San Francisco Opera The First Seventy-Five Years

by Chatfield-Taylor, Joan; Mansouri, Lotfi

• ISBN13: 9780811813686
• ISBN10: 0811813681
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-09-01
• Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary

This richly illustrated retrospective profiles the lively history of the San Francisco Opera. In the fall of 1997, the prestigious company returns to its original, newly renovated performance space, the War Memorial Opera House, and at the same time celebrates its seventy-fifth season. A spectacular chronicle of glamour, glory, and years of hard work, this book rediscovers the illustrious directors, the young singers, the brilliant costume and set designers, and, of course, the stars who have made the San Francisco Opera an institution. Many of the world's greatest voices, including Luciano Pavarotti, Leontyne Price, Birgit Nilsson, Renata Tibaldi, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras, are pictured in breathtaking photographs, along with spectacular reproductions of stage sets and original costume sketches from the Opera's archives. Including a chronological list of every performance since 1922, this lavish celebration is a must-have for all opera fans and theater lovers.

Author Biography

Joan Chatfield-Taylor -- formerly a features writer at the San Francisco Chronicle -- is the author of Backstage at the Opera. She lives in San Francisco.

Lotfi Mansouri -- general director of the San Francisco Opera -- has directed more than sixty productions since 1988.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Overture	ix
Lotfi Mansouri
Prologue: Opera in San Francisco 1851-1922	1	(8)
Chapter One: Gaetano Merola	9	(12)
Chapter Two: Heroes	21	(28)
Chapter Three: The Complete Art: Orchestra, Chorus, and Dance	49	(14)
Chapter Four: Kurt Herbert Adler	63	(12)
Chapter Five: Heroines	75	(28)
Chapter Six: The Curtain Rises: Sets, Costumes, Lights...Action	103	(16)
Chapter Seven: Terence A. McEwen	119	(12)
Chapter Eight: Voices of the Future	131	(12)
Chapter Nine: Lotfi Mansouri	143	(14)
Chronology	157	(22)
Recipients of the San Francisco Opera Medal	179	(1)
Photo Credits	180