Past Events 2018

71 opera fans were in attendance for this 2008 filmed production by the legendary Robert Donhelm of Giacomo Puccini’s seminal opera La boheme, filmed in the magnificent landscapes of Austria and Germany by cinematographer Walter Kindler. The film-opera starred Russian soprano Anna Netrebko and Mexican/French tenor Rolando Villazon as the tragic lovers Mimi and Rodolfo, with American soprano Nicole Cabell as the free-loving Musetta. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of cheddar & parmesan cheese gougere (puffs), chicken-liver pate with lemon zest on toasted French bread, crescent-wrapped mini beef sausages, and chicken salad (with raisins apples, nuts, celery, and onions) in bread cups. The desserts included platters of French bread pudding with caramel sauce, apple & pineapple tartlets, almond cherry cake, and assorted homemade cookies. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of white cranberry and peach fruit punch, mixed with golden peach-flavored sparkling water, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In December 2018 we will proudly feature Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday favorite The Nutcracker. This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2019.

49 opera fans were in attendance for this production by Mary Zimmerman of Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic dramatic opera Lucia di Lammermoor recorded live in HD and transmitted worldwide in February 2009 from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. This stunning production featured the renowned Russian soprano Anna Netrebko in the title role of Lucia, with Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecien as Enrico, Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as Edgardo, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov as Raimondo. Maestro Marco Armiliato conducted the formidable forces of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of bomba calabrese (sautéed mix of mushroom, eggplant, onions, sweet and hot peppers, sprinkled with fennel, oregano, salt, and a dash of wine vinegar served in baked pastry cups), aranchini (rice balls with chopped pepperoni, cheese, parsley, eggs, and bread crumbs fried in olive oil, served with fresh warm tomato sauce), and cocktail sandwiches of smoked turkey slices, sun-dried tomatoes, basil leaves, lettuce leaves, and olives served on soft Italian bread with cream cheese spread, black beans, rice, olives, and cheddar cheese stuffed in crescent rolls, and stuffed mini peppers. The desserts included platters of homemade almond biscotti, spiced pumpkin snickerdoodles, and slices of vanilla and chocolate cream cake with chocolate frosting. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of fruit punch, made with cranberry and black cherry juices, mixed with black cherry-flavored sparkling water, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In November 2018 we will proudly feature Giacomo Puccini’s beloved opera La boheme, featuring Russian operatic soprano Anna Netrebko and Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon as the tragic lovers, in a filmed performance directed by Robert Dornhelm. This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

64 opera fans were in attendance for this live production of Giuseppe Verdi’s intensely dramatic opera La forza del destino recorded during the Munich Opera Festival 2014 that featured German uber-tenor Jonas Kaufmann as Don Alvaro, soprano Anja Harteros as Donna Leonora, and French baritone Ludovic Tezier as Don Carlor di Vargas. The supporting cast included Ukranian bass Vitalij Kowaljow as the Marchese di Calatrava/Padre Guardiano, Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Nadia Krasteva as Preziosilla, and Italian baritone Renato Girolami as Fra Melitone. Maestro Asher Fisch skillfully conducted the Orchestra and Chorus of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester. Martin Kusej was the stage director and Heidi Hackl was the costume designer for this production. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of black beans, rice, olives, and cheddar cheese stuffed in crescent rolls, and stuffed mini peppers with mixed vegetables, beef, and rice. The desserts included platters of Italian bread pudding bites, and oatmeal and dried fruits cookies. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of mixed berry fruit punch, made with pear, apple, blackberry, and raspberry juices, mixed with raspberry-flavored sparkling water, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In October 2018 we will proudly feature Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic opera Lucia di Lammermoor, featuring Russian operatic soprano Anna Netrebko as the title heroine, with Polish baritione Marius Kwiecien as Enrico and Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as Edgardo, with Maestro Marco Armiliato conducting the formidable forces of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

