San Francisco Classical Voice

Ominous Timing for Klinghoffer Premiere

An opera based on a real-life act of terrorism has a difficult time finding a stage, regardless of its artistic merit. John Adams' The Death of Klinghoffer is due for its British premiere, August 23-29, at the Edinburgh Festival, just weeks after two separate bomb attacks in London, and ticket sales are "slow," according to Festival director Brian McMaster. At least the Scottish Opera production is on schedule, unlike the outright cancelation in 2001 by the Boston Symphony of Klinghoffer excerpts seven weeks after the September 11 attacks.

Adams' opera — about the 1984 Palestinian hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro, leading to the murder of the wheelchair-bound American Leon Klinghoffer — premiered in 1991 to protests in Brussels and in Brooklyn, reaching San Francisco in 1992, but a scheduled Los Angeles run later that year was canceled.

Penny Woolcock's award-winning BBC film version of Klinghoffer in 2003 cut Adams' work substantially, and the Edinburgh performances, directed by Anthony Neilson, will largely follow the film's abbreviated text.

Where Are the Ladies of Yesteryear?

Following up on Music News' recent articles about women conductors, here's a passage from Norman Lebrecht's current Webpage: "Fifteen years ago, it became possible for the first time to imagine a future for women in the podium. Neville Marriner yielded his Academy to Iona Brown; Ilya Musin, Gergiev's teacher, named Sian Edwards as his most promising pupil; the American Symphony Orchestra appointed Catherine Comet as principal conductor. Jane Glover took over the London Mozart Players.

"One by one, they fell to earth. Brown and Comet retired hurt. Sian Edwards was thrown to the wolves by unsupportive bosses at English National Opera. Andrea Quinn was forced out of the Royal Ballet orchestra, moving to New York City Ballet. Glover became a governor of the BBC."

Mackerras Honored

Born in the US, raised in Australia, a distinguished English conductor (knighted in 1979) with a special affinity for Czech music — Charles Mackerras is the winner of the inaugural Queen's Medal for Music, Buckingham Palace has announced. The award recognizes "an individual (or group of musicians) who is judged to have had a major influence on the musical life" of the UK.

Starting with a 1969 Magic Flute, Mackerras was a frequent visitor to the War Memorial. He was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Opera in 1993, but illness and a busy European schedule limited his visits here to a 1995 Madama Butterfly and Rusalka, a 2000 Rosenkavalier and — in his last appearance — Semele. Mackerras, although he recently said that he will not travel overseas, technically still occupies the San Francisco post.

Composer Peter Maxwell Davies, the new Master of the Queen's Music, announced the award by saying that Mackerras is "one of the most highly respected and greatly loved musicians of our time. Through the power and authority of his interpretations of Janácek, he introduced this country to the work of one of the greatest opera composers. He brought stylish performance practice to the music of the Baroque and Classical periods, especially Handel oratorio and Mozart opera.

"Sir Charles turns 80 later this year [November 17], but he has the energy and commitment of someone half his age," Davies said. "Musical life in this country has benefited immeasurably from his presence among us, and will continue to do so." Mackerras was chosen by a committee chaired by Davies and including composer Michael Berkeley and Nicholas Kenyon, head of classical music for the BBC. Queen Elizabeth II will present Mackerras with a silver medal in a private ceremony.

Wanted: 500 Million Pennies

Renovation of Vallejo Music Theater — which would give the Symphony there a proper home for small-scale concerts at long last — depends on raising an additional $50,000 for retrofitting and major renovation of the city's old Main Post Office. At various Vallejo music performances, buckets are provided to gather spare change from audiences. "After last weekend's opening of Gypsy, we only need 499,997,634 pennies," quipped Board President Scott Hanes.

The Music Theater organization raised a half a million dollars a couple of years ago to close escrow on the building. Led by managing director Judith H. Brown, VMT has put together a patchwork of funding, including a first mortgage, secured and unsecured loans, donations from the community and development of a Trust.

About $4 million's worth of fund-raising accompanied planning and construction of a complex around two theaters, a main stage of 280 seats and a black-box venue with 78 seats. An architectural feasibility study was prepared by Paul Roberts + Partners, a local architect whose portfolio includes renovation of Flint Center and of historic theaters in the Bay Area.

David Ramadanoff's Vallejo Symphony, in its 74th year, will have the option to use the new hall for chamber- music events, auditions and section rehearsals. The Symphony's main home, Hogan Auditorium, holds 800, a minimum for economic feasibility, the building recently retrofitted.

Joint Fund-Raising in Sacramento

The Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Opera, and Sacramento Philharmonic join forces for an inaugural arts gala fundraiser at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium on September 27. A Night in Venice program will feature performances by artists from all three organizations. For information: www.sacballet.org