Flicka von Stade for SFO tonight; "La Cenerentola" encore Wed. May 20; Opera's labors of love

La Cenerentola, the live broadcast from the Met with Latvian Elina Garanca, will have an encore presentation next Wednesday, May 20th in Century theaters. Also Flicka von Stade's Springtime in Paris benefit for the San Francisco Opera is tonight. Tickets are still available; Eugene Onegin at the Paris Opera plays at the Vogue Theater in San Francisco on Sunday, May 17; Greer Grimsley likes the new DVD and CD Playing for Change.

Elina Garance/Bel Canto/La Cenerentola

On that note, a shout and a Happy Birthday to airline pilot Kent Krizman, globe trekker, whose birthday was Friday, May 8. Kent celebrates with his family today in Sacramento, California, his brother Carter and his parents. Kent and I heard Dianne Nicolini on KDFC yesterday morning trying to give away a ticket to Tosca at SFO in June. She did so by asking what is it men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 do? Kent had an answer and said the numbers are too low . . . so we didn't win the contest and didn't get the ticket to Tosca. Who did, I wonder? Email me?

Meanwhile about events close to one's heart. Mezzo Elina Garanca, who just sang La Cenerentola in the Met's live broadcast on Saturday morning, sang at a fundraiser for Russian children according to Vladimir who emails from New York. Moreover, my column about her sparked an email from Sweden and I'm so excited to hear from webviewers around the world.

Jaro emails:

You'll never guess what I will do tonight: I will go to the Stockholm Opera house and see (live) La Cerenentola ('Askungen' in Swedish). That will be my third time to see that opera in a couple of weeks ... It's interesting to compare different set ups.

And I love Rossini and bel canto.

We live just outside Stockholm, in a little town called Täby, which actually is a subburb to the big city. There are many things which are fantastic in Sweden (and some less fantastic too) - the best is the unspoiled nature around us - just now, it is a wonderful spring time.

[Here is Jaro's slideshow of Swedish springtime.] Jaro has also emailed,

... I am excited to get a reply back from SF Examiner. I have been to SF about four times - lovely city, where people can walk - as opposed to (unfortunately) many US cities with today seemingly "dead" downtowns ...

Have to go now, the second period in hockey final Canada-Russia is starting ...

More later - all the best

Jaro

Speaking of Russia and Canada . . . Elina (Cinderella) holds the welfare of Russian children close to her heart, according to Vladimir from Russia who emails:

www.rcws.org
Dear Cynthia,
Will be seeing the fabulous Elina Garanca when she performs at the Met on May 6th. Prior to her debut at the Met. last year in "Barbiere di Seviglia", she was gracious to sing at a fundraiser I hosted. "The Petroushka Ball" for the benefit of the Russian Children's Welfare Society, I hope to have dinner with her when she is in New York. Besides being one of the most talented mezzo-sopranos on earth, she is extremely pleasant to be with and very attractive. Elina is good friends with my true love, Anna Netrebko, who has sung for us 3 times.

Wally Fekula

Vladimir P. Fekula
President and CEO
Russian Children's Welfare Society
200 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003

Speaking of Russian performances, Eugene Onegin shows at the Vogue Theater on Sacramento Street in San Francisco's Laurel Heights on Sunday morning. Part of the Vogue's World Stage series as Hansel & Gretel was. Can one run Bay to Breakers and then sit down for the Paris Opera? It's the Bolshoi Theater performing in Paris. It's about a man who lives to regret his blase' rejection of Tatiana, a young woman in love, and the careless incitement of a duel with his best friend which ends in tragedy.hewww.VogueSF.com story concerns Eugene Onegin, ao gret is blasé rejection of a young woman's (Tatiana's) love and his careless

Meanwhile half way around the world in Vancouver, Canada, Greer Grimsley has just finished his eleventh performance singing John the Baptist in Oscar Wilde's "Salome". So the bass baritone had time to email me about a new CD and DVD close to his heart, Playing for Change.

Here's Don't Worry. Pierre Minetti in Nancy, France singing don't worry my brother, we are all the same. The song goes to Tel Aviv, Nepal, The Congo . . . just try not to tap your foot or sing along . . . this is a feel good DVD.

Some of it like Greer himself originates in New Orleans and goes global, from an Irish choir and Bono to a solo cellist on a public square in Russia to Native Americans to a French street guitarist singing in English. The DVD goes around the world and captures performances full of color, heart and earthy charm. Some have a gospel energy mixed with reggae as in We Don't Need No More Trouble.

Yet Greer is not the only international opera singer to see music as social change or a way to enlighten and brighten the next generation.

Greer emails today,

Hey Cindy

I did finally find a copy. I have enjoyed it immensely I was hoping to see more of Grandpa but it was still a pleasure watching the video.
I liked the CD as well. I wonder what the budget was for travel?

Be Well
Greer

Here's the charter song, Stand by Me, with Greer's favorite, Grandpa, in New Orleans. Give it to somebody you love . . . when that moon is the only light you see . . . I won't be afraid, I won't shed one tear . . . as long as you come stand by me . . . darlin, darlin . . . come on, stand by me . . .

Let's get together and feel all right . . . One Love . . . from South Africa to Paris . . .

We don't need no more trouble . . .

Also tonight, if you want to experience Paris in Springtime, there are still tickets available for the benefit and tribute to Frederica von Stade on Wednesday May 13 in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA GUILD ANNOUNCES
SPRINGTIME IN PARIS, AN EVENING HONORING FREDERICA VON STADE MAY 13, 2009 AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
SAN FRANCISCO, April 15, 2009—San Francisco Opera Guild today announced plans to present Springtime in Paris: An Evening Honoring Frederica von Stade on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel (757 Market Street) in San Francisco. The black-tie gala will honor the outstanding career of internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and her dedication to music and arts education for younger generations. All proceeds support the award-winning education and community outreach programs of San Francisco Opera Guild that reach over 50,000 young people in 200 schools throughout Northern California every year.

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.

Tickets and Information

Tickets for Springtime in Paris are priced from $475 to $5,000 and are available through San Francisco Opera Guild.

For tickets or more information, please call (415) 565-3204 or visit www.sfopera.com/SpringtimeInParis. All proceeds from Springtime in Paris support the education and community outreach programs of San Francisco Opera Guild.

For more info: www.SFOpera.com, www.VogueSF.com, www.PlayingforChange.org, The Met Live, FathomEvents.com, Century Theater,

Cenerentola (Cinderella) with Elina Garanca broadcast live by Met May 9: Slaves to love

Vogue's World Stage series with Hansel & Gretel from England's Glyndebourne

Young and spirited productions for free in SF

Free opera events

Frederica von Stade

Cinderella and Cinderfellas

Dessay and Juan Diego LIVE awaken love in La Sonnambula

Juan Diego Florez to sing La Fille du Regiment at SFO; wins Best DVD

Natalie Dessay's CD and Jeremy Galyon's debut, believing in the fairy tale

Natalie Dessay CD Part One, ladies do we still want the fairy tale?

JazzFest New Orleans tips from an opera god