Breaking news: Frederica von Stade's family heirlooms stolen and auctioned so police searching

Frederica von Stade's family heirlooms have been stolen from an Alameda, California storage unit and auctioned off so police are looking for the heirlooms.

Last spring Flicka was honored by the San Francisco Opera guild at Springtime in Paris.  Proceeds went to educational and outreach programs at 200 schools.

Known as a bel canto specialist, she is also beloved in the French repertoire, including the title role of Offenbach’s La Périchole. She is also a favorite interpreter of the great “trouser” roles, from Strauss’s Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos) and Octavian to Mozart’s Sextus, Idamante (Idomeneo) and Cherubino. Von Stade’s artistry has inspired the revival of neglected works such as Massenet’s Chérubin, Ambroise Thomas’ Mignon, Rameau’s Dardanus and Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria, and she has garnered critical and popular acclaim for her vast French orchestral repertoire, including Ravel’s Shéhérazade, Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’Été and Canteloube’s Les Chants d’Auvergne.
 

This is an AP story, click here:  Frederica von Stade's stolen heirlooms

For photos and video clips, click:   Flicka von Stade honored by SF Opera guild at Springtime in Paris

Reminder:  The Met's original documentary The Audition with SFO Adler alum Alek Shrader winning bigtime shows on PBS tonight.  The DVD is out also.

Alek Shrader sighting at Opera in the Park

Alek Shrader wins big in The Audition, cinema verite by Susan Froemke

Alek Shrader stars in Met broadcast

 Adler Fellows Gala November 22 at Herbst Theater with meet-the-artists reception

 Adler Fellows gala a starry night with Shrader

San Francisco Opera announces 2010-2011 repertory and casting: Pacido, Garanca, Jovanovich, Melton

For more from this writer, check out the SF theater column at:  http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-30274-SF-Theater-Examiner

Hearts on Fire with the Mexican Elvis, El Vez and disco diva Thelma Houston starts February 

Phedre world premiere at ACT brings veteran Shakespearean actress Seana McKenna to SF

Cirque du Soleil's "Ovo" evokes color, tenacity and audacity of Brazil with Olympian performances

Cirque du Soleil's "Ovo" promises world of biodiversity, color and ladybug love

Getting butterflies at Cirque du Soleil's "Ovo":  backstage interviews with Spider Woman and Ladybug