San Diego Opera

Attended San Diego Opera’s «Nixon in China» last evening. I Saw the Met production on DVD, so I was a little disappointed they chose to not land the Jet on stage, but they captured the magic with some creative stage business — the numerous Console TV sets. The singers who played Madam Mao and Nixon were superb in their respective roles. Pleased that SDO found the financing to continue bringing Opera to San Diego

Being thoroughly impressed with La Boheme and Don Giovanni, we were looking forward with anticipation to Nixon in China, but it was very disappointing, but this is purely subjective and by no means a reflection on the wonderful venue, the ambience of the San Diego Opera or the performers.
The production seemed void of art and poetry, just a repetitive dialogue delivered at different points on the musical scale, up and down, different tempos, for no real reason at all other than variety. The choreography consisted of a random collection of awkward and unnecessary movements tacked together.
If there was a message to be had, I didn’t get it at all.
When the first intermission came along, there appeared to be a mass exodus heading for the doors, so clearly others were disappointed too.
You might want to save your shekels on this one.

I have to say that I’m very impressed with the outreach that San Diego Opera has been doing this season. There’s been a string of free mini-​concerts, lectures, events with the library, broadcasts on KPBS, and probably more that I’m not aware of. Since the die-​hard opera fans probably make up a fairly small group, this is great!
Opera tends to be mostly about the music, but this season’s production of Don Giovanni was surprisingly theatrical. It was almost like musical theater in the degree of moving around the stage and changing of the sets. I’m impressed that everyone was able to sing while lying down, running about, and while having lots of (fully clothed, but not PG) sex on stage.
My one complaint was that the balance between the instruments and the vocals was off and the orchestra tend to overpower the singers. Perhaps because all the movement made it hard to project?
At any rate, I love how accessible this production was and I would recommend it as a great introduction to the art.

The performance themselves deserve 4 stars but the venue feels very dated and like most operas the crowd appears to have a silver hue when seated. We saw La Boheme, a dramatic and comical performance at the same time. Would go back to see other performances I just wish San Diego had a better venue.

Yesterdays 2 o’clock performance of Pagliacci was done very poorly. The main actor who played Pagliacci came out as a clown without any white face and tear drop as to who he was suppose to portray. It was the last performance, so I guess they ran of of make-​up.
Not to mention the acting was not even there, Bad all the way around!
I have tried to go to San Diego Opera’s before, this being my 3^rd time in 3 years and each time I am disappointed… Never Again!!!

Considered one of the best opera companies in the country, and rightly so. I’m a season ticket subscriber and have been going here for years because of the outstanding quality, singers, and management. I’d recommend this opera company to anyone, and even kids and 20-​somethings like it.

We love San Diego Opera and have bought four-​seat (parents, son and daughter-​in-​law) season passes for more than a decade. The Civic Theater leaves a bit to be desired, but the company does a good job of minimizing its deficiencies. I like the advice others have given — listen to samples of the music ahead of time, read about the libretto, the composer, and the lead singers, and watch some of San Diego Opera’s very helpful live, television, and YouTube lectures. Your research will greatly enhance your experience and enjoyment. Opera immerses the listener/​viewer into a uniquely rich multimedia wonderland of great vocals, moving orchestration, spectacular scenery, beautiful costumes, and great acting.

Very high quality performances. Interesting, and sometimes controversial, selections of Operas. More attended than the Symphony, for some unknown reason. More recent Board of Directors are doing a good job.

I saw The Marriage of Figaro here with mama and good friend. Very nice because it had subtitles for the Italian. The acoustics weren’t that amazing. And seriously it was difficult to see the stage. But PHENOMENAL performance.

San Diego Opera,
I went to the Opera in SD last Saturday for the first time. I have seen many opera in Italy and Germany (which is where I came from), but I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about going to the Opera in San Diego.
THE THEATRE: The San Diego Civic Theatre is a pretty theatre, but I was surprised to see no balconies (like at La Scala for example), and no velvet on the walls. Overall not bad, but now «wow» either.
THE OPERA: I went to see my favorite «La Traviata» and introduced my husband to the opera for the first time that night as well. Violetta (Elizabeth Futral) was amazing, her voice fantastic… and the sound carried well in the theatre.
The production was very lavish, and extravagant. The costumes amazing!
I did like it a lot and my husband was also mesmerized.
I wish the theatre was a bit more like back home, but I will definitely get used to it.
Well, we ended up becoming patrons for the 2011 season… great line up Turandot, Der Rosenkavalier, Faust and Carmen… all classics!
I did promise my husband that when we go back to visit my parents I will take him to Milan to get the full on Italian experience.
A SUGGESTION TO FUTURE OPERA LOVERS:
Before you go, research the opera you are going to see, the characters, the composer etc… it will make the performance that much more powerful and meaningful… and you will not need to read the subtitles as much.
… Did you know that Violetta was inspired by a real French courtesan? Look her up Marie Duplessis (very fascinating person).
ENJOY!

SD Opera is truly amazing and plenty of world renowned singers come to work here. There are subtitles displayed on the top of the stage which makes it a snap to follow the story, no one needs to be an opera buff to enjoy the heavenly sounds and astounding sets that are magical. Just come as you are, pick a seat, any seat (though in the nosebleeds you’ll soon be hooked and lusting after a seat upgrade) and become an opera addict ;)

San Diego Opera presents world class opera with the same world class singers you would see in New York, San Francisco or Chicago.
Prices range from «whoa!» to $ 35 (which are actually pretty good) and if you are cheap like me you can try your luck at $ 20 rush tickets an hour before the performance which are somtimes available to the lesser known operas.
San Diego Opera always presents something for everyone — either a classic traditional opera or an opera that has rarely been seen here — which I like because you can only see BOHEME 52 times before it starts to get boring.
I give them 5 stars but I give the theatre a mere 3 (2.5?) — she’s a tired old building but once inside and and the lights go down, who cares. It is what is on stage that matters and San Diego Opera does it right!
A suprising find for San Diego, the Opera is really good enough to be in a much bigger city. Consider yourself lucky and take advantage of this excellent find!

I am shocked and amazed that this is the first Unilocal for the San Diego Opera!
I was once a member and have lost count of how many productions I’ve seen. Some of them included La Traviata, Logherin, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute a modern productions of Rigoletto and an adaptation of A Street Car Named Desire.
I first began attending around age 11. My first opera was Tosca and I recall being amazed that a production actually had subtitles — well a screen above stage with the English translations. San Diego’s opera has struggled through the years because they & the Pops must compete with the weather and the beach. Perhaps its not a surprise after all that this is its first Unilocal.Were there stronger patronage perhaps more than 5 productions per year could visit. The San Diego Opera certainly ‘does more with less’.