[From www.sfcv.org]

Following the San Francisco Symphony's greatly successful concert
production of "The Flying Dutchman" in June, there were strong rumors
about Michael Tilson Thomas scheduling other full-length operas as part
of the Symphony subscription season.  Now - although the Symphony won't
make anything official for a while - the word is about Beethoven's
"Fidelio" coming to Davies Hall next year.  The opera with a major
role for the chorus will have Vance George's outstanding Symphony Chorus
"in-house." As the orchestra produces its own recordings, a CD may also
be a possibility.  San Francisco Opera, across the street, is also
contemplating "Fidelio," so the city may end up with a Berlin-like
multiple-production situation.  If the program choice is an unconfirmed
rumor (never mind that a rehearsal schedule has been drawn up already),
the matter of casting is even more speculative.  Local opera fans are
dreaming of Karita Mattila or Deborah Voigt in the title role, and a
cast to be drawn from among Barbara Bonney, Laura Claycomb, Anna Netrebko,
Placido Domingo, Ben Heppner, Rene Pape, Thomas Quasthoff, Mark ("Dutchman")
Delavan.  How about double- or triple-casting the production?

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
[log in to unmask]