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JENUFA

Streaming the First Century

Session 1: Slavic Sensibilities

Explore Streaming the First Century, San Francisco Opera’s historic archival recording release

In the close community of standees I grew to know that year, "the Söderström and Jurinac Jenůfa " was already the stuff of you-should-have-heard-it legend. Wonderful now to hear why, in experiencing this broadcast fourth of a run of six performances.
David Shengold (on Jenůfa, 1980)

Very few operas successfully combine irony and pathos, but Shostakovich managed that remarkably in his Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.  As I relistened to the archival recording recently, over 40 years after first hearing the live performances during the 1981 Fall Season at San Francisco Opera, the importance of Shostakovich’s accomplishment struck me more profoundly than ever.
Kip Cranna (on Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, 1981)

Historic Audio Recordings

JENŮFA

COMPLETE RECORDING

JENŮFA, Leoš Janáček

October 10, 1980 Broadcast
Albert Rosen, conductor
(run time 3 hours and 1 minute)

A turning point. Swedish soprano Elisabeth Söderström and Bosnian diva Sena Jurinac in an unforgettable performance of Janáček’s masterpiece sung, for the first time in Company history, in the original Czech.

Listen and Learn
LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

COMPLETE RECORDING

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK, Dmitri Shostakovich

October 17, 1981 Broadcast
Calvin Simmons, conductor
(run time 3 hours and 36 minutes)

San Francisco-born maestro, Calvin Simmons, leads an incisive account of Shostakovich’s score starring German soprano Anja Silja as Katerina Ismailova.

Listen and Learn
BORIS GODUNOV

EXCERPT RECORDING

BORIS GODUNOV, Modest Mussorgsky

October 12, 1945 Broadcast
Georges Sebastian, conductor
(run time ~ 9 minutes)

Georges Sebastian conducts the Company premiere of Mussorgsky’s work, sung in Italian, with the incomparable bass Ezio Pinza in the title role and tenor John Garris as the Simpleton.

Listen and Learn
LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

EXCERPT RECORDING

THE MAKROPULOS CASE, Leoš Janáček

November 1966 House recording
Jascha Horenstein, conductor
(run time ~ 8 minutes)

The U.S. premiere of Janáček’s opera about the mysterious “Emilia Marty,” performed here by soprano Marie Collier, was preserved thanks to a house recording made for maestro Jascha Horenstein.

Listen and Learn
PIKOVAYA DAMA

EXCERPT RECORDING

PIKOVAYA DAMA, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

October 24, 1975 Broadcast
Mstislav Rostropovich, conductor
(run time ~ 9 minutes)

The Company’s first performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades in the original Russian, was anchored by the eminent Soviet émigré couple, conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, with American mezzo-soprano Regina Resnik as the Countess.

Listen and Learn
KHOVANSHCHINA

EXCERPT RECORDING

KHOVANSHCHINA, Modest Mussorgsky

November 1984 Broadcast
Gerd Albrecht, conductor                 
(run time ~ 8 minutes)

Tradition and the modernity clash in this musically refulgent work by Mussorgsky. Gerd Albrecht conducts the San Francisco Opera premiere featuring a sterling cast, including mezzo-soprano Helga Dernesch as Marfa.

Listen and Learn

Highlights from the Rabbit Hole

  • Stan Dufford styling wigs

    Spanning the Decades

    Hair and Makeup Edition

    Featuring Stan Dufford and Jeanna Parham

    Listen in as Jeanna Parham, SF Opera's Head of Hair, Wigs and Makeup since 2014, speaks with Stan Dufford, the charming gentleman who held the position from 1956–1968 and has served the Company for nearly five decades.

    (run time ~ 25 minutes)

  • Mattiwilda Dobbs

    CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

    Diva Edition

    Mattiwilda Dobbs


    Mattiwilda Dobbs’ acclaimed 1955 debut with San Francisco Opera was one of many historic accomplishments for the trailblazing soprano, who was also the first African American artist to sing leading roles with the Metropolitan Opera and several European Opera Houses.

    BY MAURICE B. WHEELER
    (read time ~ 9 minutes) 

  • Sena Jurinac and Elisabeth Soderstrom 1980 newspaper clip

    HISTORIC INTERVIEW

    Broadcast Intermission

    JENŮFA, 1980

    Eavesdrop on October 10th, 1980 as we listen in to a charming conversation between Sena Jurinac (as Kostelnicka) and Elisabeth Söderström (as Jenůfa), moderated by Marilyn Mercur (SF Opera broadcast producer).

    (run time ~ 23 minutes)

  • Lori Harrison in props storage

    MEMORIES PROJECT

    Props Edition, pt. 1

    Featuring Lori Harrison

    What is the difference between a prop and a piece of scenery? And who provides all those swords, chairs, edibles, and live animals that we see on stage? Lori Harrison speaks with Ann Farris about the Prop Department and her path to becoming the Company’s Master of Properties.

    (run time ~ 16 minutes)

  • Ian Robertson

    SPANNING THE DECADES

    Chorus Edition, pt. 1

    Featuring Ian Robertson

    Dramaturg Emeritus Kip Cranna sits down with recently retired colleague Ian Robertson for a three-part conversation about Robertson’s 35-year tenure as San Francisco Opera Chorus Director.

    (run time ~ 27 minutes)

  • Pikovaya Dama 1975

    HISTORIC INTERVIEW

    Broadcast Intermission

    PIKOVAYA DAMA, 1975

    Join Scott Beach, longtime SF Opera broadcaster, as he and Regina Resnik delve into her characterization of The Countess.

    (run time ~ 16 minutes)

  • Francesca Zambello

    SPANNING THE DECADES

    Director Edition, pt. 1

    Featuring Francesca Zambello

    Director Francesca Zambello speaks with Kip Cranna about her historic career at San Francisco Opera stretching back to 1982 and the introduction of supertitles to her productions of Jenůfa, The Little Prince, Show Boat, and Wagner’s massive Ring Cycle.

    (run time ~ 15 minutes)

  • Calvin Simmons

    HISTORIC INTERVIEW

    Broadcast Intermission

     LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK, 1981

    Listen in on a lunch time panel as Calvin Simmons (conductor), Gerald Freedman (stage director), and Richard Rodzinski (whose father Artur Rodzinski was instrumental in bringing this opera to the U.S.) discuss Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.

    (run time ~ 15 minutes)

STATEMENT REGARDING UKRAINE

San Francisco Opera condemns the abhorrent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Our intention is always to present music that transcends boundaries and invites the community into a shared experience of humanity. We encourage people to read a program article that explores the perspectives on the intersection of Ukrainian and Russian operatic repertoire. We will be sharing additional resources as we approach opening night of Onegin.

Read program articles here.