Annual Scholarship Benefit at the Mandarin Oriental, New York; a very special evening honoring Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President of CBS EcoMedia Inc.

San Francisco Opera Center presents the culminating concert of the 2015 Adler Fellowship season, The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Gala Concert, tonight, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

San Francisco Opera Center presents the culminating concert of the 2015 Adler Fellowship season, The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Gala Concert, on Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

San Francisco Opera presents the U.S. premiere of The Fall of the House of Usher-an innovative double bill of Gordon Getty's Usher House and Claude Debussy's La Chute de la Maison Usher, both inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's chilling 1839 short story. Opening on December 8, the double bill provides two contrasting takes on one of the most transformed pieces of literature ever created. Director David Pountney's eerie production, designed by Niki Turner, provides an "aptly evocative setting for the Gothic horror writer's dark imaginings" (The Stage, UK) and features imaginative, otherworldly video projections filmed by video production designer David Haneke at Penrhyn Castle in North Wales. Conducted by Lawrence Foster, who led the 2014 world stage premiere at Welsh National Opera, this presentation marks the U.S. premiere of Gordon Getty's Usher House and the American professional premiere of Robert Orledge's "truly seamless" (The Guardian, UK) reconstruction of Debussy's unfinished score.

With remarkable performances on stage and a top-notch artistic team behind the scenes, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is a standout production for Ocean State Theatre. The story's edge-of-your-seat race against the clock set against punchy, fast-paced humor makes for a truly entertaining and thoroughly absorbing theatrical experience.

San Francisco Opera announces cast updates for The Fall of the House of Usher double bill which receives its United States premiere December 8–13, 2015. Tenor Jason Bridges makes his Company debut as Edgar Allan Poe in Gordon Getty's Usher House; Bridges created the role in the 2014 world stage premiere at Welsh National Opera conducted by Lawrence Foster.

SAN FRANCISCO (October 12, 2015) –– San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald announced today the twelve recipients of the 2016 Adler Fellowship, a multi-year performance-oriented residency offering advanced young artists intensive individual training, coaching and professional seminars, as well as a wide range of performance opportunities. Adler Fellows are selected from the young artists who have participated in the Merola Opera Program. This prestigious training program has nurtured the development of more than 150 young artists since its inception.

San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald announced today the twelve recipients of the 2015 Adler Fellowship, a multi-year performance-oriented residency offering advanced young artists intensive individual training, coaching, and professional seminars, as well as a wide range of performance opportunities. Adler Fellows are selected from the young artists who have participated in the Merola Opera Program.

Twenty-three singers, five apprentice coaches and one apprentice stage director, representing ten countries, will participate in the 57th season of the Merola Opera Program from June 2 to August 17. More than 900 artists vied for the 29 coveted spots in the 2014 summer program. Offered free of charge for all participants, the prestigious Merola Opera program is unique in the industry in many ways. Merola is the only young artist program to provide financial support to developing artists for five years following participation. In the past year alone, more than $150,000 was distributed to more than 100 artists supporting varied needs from coaching to language classes to audition travel. In addition, only Merola graduates are considered for participation in the San Francisco Opera's Adler Fellowship program. Selected through an extensive world-wide audition and application process, nearly one third of this season's artists come from countries outside the United States, including: Canada, China, Taiwan, Italy, South Korea, Russia, Iran, Poland and Israel. This year, the program will have three returning Merola artists, Casey Candebat (Merola 2012), Sahar Nouri and Rhys Lloyd Talbot (both Merola 2013).

West End Medical Centers(WEMC) holds its annual fundraising event 'Laughter is Good Medicine' today, February 24 at 7pm at theRialto Center for the Arts. Not only a fundraiser, the event also highlights how WEMC provides affordable healthcare in its six locations for the uninsured and underinsured.

West End Medical Centers(WEMC) holds its annual fundraising event 'Laughter is Good Medicine' on Sunday February 24 at 7pm at theRialto Center for the Arts. Not only a fundraiser, the event also highlights how WEMC provides affordable healthcare in its six locations for the uninsured and underinsured.

Jason Alexander hosted It's Magic!, a highly-anticipated one night only extravaganza at The Kodak Theatre on Sunday, October 7 at 7PM.

Jason Alexander hosts It's Magic!, a highly-anticipated one night only extravaganza at The Kodak Theatre on Sunday, October 7 at 7PM.