In the SFO Pit: Heroes of the Deep

Janos Gereben on October 1, 2013

If all goes well, an opera review says "Mr. X conducted the orchestra well (or otherwise)." What of the people of the orchestra? "If you prick them, do they not bleed? If you tickle them, do they not laugh? If you poison them, do they not die? And if you wrong them, shall they not revenge?"

To put a temporary halt to this ongoing — and largely inevitable — anonymization, here is listing from a man of X-ray vision of some (far, far from all) exceptional solo work.

First, in Dolores Clayborne: Concertmaster Kay Stern, Julie McKenzie (flute), Thalia Moore (cello), Rufus Olivier (bassoon), Bill Klingelhoffer (French horn), Janet Popesco Archibald (English horn), and Jose Granero (clarinet).

And, in Mefistofele: Granero on clarinet again, especially during Margherita's aria, David Kadarauch (cello), Olga Rakitchenkov (harp — an important role), Popesco Archibald and Olivier again, Rick Kvistad (bass drum).