Performances are set to run from June 5 to 29, 2019. Meanwhile, Polenzani returns to the company for the first time since 2013 when he sang Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” Hartig has performed to great acclaim around the world, including at the Metropolitan Opera and Vienna State Opera, while Ketelsen has sung the role of Escamillo at the Teatro Real and the Met.

James Gaffigan makes his San Francisco Opera debut conducting Bizet’s masterpiece.īridges made her San Francisco Opera debut in 2016 as Bersi in “Andréa Chenier” and went on to perform in the world premiere of John Adams’ “Girls of the Golden West” with the company They are joined by Romanian soprano Anita Hartig, who makes her San Francisco Opera debut as Micaëla and American bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen as Escamillo. The production by Francesca Zambello is set to star American mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges in her first professional performances of the title role and American tenor Matthew Polenzani in his role debut as Don José. The sight of the singers performing in, on and around the iconic and beautifully weathered 123s under the massive shadow of the Osborne bull was powerful – and successful.San Francisco Opera’s 2019 Summer Season opens with Bizet’s “Carmen” with an all-star cast. A total of six 123s – including a 300CD with its roof removed – mingled on the stage with the chorus and title star Ginger Costa-Jackson. She’s the woman who everyone wantsbut she wants nothing but freedom. These icons were front and center during the North American debut of Bieto’s shortened Carmen at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera. Co-Production with San Francisco Opera Originally created by Opera Australia based on the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Norwegian National Opera co-production Bold, uninhibited, and strong-willed, Carmen lives life on her own terms. Both were ubiquitous to the area: He chose the towering roadside Bull profile billboards from the Osborne sherry concern of the ’50s and…the Mercedes-Benz 123 series diesels.Īccording to the LA Times’ Mark Swed it was an “evening of powerful, illuminating theater. When Catalan opera director Calixto Bieto visited Spain for inspiration for his modern interpretation of Bizet’s classic – and numbingly long – Carmen he came away with some very strong visual cues that he would integrate into the piece.

San francisco opera carmen