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Streaming the First Century

Session 2: Parlez-vous français?

Explore Streaming the First Century, San Francisco Opera’s historic archival recording release

The climactic high B natural is as tumultuous as a tidal wave, but Carreras’s ability to then scale the voice down like a god calming the sea, is one of my favorite moments in this performance!
Kenneth Overton (on Werther, 1978)

Streaming San Francisco Opera’s Louise broadcast will surely delight everyone who loves French opera. If you were in the theater in 1999, savor this chance to relive the glories of that performance. And if Louise is new to you, prepare yourself for enchantment, Parisian style. Amusez-vous bien!
Roger Pines (on Louise, 1999)

Historic Audio Recordings

WERTHER

COMPLETE RECORDING

WERTHER, Jules Massenet

November 3, 1978 Broadcast
Antonio de Almeida, conductor
(run time 2 hours)

The chemistry of Spanish tenor José Carreras and Detroit-born soprano Maria Ewing bring blazing intensity to this French masterwork, which also features Kathleen Battle as Sophie and Antonio de Almeida on the podium.

Listen and Learn
Scene from LOUISE showing a woman carrying a bag of bread and cheese is wincing as another woman appears to be scolding her

COMPLETE RECORDING

LOUISE, Gustave Charpentier

September/October 1999 House recording
Patrick Summers, conductor
(run time 2 hours and 36 minutes)

Charpentier’s rarely performed Parisian love story showcases a remarkable cast heard only in San Francisco headed by Renée Fleming, Jerry Hadley, Samuel Ramey, and Felicity Palmer under the baton of Patrick Summers.

Listen and Learn
MANON

EXCERPT RECORDING

MANON, Jules Massenet

October 15, 1939 Broadcast
Gaetano Merola, conductor
(run time ~ 8 minutes)

This historic broadcast preserves the exquisite artistry of two all-time favorites from the Company’s annals, Italian tenor Tito Schipa and Brazilian soprano Bidú Sayão.

Listen and Learn
LES TROYENS

EXCERPT RECORDING

LES TROYENS, Hector Berlioz

November 1966 Audience recording
Jean Perisson, conductor
(run time ~ 8 minutes)

Berlioz’s epic roars into the Company’s repertory with two iconic interpreters at its heart: French soprano Régine Crespin as both Cassandre and Didon and Canadian tenor Jon Vickers as Aeneas.

Listen and Learn
THAÏS

EXCERPT RECORDING

THAÏS, Jules Massenet

September 10, 1976 Broadcast
Sir John Pritchard, conductor
(run time ~ 9 minutes)

Nearly a decade before his appointment as Music Director, Sir John Pritchard led the Company premiere of Massenet’s Thaïs with the operatic star power of Beverly Sills in the title role and Sherrill Milnes as Athanaël.

Listen and Learn
Scene from 2022 SAINT FRANCOIS - monks reading a book with their back turned towards audience as St. Francis is on his knees looking down

EXCERPT RECORDING

SAINT FRANÇOIS D'ASSISE, Olivier Messiaen

October 2002 House recording
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
(run time ~ 10 minutes)

The U.S. premiere of Messiaen’s only opera was a marquee event in Company history, led by then-Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles and starring Sir Willard White in the title role of St. Francis of Assisi, San Francisco’s namesake.

Listen and Learn

Highlights from the Rabbit Hole

  • Merola piano roll

    SPANNING THE DECADES

    Director Edition

    Featuring Gaetano Merola



    From a rare 1925 Piano Roll, experience Gaetano Merola playing Samson et Dalila.

    (Grateful thanks to Peter Phillips for the MIDI file, and to Stanford Libraries Archive of Recorded Sound for use of the image and audio files/licensed via Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International — CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.)

    (run time ~ 5 minutes)

  • Thomas Munn

    Spanning the Decades

    Lighting Edition

    Featuring Tom Munn and Justin Partier


    Tom Munn, Company Lighting Director from 1976-2001, sits down with Justin Partier, our current Lighting Director, to talk shop, Ponti projections and commiserate on the dauting use of mirrors on stage.

    (run time ~ 32 minutes)

  • Dame Fellcity Palmer

    CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

    Diva Edition

    Dame Felicity Palmer



    Dame Felicity:  In coming into opera as a mezzo [after singing for several years as a soprano], one thing that has been most interesting to me is to look at some of the horrific women that I’ve had to play and wonder why they were so horrific. There’s usually a reason why they’re jealous or upset or worn down ... 

    BY ROGER PINES
    (read time ~ 8 minutes)

     

  • Ian Robertson 1987

    SPANNING THE DECADES

    Chorus Edition, pt. 2

    Featuring Ian Robertson


    Dramaturg Emeritus Kip Cranna sits down with recently retired colleague Ian Robertson for the second of a three-part conversation about Robertson’s 35-year tenure as San Francisco Opera Chorus Director.

    (run time ~ 14 minutes)

  • Bidu Sayao

    CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE

    Diva Edition

    Bidu Sayao



    "One of the most charming sopranos to ever grace an opera house. Hers was not the fake, transactional emotion that so often passes for charm today, but the real deal."

    BY PAUL THOMASON
    (read time ~ 5 minutes)

  • Pamela Rosenberg

    SPANNING THE DECADES

    Oral History Edition

    Featuring Pamela Rosenberg


    In partnership with the Oral History Center at UC Berkeley and the Company's Archives, SF Opera's 5th general director, Pamela Rosenberg sat down with Paul Burnett, interim director of the OHC, to discuss her life, career, and tenure at SF Opera.  This audio excerpt focuses on the US premiere of Messiaen's only opera, Saint Francois d'Assise in 2002.

    (run time ~ 26 minutes)

  • Lori Harrison

    MEMORIES PROJECT

    Props Edition, pt. 2

    Featuring Lori Harrison


    Join Ann Farris for Part 2, as she discovers the path that led Lori Harrison to the enviable position as SF Opera's current Master of Properties. 

    (run time ~ 25 minutes)

  • Bidu Sayao

    HISTORIC INTERVIEW

    Interview

    MANON, 1939 (interview 1979)


    Listen in as Terry McEwen, SF Opera's third general director, engages his dear friend Bidú Sayão in a lively conversation recorded for radio broadcast in 1979 -- 40 years after her Company debut in Manon.

    (run time ~ 31 minutes)

  • Leontyne Price

    HISTORIC INTERVIEW

    Broadcast Intermission

    MANON LESCAUT, 1974


    The OTHER Manon ... Otto Guth asks of Leontyne Price: Do you like doing operas for the first time here in San Francisco with us?  Her reply: Yes, for many reasons.  The first place, I am blissfully happy here, which probably may be the reason that I come so often.  Also, it’s sort of like a good luck charm, because ..."

    (run time ~ 17 minutes)