With couture by Lela Rose, Tom Ford, Pierre Cardin, Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Herve Leger, and Oscar de la Renta, dominating the scene at the 2014 San Francisco Opera Gala, it's likely the real star was photographer Jason Henry who captured much of the festivities for the Chronicle. The San Francisco Opera opened its 92nd season with a cocktail reception, dinner, a performance of Bellini's Norma and an after party. An important element to major events is to document the evening with images that show who attended and which designer they chose to wear for the occasion. However, it takes true talent to give the viewer a real sense of being taken on a journey and truly feel the atmosphere of a room through a camera lens. Jason Henry does exactly this through his impeccable photos that feel whimsical, artistic, and focused, all at the same time. Below is a sampling from the evening [click images to enlarge]. Unfortunately the gallery lacks photos of the singers Jamie Barton (Adalgisa), Marco Berti (Pollione), and Sondra Radvanovsky (Norma) who performed in the opera and surely attended the post-performance festivities in their own regal garments. Go here to see the full gallery of 115 photos of attendees. More about photographer Jason Henry after the jump.
Born in Vienna, soprano Silvana Dussmann was destined to perform the German repertoire of Mozart and Strauss. After studying with Rita Streich and Gerhard Kahry, she won first prize for operetta at the Vienna Belvedere Competition in 1987. Her debut was as Lisa in Franz Lehár's Das Land des Lächelns at the Volksoper Wien opposite Nicolai Gedda. She soon became an ensemble member of the Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck, where she sang
roles such as Ilia (Idomeneo), Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Micaëla (Carmen), Laura (Der Bettelstudent), and Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus). Subsequently in 1990 she debuted in the title role of Emmerich Kálmán's Die Csárdásfürstin at the Seefestspielen Mörbisch. By 1992 she was engaged by Opernhaus Graz where she extended her repertoire to roles like Violetta (La Traviata), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier), Agathe (Der Freischütz), and Angèle Didier (Der Graf von Luxemburg). Beginning in 1994, Ms. Dussmann began performing at the Wiener Volksoper as Musetta (La bohème), Marchesa del Poggio (Un Giorno di Regno), Frau Fluth (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor), Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), and the title role in Norma. In 1996 she was reviving her portrayals of Musetta and Rosalinde for the Wiener Staatsoper. She went on to perform at the Aalto-Musiktheater in Essen, the Bayerischen Staatsoper in München, Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv, and Opera Bonn. At Wiener Festwochen in
"CastaDiva is a 5 star luxury resort located in Blevio in the province of Como, Italy. The heart of the resort consists of the Roccabruna Villa, which was once the home of soprano Giuditta Pasta and where the composer Vincenzo Bellini wrote his two most famous works: La Sonnambula and Norma. The resort is named after the most famous aria from Norma: 'Casta Diva.' Roccabruna Villa was built in the eighteenth century on the shores of Lake Como in the village of Blevio and was later restored by the opera singer Giuditta Pasta. The renovations were carried out between 1827 and 1829 by architect Philip Ferranti. The house was a meeting place for many artists, composers and singers. A frequent visitor was Vincenzo Bellini who, aided by the lake landscape of Moltrasio and Blevio, gave life to his work Norma, which was first performed by Giuditta Pasta. That opera featured the aria 'Casta Diva,' which became one of the most famous arias of the nineteenth century. The chronicles report that in 1829 Gaetano Donizetti spent a month in the villa while composing the Opera Anna Bolena. Today, the villa has been newly renovated and houses the CastaDiva Resort & Spa, which has 75 rooms, 2 restaurants, 4 conference rooms and a spa of 1,330 square metres (14,300 sq ft). [Source]
"CastaDiva Resort & Spa is a five-star luxury resort located on the east side of Lake Como, in the lovely village of Blevio, only 5 km from Como and 65 km from Milano Malpensa International Airport. The Resort consists of seven villas for a total of 73 rooms plus 2 private Villas and it is surrounded by a luxuriant botanic park over an area of approximately 26,000 sqm. A place of excellence and exclusivity, perfect for a romantic weekend or a week of vacation on the lake." [Source] The "Fiordiligi Suite" comes highly recommended with its 6,133 square foot terrace and private swimming pool. If you really want to drop some coin, go for either the private Villa Amina or Villa Norma. Visit nearby 200-year old Teatro Sociale di Como for your evening entertainment. More information and a video of the property amenities can be found after the jump.
Based on an historical figure, a murderous musician who hides an axe inside his saxophone case declares to the citizens of New Orleans that he will spare their life if they are playing jazz music loudly in their homes on a particular evening. The resident ladies of the coven in 1919 refer to themselves as suffragettes and they decide they have nothing to fear. So rather than play jazz, they opt for the more logical choice of Bellini's "Casta
Diva" from Norma, who happens to be opera's most famous Druidess. As the phonograph blares upstairs, the head witch (played by Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer) slowly turns the tarot cards waiting for a potential slaughter. The tables are quickly turned and the serial killer meets his ultimate fate. The synopsis for the opera of Norma: Act 1: The grove. A secret love unites the seer Norma with Pollione, the Roman proconsul, father of her two children. But Pollione has grown tired of the aging druid and has fallen in love with Adalgisa, a young temple virgin. Despite Adalgisa's piety and virtue, she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa innocently tells Norma of her love, and Norma curses Pollione for his treachery. Act 2: Norma’s apartment. Norma is about to kill her children,
but her love for them finally consigns them to the care of Adalgisa. When Pollione comes to take Adalgisa from the temple, Norma denounces him; after he refuses to give up Adalgisa, he is seized by the Druids. Norma proclaims herself equally guilty with him. The pyre is lighted and Norma ascends it to die with her lover.
A video from circa 1987 shows Sumi Jo and Cecilia Bartoli working together with Herbert von Karajan in an excerpt of "Et in unum dominum" from Bach's Mass in B minor. Now more than 25 years later, they team up again for a recording of Bellini's Norma on Decca.
