Elektra 2017 cover.qxp_Layout 1 8/15/17 11:42 AM Page 4 2017–18 SEASON ElektrRICHARDaSTRAUSS EAP full-page template.indd 1 7/17/17 3:14 PM My life here Sara Zumwalt, resident since 2012 Lifestyle PERFECT “My city, my style, and definitely the way I want to live in San Francisco,” Sara notes. The symphony, opera house, and movie theaters, plus restaurants and museums are part of the lively cultural mix that make up her neighborhood at San Francisco Towers, the city’s most appealing Life Plan Community. To learn more, or for your personal visit, please call 415.447.5527. 1661 Pine Street San Francisco, CA 94109 sanfranciscotowers-esc.org A not-for-profit community owned and operated by Episcopal Senior Communities. License No. 380540292 COA #177 EPSF752-06YB 100116 EAP full-page template.indd 1 7/17/17 3:14 PM Untitled-11 1 8/16/17 2:44 PM September 2017 Volume 95, No. 1 Vol. 95, No. 1 • 2017–18 Season • September 2017 Jon Finck, Executive Editor Matthew Erikson, Editor Susan L. Wells, Design Consultant Paul Heppner Please e-mail comments, questions, and feedback about San Francisco Opera Magazine Publisher to [email protected] Susan Peterson Design & Production Director Ana Alvira, Robin Kessler, Shaun Swick, Stevie VanBronkhorst Production Artists and Graphic Design Mike Hathaway Sales Director Amelia Heppner, Marilyn Kallins, Terri Reed San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives Brieanna Bright, Joey Chapman, Ann Manning Seattle Area Account Executives Carol Yip Sales Coordinator On the cover: Diana Ong (b. 1940) Electra #1, 1996 Computer graphics Bridgeman Images Paul Heppner FEATURES President Mike Hathaway 16 Grazie, Nicola! Vice President by Steven Winn Genay Genereux Music Director Nicola Luisotti’s departure at the end of the season is in no way Accounting & Office Manager a final goodbye to San Francisco Opera. Sara Keats Marketing Manager 40 Elektra Triumphant by Larry Rothe With a musical opulence that outdid even Berlioz and Wagner, composer Richard Strauss created with his fourth opera Elektra sheer stage magic. 44 The Many Faces of Elektra by Jane Ganahl Corporate Office In the 2,000-plus years since her name was first etched on paper, the mythological 425 North 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103 character has inspired dozens, if not hundreds, of works of theater, literature, art, p 206.443.0445 f 206.443.1246 opera, and psychoanalysis. [email protected] 800.308.2898 x105 www.encoremediagroup.com DEPARTMENTS 6 San Francisco Opera Association 36 2017–18 Repertoire 9 Message from the Board of 38 Synopsis and Cast Encore Arts Programs is published monthly by Encore Media San Francisco Opera 47 Artist Profiles Group to serve musical and theatrical events in the Puget 11 San Francisco Opera News Sound and San Francisco Bay Areas. All rights reserved. 62 San Francisco Opera Donors ©2017 Encore Media Group. Reproduction 24 Your Opera Experience without written permission is prohibited. 4 SAN FRANCISCO OPERA “ City National helps keep my financial life in tune.” So much of my life is always shifting; a different city, a different piece of music, a different ensemble. I need people who I can count on to help keep my financial life on course so I can focus on creating and sharing the “adventures” of classical music. City National shares my passion and is instrumental in helping me bring classical music to audiences all over the world. They enjoy being a part of what I do and love. That is the essence of a successful relationship. City National is The way up® for me. Michael Tilson Thomas Conductor, Educator and Composer Hear Michael’s complete story at cnb.com/Tuned2SF 17 City National Bank 17 City National 0 ©2 CNB MEMBER FDIC ® The way up. Call (866) 618-5242 to learn more or visit cnb.com EAP full-page template.indd 