The Secret Garden (opera)

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The Secret Garden is an opera by Nolan Gasser with a libretto (based on the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett) written by Carey Harrison. Commissioned by the San Francisco Opera and presented in partnership with Cal Performances, it premiered on March 1, 2013, at Zellerbach Hall at the University of California, Berkeley.

Contents

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere cast, 1 March 2013
Conductor: Sara Jobin
Mary Lennox soprano Sarah Shafer
Colin Cravena boy tenor Michael Kepler Meo
Archibald Craven baritone Philippe Sly
Dickon Sowerbytenor Scott Joiner
Martha Sowerby mezzo-soprano Laura Krumm
Mrs. MedlocksopranoErin Johnson
Ben Weatherstaffbaritone Ao Li
Susan SowerbysopranoMarina Harris
OrchestraSan Francisco Opera Orchestra
DirectionJose Maria Condemi
Visual designNaomie Kremer
Costume designKristi Johnson
Lighting designChristopher Maravich
Musical preparationRobert Mollicone, Sun Ha Yoon, John Churchwell,
Sara Jobin

Critical reception

The opera received positive reviews from Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle , Janos Gereben in The San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Classical Voice, Stacy Trevenon at StageandCinema.com and others, with mixed reviews from the San Jose Mercury News and elsewhere. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

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References

  1. Kosman, Joshua (3 March 2013) "Secret Garden' review: Child's delight" The San Francisco Chronicle
  2. Gereben, Janos (5 March 2013) "Secret Garden a hit with opera's young target audience" The San Francisco Examiner
  3. Crawford, Caroline (7 March 2013) "Review: 'The Secret Garden' at Zellerbach Wins Thumbs Up" The Berkeley Patch
  4. Scheinin, Richard (3 March 2013) "Review: San Francisco Opera's Secret Garden is a misfire" The San Jose Mercury News
  5. Trevenon, Stacy (7 March 2013) "Bay Area Opera Review: The Secret Garden" Stage and Cinema