Xerses – San Francisco Opera – Sonia Prina
Xerxes- George Frideric Handel
San Francisco Classical Voice “As Amastris, Sonia Prina’s huge range, strength, and uncommonly clear articulation of mile-a-minute runs are just as impressive as they were in SFO’s 2008 production of Handel’s Ariodante. Her first aria elicited some of the loudest cheers of the afternoon.”
Mercury news “What a treat to hear Italian contralto Sonia Prina in this role, piping through her lavishly embroidered lines with the firm ringing tone and non-stop rush of a Baroque trumpeter. (Toward the end of Sunday’s performance, her voice was ricocheting off the walls of the hall near my seat.)”
San Francisco Classical Voice “The most impressive coloratura displays came from contralto Sonia Prina, a fierce and funny performer as the spurned princess Amastris.”
San Francisco Opera presents the Company premiere of George Frideric Handel’s Xerxes, opening October 30th with five subsequent performances through November 19th. Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Handel productions of our time, this visually stunning Olivier Award–winning staging of Xerxes, created by film and theater director Nicholas Hytner, is directed by Michael Walling. Clever comedy is intertwined with tender poignancy in this tale of unrequited love and intrigue at a royal court. Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers leads an outstanding cast featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham as “Xerxes”, countertenor David Daniels as “Arsamenes”, soprano Lisette Oropesa as “Romilda”, soprano Heidi Stober as “Atalanta”, contralto Sonia Prina as “Amastris” and bass-baritones Wayne Tigges as “Ariodates” and Michael Sumuel as “Elviro”.
Cast
| Xerxes | Susan Graham | |
| Romilda | Lisette Oropesa | |
| Arsamenes | David Daniels | |
| Atalanta | Heidi Stober | |
| Amastris | Sonia Prina | |
| Ariodates | Wayne Tigges | |
| Elviro | Michael Sumuel |
| Conductor | Patrick Summers | |
| Production | Nicholas Hytner | |
| Revival Director | Michael Walling | |
| Production Designer | David Fielding | |
| Lighting Designer | Paul Pyant | |
| Chorus Director | Ian Robertson |
| Xerses | 04/11/11 | 19:30 | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Opera | |||
| Xerses | 08/11/11 | 19:30 | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Opera | |||
| Xerses | 11/11/11 | 19:30 | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Opera | |||
| Xerses | 16/11/11 | 19:00 | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Opera | |||
| Xerses | 19/11/11 | 19:30 | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Opera |