1 4/5/17 1:35 PM SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION Officers of the Board John A. Gunn Chairman Steve Menzies Vice Chairman Karl O. Mills Vice Chairman Reid W. Dennis Chairman Emeritus George H. Hume Vice Chairman Franklin P. Johnson, Jr. Chairman Emeritus SOL3 MIO Officers of the Association Friday, December 1 Keith B. Geeslin President Lisa Erdberg Vice President Matthew Shilvock General Director & George H. Hume Treasurer at 7:30pm Chief Executive Officer Thomas A. Larsen Secretary Paul M. Crane Dorfman Executive Vice President Michael Simpson Chief Financial Officer War Memorial Opera House Board of Directors Susan Anderson-Norby Bruce W. Hyman Randall Reynoso + Dawn Yates Black J. Burgess Jamieson Richard J. Rigg, Ph.D. Timothy Blackburn Dorothy M. Jeffries C.P. Russell Carol Franc Buck Philip M. Jelley Bill Russell-Shapiro + Jack Calhoun + Franklin P. Johnson, Jr. + Jack Schafer Annette Campbell-White Susan Graham Johnston Matthew Shilvock + ▴ Carlyn Clause, Merola Opera Timothy F. Kahn Ruth A. Short Program President ▴ Stephen S. Kahng Mrs. George P. (Charlotte) Shultz William M. Coughran, Jr. Joseph D. Keegan, Ph.D. Dianne Taube Paul M. Crane Dorfman + Lawrence A. Kern Mrs. David T. (Joan) Traitel Mrs. Peter W. (Jayne) Davis Mark R. Kroll Soo Venkatesan + Ira D. Dearing Karen J. Kubin Mrs. Alfred S. (Dede) Wilsey + Jerome Dodson Thomas A. Larsen + Sharon Winslow Carol Pucci Doll Sylvia R. Lindsey Barbara A. Wolfe ▴ Saiko Management Shannon Eliot, BRAVO! President J. Patterson McBaine Barbara Ward Wonder Robert A. Ellis + Patrick McCabe Melinda Yee-Franklin Lisa Erdberg + Anne G. McWilliams S. Shariq Yosufzai + Peter Fenton Mrs. Mark A. (Teresa) Medearis in concert with the Sally Fenton Steven Menzies + + Executive Committee Member Kristina Johnson Flanagan Helen Meyer ▴ Ex Officio SF Opera Orchestra Margarita Gandia Karl O. Mills + Keith B. Geeslin + Justin Moore Conducted by Nicholas M. Graves Jane Mudge, Guild President CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL: Robert Mollicone Louise Gund + Nancy S. Mueller Reid W. Dennis John A. Gunn + Ben Nelson William W. Godward Jane M. Hartley J. Boyce Nute + Barbara K. Jackson I. Craig Henderson, M.D. Masashi Oka Franklin P. Johnson, Jr., Chairman Multi-platinum John Hendrickson Bernard Osher + Bernard Osher New Zealand vocal trio Doreen Woo Ho Anne Popkin Charles Edward Hudson III Mary A. Powell Sol3 Mio will take to George H. Hume + Karthik Rau the War Memorial Opera House stage for Presidents 1923 Timothy Healy 1974–84 Walter M. Baird a special holiday concert. 1924–31 Robert I. Bentley 1985–90 Tully M. Friedman 1932–36 Wallace M. Alexander 1990–93 Thomas Tilton 1937–44 Robert Watt Miller 1993–95 David M. Chamberlain Featuring brothers and 1945–51 Kenneth Monteagle 1995–2002 William W. Godward 1952–68 Robert Watt Miller 2002–06 Karl O. Mills Adler Fellow tenors Pene 1969–70 Prentis Cobb Hale 2006–13 George H. Hume Pati and Amitai Pati, and 1971–73 William H. Orrick, Jr. 2013– Keith B. Geeslin their baritone cousin Moses Mackay. Chairmen of the Board 1969 Robert Watt Miller 1985–99 Reid W. Dennis 1971–82 R. Gwin Follis 1999–2008 Franklin P. Johnson, Jr. Tickets: $20–$100 1983–84 Richard K. Miller 2008– John A. Gunn San Francisco Opera General Directors Gaetano Merola 1923–53 sfopera.com/sol3mio Kurt Herbert Adler Artistic Director, 1953–57; General Director, 1957–81; General Director Emeritus, 1982-1988 Terence A. McEwen 1982–88; General Director Emeritus, 1988-1998 Opera Box Office Lotfi Mansouri 1988–2001; General Director Emeritus, 2001-2013 Pamela Rosenberg 2001–05 (415) 864-3330 David Gockley 2006–16; General Director Emeritus, 2016- Matthew Shilvock 2016– 6 SAN FRANCISCO OPERA EXPERIENCE, DEDICATION, RESULTS. 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