65 opera fans were in attendance for this 2016 live production of Georges Bizet’s operatic jewel Les pecheurs de perles at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House that featured German soprano Diana Damrau, Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, American tenor Matthew Polenzani, and French baritone Nicolas Teste in the principal singing roles. Maestro Gianandrea Noseda masterfully conducted the Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera. Penny Woolcock was the stage director and Kevin Pollard was the costume designer for this production. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of sesame oil pan-fried chicken & vegetable wontons with mango ginger chutney, edamame & pea hummus on rice crackers, and curried tuna salad mini-sandwiches (made with red onion, raisins, celery, cilantro, coriander, curry and mayo). The desserts included platters of butter mochi (coconut milk squares), oven-fried sesame rice balls, and Asian pineapple tartlets filled with Indian rice pudding & pineapple. Our guests also enjoyed a cup of refreshing Mumbai-inspired fruit punch, made with mango, apple, pear, and pineapple juices, mixed with apple-flavored sparkling water, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In August 2018 we will proudly feature Giuseppe Verdi’s dramatic opera La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny), featuring uber-tenor Jonas Kaufmann and soprano Anja Harteros, with Asher Fisch conducting the Bayerisches Staatorchester. This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

73 opera fans were enchanted and enraptured with this live production from Austria’s 2008 Salzburg Festival of Gounod’s beguiling Shakespearean opera Romeo et Juliette that featured French/Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon and Georgian lyric dramatic soprano Nino Machaidze in the title roles. The internally renowned Yannick Nezet-Seguin masterfully conducted the Orchestra and Chorus of the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious French-inspired reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of vegetable stuffed mini pepper halves topped with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese, chicken liver pate on French bread crostini with lemon zest, and baked cheddar cheese gougeres. The desserts included platters of homemade French butter cookies, cherry and almond clafoutis, and apple pie cake with cream cheese frosting. Our guests also enjoyed a generous and refreshing cup of sparkling French 75 mocktail punch with pineapple, white grape, pear, and peach juices, made with sparkling white grape water, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In August 2018 we will proudly feature the premiere showing of Georges Bizet’s Le pecheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) from New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. This will be a must-see production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

39 opera fans were in attendance for this 2005 live production of Amilcare Ponchielli’s Italian grand opera at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu that featured Deborah Voigt, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Carlo Colombara, Ewa Podles, Richard Margison, and Carlo Guelfi in the six principal singing roles. The principal dancers in the ballet were Angel Corella and Letizia Giuliani. Daniele Callegari skillfully conducted the Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona. Pier Luigi Pizzi was the stage director and the set and costume designer for this production. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of individual pizza flats of sautéed onions, peppers, zucchini, and tomato with fresh basil pesto and parmesan cheese, rolled salami slices with sweet yellow pepper rings in spiced cream cheese, mini spinach quiches, and assorted olives and pickles with mustard dip. The desserts included platters of moist carrot cake squares, Italian-style bread pudding slices with vanilla custard sauce and mandarin orange slices, and assorted homemade cookies. Our guests also enjoyed a cup of refreshing strawberry lemonade with sparkling diet lemon-lime soda and lemon water, with fresh sliced strawberries, lemons, and limes, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In July 2018 we will proudly feature the premiere showing of Charles Gounod’s sumptuous Shakespeare adaptation Romeo et Juliette. This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

59 opera fans were dazzled and delighted with this 2008 live production of Rossini’s 1817 Cinderella-inspired opera at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu that featured tenor Juan Diego Florez and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. Patrick Summers masterfully conducted the Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully delicious reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of antipasto skewers with green olives, salami, and provolone cheese, tri-color crostini with basil leaf, tomato and ricotta cheese, and baked Stromboli with pepperoni, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese. The desserts included platters of lemon cheese bars, oatmeal Florentines, coconut squares, and fresh grapes and pineapple bites. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of sparkling white cranberry and strawberry punch, made with diet lemon-lime soda and sparkling strawberry water, and topped with fresh sliced strawberries, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In June 2018 we will proudly feature the premiere showing of Amilcare Ponchielli’s grand opera La Gioconda. This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

40 fans were enchanted with this 2012 performance recorded lived at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco of Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece I Capuleti e I Montecchi. This stunning co-production by Vincent Boussard and Vincent Lemaire featured mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and soprano Nicole Cabell as the ill-fated lovers Romeo and Giulietta, alongside a cast of international stars that included tenor Saimir Pirgu, bass Eric Owens, and bass-baritone Ao Li. This production also featured the stunning costumes by world-renowned couturier Christian Lacroix, a frequent collaborator and prominent fashion icon known for both his couture house as well as his theater, ballet, and opera costumes. Maestro Riccardo Frizza masterfully conducted the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully appropriate reception Italiano, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of potato and spinach gnocchi skewers with pesto sauce, cheese pizza pockets, and spinach cheese balls. The desserts included platters of orange ricotta cookies, banana cake bars, and oatmeal-raisin and peanut cookies. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of sparkling berry and lime fruit punch, made with diet lemon-lime soda and other natural fruit juices, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In May 2018 we will proudly feature Gioacchino Rossini’s fairy-tale opera La Cenerentola (Cinderella). This will be an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

