Frederica von Stade to be honored at "Springtime in Paris" by SFO on May 13, 2009

Bel canto to pants roles to Hollywood and Garrison Keillor

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA GUILD ANNOUNCES
SPRINGTIME IN PARIS, AN EVENING HONORING FREDERICA VON STADE MAY 13, 2009 AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Opera Guild 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.

The celebratory evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a festive cocktail reception and silent wine auction. At 7:30 p.m., the doors to the Veranda Ballroom open for guests to enjoy a French-inspired dinner paired with French wines, a live auction featuring auctioneer David Reynolds, and the opportunity to dance the night away to the music of Bill Hopkins Rock’n Orchestra.

The highlight of the evening will be a special tribute to Frederica von Stade. Event co-chairs are Lynne Edminster and Barbara Walkowski.

A venerable artistic committee has come together to honor Ms. von Stade, including Claudio Abbado, Sarah Billinghurst, Zheng Cao, Sir Andrew Davis, Edo de Waart, Plácido Domingo, Bruce Donnell, Matthew Epstein, Ruth Felt, Richard Gaddes, David Gockley, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Jake Heggie, Marilyn Horne, Martin Katz, Evelyn Lear, James Levine, Lotfi Mansouri, Armistead Maupin, Nancy Adler Montgomery, Samuel Ramey, Donald Runnicles, Jo Schuman Silver, Richard Stilwell, and Michael Tilson Thomas.

Flicka has a CD with Samuel Ramey . . .

. . . with Marilyn Horne called Divas in Song.

Michael Tilson Thomas . . .

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.
Springtime in Paris is generously supported by United Airlines, Vinum Distribution Inc., Scharffenberger Cellars, Grey Goose Vodka, Nob Hill Gazette, and Robert Fountain Events.

About San Francisco Opera Guild

San Francisco Opera Guild was founded in 1939 to further musical education and appreciation and to sponsor and give assistance to operatic and musical education programs. Each year, more than 50,000 young people in more than 200 schools are introduced to opera through the work of the Guild. San Francisco Opera Guild strives to make opera accessible to everyone through its programs in schools, hospitals, senior centers and theaters, as well as special dress rehearsals in the War Memorial Opera House. The Opera Guild's education fund, "A Gift for All Seasons," was established in 1995 to provide permanent funding resources necessary to ensure the continuation of these programs for young people throughout Northern California. This professionally managed education endowment generates income to support programs such as Opera à la Carte, student dress rehearsals, and other education programs. Student dress rehearsals for the 2008–09 season have included The Bonesetter’s Daughter (world premiere), Boris Godonov, La Bohème, and The Elixir of Love (Madeline H. Russell High School Night); this summer’s student dress rehearsal will be Porgy and Bess.

About Frederica von Stade

Described by the New York Times as “one of America’s finest artists and singers,” Frederica von Stade has enriched the world of classical music for nearly four decades. Following her 1971 San Francisco Opera debut as Sextus (La Clemenza di Tito) with Spring Opera Theater and her main stage debut in 1972 as Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro). . .

. . . von Stade has appeared with the Company in more than a dozen roles, including Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), and the title roles of La Sonnambula, La Cenerentola . . .

and

. . . and The Merry Widow.

She also created two roles in world premiere productions by San Francisco Opera—Marquise de Merteuil in Conrad Susa’s The Dangerous Liaisons and Mrs. Patrick de Rocher in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking—and reprised her role as Madeline Mitchell in Heggie’s Three Decembers with the Company this past December. Von Stade has appeared with every leading American opera company, and new European productions have been mounted for her at La Scala; the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; Vienna State Opera; and Paris Opera.

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.

Her seventy recordings have garnered numerous awards, including six Grammy nominations and “Best of the Year” citations by Stereo Review and Opera News, and she appears regularly on national television, including a concert celebrating the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Von Stade was appointed as an officer of France’s L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1998, and in 1983 she was honored with an award given at the White House by President Reagan. She holds five honorary doctorates and an honorary chair at the San Francisco Conservatory.

She seems to have bridged that gap between All American showtunes and musical theater with the world of opera. Her work appeals to young and old, with recordings by Cole Porter to the Sound of Music. Animal lovers will even find something in her repetoire for the pets, Songs of the Cat with Garrison Keillor.