New Donna Anna for SFO
The San Francisco Opera just put out the advisory below a few minutes ago. Can you believe they waited until AFTER the final dress rehearsal to make this decision? Opening night of Don G in SF is day after tomorrow! Poor Ms. Briggs (a fine singer whom I've heard on many occasions); this must be a terrible situation.
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SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2007 – After the final dress rehearsal for Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley, in consultation with Music Director Donald Runnicles and members of the artistic staff, made the decision that soprano Hope Briggs was not ultimately suited for the role of Donna Anna in this production. Soprano Elza van den Heever, a member of San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellow Program, will replace Ms. Briggs in the role for all performances of Don Giovanni, which opens June 2 at the War Memorial Opera House. Ms. van den Heever has performed the role of Donna Anna at the Lincoln Theater in Napa Valley and is contracted to sing the role with a major American opera company in a future season.
© 2007 C. Chang
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SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2007 – After the final dress rehearsal for Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley, in consultation with Music Director Donald Runnicles and members of the artistic staff, made the decision that soprano Hope Briggs was not ultimately suited for the role of Donna Anna in this production. Soprano Elza van den Heever, a member of San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellow Program, will replace Ms. Briggs in the role for all performances of Don Giovanni, which opens June 2 at the War Memorial Opera House. Ms. van den Heever has performed the role of Donna Anna at the Lincoln Theater in Napa Valley and is contracted to sing the role with a major American opera company in a future season.
© 2007 C. Chang
posted by Ching Chang at 2:52 PM
2 Comments:
I don't know Hope Briggs and I'm terribly sorry for her, to tell you the truth, but Ms. Elza van den Heever is basically the next Joan Sutherland. This is a big, young, beautiful, scary voice. Go check it out.
I will, sfmike! I'm going to DG tonight with a very open mind; let'sl compare notes later. Thanks for you comment.
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