LA RONDINE at San Francisco Opera

Set in Paris during the 1920s, this sumptuous, Art Deco-inspired production of Giacomo Puccini's La Rondine stars the "radiant" (Contra Costa Times) Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu as the courtesan Magda de Civry. Concealing her identity, Magda visits a café where she falls in love with Ruggero, performed by Ukrainian tenor Misha Didyk. Nicolas Joël is the visionary behind the Company's co-production with Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and Royal Opera, Covent Garden from 2007 which is directed by Stephen Barlow. The artistry of set designer Ezio Frigerio, costume designer Franca Squarciapino and lighting designer Duane Schuler are also exhibited in this stream. Anna Christy is Magda's maid, Lisette, who is coupled with Gerard Powers as Prunier, an artist who influences Magda's decisions on love. Maestro Ion Marin conducts San Francisco Opera's presentation of Puccini's touching and romantic work, featuring "lush, sweeping melodies" (San Francisco Chronicle). La Rondine is performed in Italian with English subtitles and has an approximate running time of 1 hour and 50 minutes.