When Nicola Luisotti appeared at a press conference this morning on the
stage of the War Memorial, he spoke exactly the way he conducted Verdi's
"La Forza del destino" here a year ago: passionately, from the heart,
unguarded, honest, larger-than-life, and vastly entertaining.

The 45-year-old Italian conductor has been named San Francisco Opera's
next music director, on a five-year contract, to succeed Donald Runnicles,
effective with the 2009-'10 season.  When company director David Gockley
announced this "worst-kept secret, a momentous day in the history of the
Opera," Luisotti was asked to say "a few words," a translator sitting
nearby, ready to assist.

Luisotti then improvised a 20-minute, free-flowing, funny and affecting
riff, without the need for assistance of any kind.  The animated,
apparently guileless conductor spoke of his "dream visit" to San Francisco
in 2005, thanked former general manager Pamela Rosenberg for engaging
him, acknowledged Runnicles' support ("he showed me the list of future
productions, and told me to pick anything I'd like"), described his
excitement receiving the offer from Gockley ("YES!"), and paid heartfelt
tribute the Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

He recounted in minute detail the first experience of rehearsing
with the Orchestra ("getting three days' work done in one"), the great
impression Ian Robertson's Opera Chorus made on him, and then personal
negotiations with Rosenberg and potential funders to increase the size
of the chorus twofold.  Luisotti spoke of his "first-sight love" with
San Francisco, and offered as proof of the durability of such affairs
of the heart, his 17-year-long marriage to the woman he fell in love
with at age 15, and courted until she married him in 1989.  (No, this
is not an "Oprah" segment, it's a press conference in real life.)

Luisotti - born Nov. 26, 1961, in Viareggio, started his career as
pianist, singer, La Scala apprentice - is turning up in the world's
leading opera houses these days, making his Covent Garden debut this
month ("I'll be in rehearsal in London tomorrow...  no, tonight," he
said, trying to figure out time zones), going on to the Vienna State
Opera, Berlin Philharmonic, etc.  Obviously, his main interest is in
Italian opera, but he has also led Russian works, and even a Wagner
"Tannhauser" not long ago.

Bay Area audiences will not have to wait until 2009 to see Luisotti
on the podium.  He will conduct this summer at Napa's Festival del Sole,
make his San Francisco Symphony debut in the next season, and will be
heard during the Opera's upcoming seasons.  Once he takes over the music
director's position, Luisotti will spent five months of the year here,
leading 4-5 productions.  No contract terms were announced, but his
annual salary is likely to be in excess of $800,000.

"Janos Gereben" <[log in to unmask]>