Two-thirds of the San Francisco Opera's summer season requires more preparation than the often-performed Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro (June 14-July 5), but even that glorious warhorse has pre-opera talks an hour before each performance in the orchestra section of the War Memorial.
The two challenges are the rare and grand opera Berlioz's Les Troyens (June 7-July 1) and the world premiere of Marco Tutino's Two Women (June 13-30).
Across Grove Street, in Davies Symphony Hall, there will be vocal grandeur too, with Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (June 10-13) and Fidelio (June 25-28). But first, let's turn to the Opera summer season:
- May 26-28, Opera Guild previews in various Bay Area locations, with musicologist Timothy S. Flynn taking an in-depth look at Les Troyens
- May 30 (5 p.m.), S.F. Opera Guild presents "An Evening with Marco Tutino," with performances and reception to follow, All Saints' Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto; $50 to $150
- May 31 (6 p.m.), screening of Vittorio De Sica's film, Two Women, starring Sophia Loren, New People's Cinema, 1746 Post St., S.F.; $20
- June 1-3, S.F. Opera Guild previews of Two Women, various locations, with S.F. Opera dramaturg Kip Cranna; admission varies
- June 3 (4–5:30 p.m.), free lecture by Berlioz scholar D. Kern Holoman: "An Introduction to The Trojans," UC Davis Music Building, Room 115
- June 4 (6 p.m.), Insight Panel, a discussion with the cast and creative team of The Trojans, S.F. Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, 50 Oak St, S.F.; $5 admission
- June 13 (1 p.m.), "'Like Stalactites in Humid Caves': the Genesis of The Trojans," the Wagner Society of Northern California presents a talk with D. Kern Holoman on the literary and visual sources of Berlioz's opera, Kanbar Hall, 3200 California St., S.F.; $10 admission
- June 20 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.), "Exploring The Trojans," free roundtable with Donald Runnicles and Berlioz scholars, S.F. Conservatory of Music Concert Hall
For San Francisco Symphony events:
- "Inside Music" talks from the stage are scheduled one hour prior to each concert - by Peter Grunberg for Missa solemnis and Fidelio and by Laura Stanfield Prichard for the other concerts of the Beethoven Festival; free to ticket holders
- A free podcast about Missa solemnis, hosted by KDFC’s Rik Malone, will be available for streaming or download from sfsymphony.org/podcasts and from the iTunes store.
- KDFC-FM will broadcast Fidelio at 8 p.m. July 7, and make on-demand streaming available on kdfc.com for 21 days after that.