Saturday Matinee

And… I’m back! I hope everyone had a very happy July 4th weekend. Sorry I’ve been MIA for the longest time away since I started this blog – this makes for a great argument for how bloggers who blog for free will never replace newspapers and its paid journalists. Real life gets in the way, and when push comes to shove, it’s difficult to prioritize blogging over career and personal life. For a thoughtful analysis of blogging and journalism, click here at Dancing Perfectly Free.

A pixely iPhone photo of lovely fireworks over the Berkeley Marina, with the Golden Gate Bridge on one side and the Bay Bridge on the other.

The last thing I caught onstage at the War Memorial Opera House was a stellar production of Porgy and Bess at the SF Opera, with an amazing ensemble cast and the incomparable Eric Owens. His voice not only embodied vocal power, but also seemed to personify inner strength and fortitude as well. Also, the standing room experience was an absolute riot. I’ve never seen the elderly move with that much urgency (opera fans are truly the most devoted, I think), windmilling their arms to prevent anyone from passing them. I found myself in the balcony standing room, but was thrilled at the quality of sound up there. To my vocally inexperienced ears, the voices sounded miked, and I had to remind myself that the singers had no microphones. Many thanks to sfmike for procuring a highly desired standing room ticket.

Even though it’s summer, there are lots of great things coming up. The San Francisco Symphony’s Summer in the City is going on right now, with great soloists and programs. Don’t miss James Gaffigan conducting an all-Mozart program this Friday, with pianist Jeremy Denk (blogger at think denk) in the Elvira Madigan concerto. Pianist Orion Weiss will be performing later this month as well.

The Stern Grove Festival is great for families with free outdoor performances by the San Francisco Ballet (the only chance to see them off-season, unless you live in China for their tour this summer) and the San Francisco Opera in August. It’s a gorgeous, casual outdoor setting to experience a unique San Francisco tradition.

What did you see this summer?