James Levine Ciao, Opera Mavens. Brilliant conductor: James Levine Dies at 77.(from Washington Post)

Ciao, Opera Mavens. Berlin Staatskapelle yesterday streamed an exciting new Nozze di Figaro now available on Medici: Click here. Former SF Opera General Director Lotfi Mansouri once referred to me (which I repeat here with much humility) an opera connoisseur. The term “opera glutton” might be more apt. I have kept a log of all…

Ciao, Opera Mavens. If you’re a fan of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes, you’ll enjoy this on YouTube: Peter Grimes performed during the Britten Centenary in 1969, conducted by the composer and starring Peter Pears, for whom the lead role was originally written. Enjoy!

Ciao, Opera Mavens. Internationally renowned Russian basso Evgeny Nesterenko died today of the effects of COVID-19. Nesterenko sang the roll of King Phillip II in Verdi’s Don Carlo at the San Francisco Opera in 1979. Here is Nesterenko singing “Ella giammai m’amo” from Don Carlo on YouTube. Here is Nesterenko singing Boris Godunov, an elaborate…

Ciao, Opera Mavens. We hope you all are staying safe & sane, and that these online offerings help keep you happy & healthy at home through the holidays! OPERA SAN JOSE  operasj.orgThree Decembers (Jake Heggie / Gene Scheer) – Mezzo Susan Graham (Merola 1987) leads the cast of OSJ’s first fully-staged digital production, based on…

Ciao, Opera Mavens. From the Eiffel Tower, Paris’s annual Bastille Day Concert is now available on YouTube. This year’s conductor is Eun Sun Kim, San Francisco Opera’s new Music Director. Some of the soloists: Sonya Yoncheva Benjamin Bernheim Ludovic Tezier Enjoy!

Ciao, Opera Mavens. Here are some more web-based opera-tunities while the shelter in place continues: William Berger Presents: The Epic of Opera – Metropolitan Opera commentator and noted author and lecturer William Berger presents this lively, interactive late-afternoon/early evening Zoom-based webinar tracing the story of opera itself. Each session will feature a presentation with visuals…

Ciao, Opera Mavens. After last week’s marvelous Rusalka from Des Moines Metro Opera, this week they are streaming a superb Billy Budd. https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/virtualfestival/ Scroll down to “Billy Budd” and select either YouTube or Face Book to watch. Enjoy!

Ciao, Opera Mavens. We’re guessing many of you are as confused and concerned as we are about the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on our personal health and lifestyles along with the welfare of local performing artists and organizations. Given the recent cancellations of so many events, we wanted to make you aware of two…