56 opera fans were in the house for this historic 1982 performance taped lived at the Metropolitan Opera in New York of Mozart’s great choral opera Idomeneo, re di Creta. This production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle featured Frederica von Stade as Idamante, Hildegard Behrens as Elettra, Ileana Cotrubas as Ilia, and Luciano Pavarotti making a rare appearance in a Mozart role as Idomeneo, King of Crete. Maestro James Levine skillfully and masterfully conducted the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. At intermission our guests enjoyed a wonderfully appropriate Greek reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of salami-wrapped pickles with scallion cream cheese, Greek-style deviled eggs with red onion and spinach topped with diced black olives, and mixture of artichoke, green olive, red pepper, and marinated green pepper on crostini with cheese and tomato. The desserts included platters of Greek-style raisin bread pudding with fruit, pineapple cupcakes with vanilla frosting, and banana cake squares with cinnamon sugar topping. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of sparkling red fruit punch, made with diet lemon-lime and key lime soda and other natural fruit juices, including berry and lime, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In April 2018 we will proudly feature Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece I Capuleti e I Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues). This is an outstanding production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

48 opera fans were happily charmed and delighted with this 1996 production from l’Opera National de Lyon set in the 1920s of Donizetti’s beguiling opera L’Elisir d’Amore. This witty production featured the then-newlyweds French tenor Roberto Alagna and Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu as Nemorino and Adina, with Roberto Scaltriti as Belcore, Simone Alaimo as Dulcamara, and Elena Dan as Giannetta. Maestro Evelino Pido conducted the Orchestra and Choir of the Opera National of Lyon (France). At intermission our guests enjoyed a lovely reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of ricotta and spinach lasagna squares, chicken and ham mini quiches with broccoli cheese, and turkey sausage with peppers, onions, olives, sauce, and cheese on ciabatta bread. The desserts included platters of oatmeal Florentines, anisette cookies, and rice pudding cups with chopped dried fruits. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of sparkling red fruit punch, made with natural fruit juices, including apple and citrus, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In March 2018 we will proudly feature Mozart’s great choral opera Idomeneo, re di Creta (Idomeneo, King of Crete). This is an amazing production, one you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 2018.

27 opera fans were intrigued and pleasantly delighted with this updated and contemporary staging from the Salzburg Whitsun Festival of May 2012 of Handel’s magnificent baroque opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto. This modern production featured the Italian mezzo Cecilia Bartoli as Cleopatra, German countertenor Andreas Scholl as Cesare, mezzo Anne Sofie von Otter as Cornelia, and French countertenors Philippe Jaroussky as Sesto and Christophe Dumaux as Tolomeo. The brilliant supporting cast included countertenor Jochen Kowalski as Nirena, and basses Ruben Drole as Achilla and Peter Kalman as Curio. Maestro Giovanni Antonini skillfully conducted the Baroque ensemble Il Giardino Armonico on period instruments. At intermission our guests enjoyed a fabulous reception, prepared by our very own chef-in-residence Roslyn Blitzer, and the fantastic menu du jour featured platters of Egyptian style foods, including Sambousek (stuffed crescent rolls with Egyptian-style meatballs in sauce with lemon zest), Koshari (mixture of lentils, rice, and cubed chicken breast with a spicy tomato sauce on flatbread), and mixture of eggplant, onions, peppers, zucchini, garlic, tomatoes, and mushrooms, layed on a bed of hummus-covered multi-grain bread thins. The desserts included platters of Kahk (Egyptian-style yeast shortbread stuffed with dates, nuts, and raisins covered in sesame seeds), Om Ali (layered bread pudding with coconut, dried fruits, and raisins), and lemon pudding cupcakes. Our guests also enjoyed a refreshing cup of clear fruit punch, made with natural fruit juices, including apple and citrus, to enjoy with their chosen delicacies. In February 2018 we will proudly feature the sparkling comic opera L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) by Gaetano Donizetti. This is a wonderful production you won’t want to miss, and as always, we look forward to bringing you many more outstanding operatic and special performances every month throughout the upcoming year 20