by Christina Waters | Jun 23, 2008 | Art, Home |
The San Francisco Opera’s new production of Das Rheingold — the first of Richard Wagner’s four “Ring” cycle masterworks — is musically mighty, but dramatically thin. Woeful set design — presumably by a last-minute committee of amateurs — caused almost fatal dissonance with an outstanding orchestra, playing music to end the world by for three straight hours.
A decent cast, with the unfortunate exception of Mark Delavan’s wobbly Wotan, did its best to overcome a rickety set of cardboard props, direction by Marx Brothers surrogates, and a set that could only have been some sort of 21st century WPA project. The allegedly innovative digital backdrops made embarrassing references to every PBS science special you’ve ever seen, while the raked stage floor sabotaged grace, causing loud “thumps” and “oomphs” during the changing of the scenes. Actors stumbled, wandered aimlessly, (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jun 22, 2008 | Home, Wine |
From the volcanic soils of Tenerife – largest of the Canary Islands – comes this seductive white wine. 2006 Tajinaste Valle de la Orotava Blanco, Spain, is the official label – but actually it’s magic realism in a bottle. The grape is Listan blanco, the flavor is salty peaches, wet stones and ozone. Laced with minerals and citrus, but mysterious primal elements as well. (At 11.5% alcohol, this could be breakfast.)
It can be found at Soif for under $20. And besides, when was the last time you tasted a wine from the Canary Islands?
by Christina Waters | Jun 22, 2008 | Food, Home |
Avanti that is. A few very hot nights ago we gave up on the whole idea of cooking and headed over to Ristorante Avanti where the evening specials dazzled.
Under the expertise of lead sauté cook Roberto Serna, two entrees and one shared salad said everything about the season, the imagination of executive chef Ben Sims, and the ability of a known quantity to surprise us all over again.
The meal began with a salad of adolescent arugula, bathed in a sherry vinaigrette that allowed the fruity olive oil to take the major role. Shaved parmesan – not tons of it, just enough to add some salty sparkle – joined toasted almonds and (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jun 21, 2008 | Home |
Cholula – yes, the deliciously picante Mexican chile sauce that offers flavor interest as well as kick. Thanks to the piquin and arbol chiles it contains, this eye-opener bursts into full flower powered by an under-current of vinegar.
Watch scrambled eggs take on new life. Rekindle the love you once felt for left-over brown rice. Turn shredded chicken into the stuff of dreams. Modest dreams, perhaps. But still – it’s the bomb. And you can find it everywhere. Get some to add to your condiment stash, and do it now!
by Christina Waters | Jun 19, 2008 | Home, Wine |
Judy Schultze of Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards emailed to remind me that the charmingly rustic facility — which just squeaked through the recent south county fires unscathed — will be open during the rest of June (hurry!) for tastings of what many argue is one of the top Pinot Noirs in California. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jun 16, 2008 | Art, Home |
If there’s a legal thrill that comes close to great, live opera – I haven’t found it yet. And last Sunday’s opening matinee performance of Ariodante just proved it all over again.
Written seemingly to twist Baroque-era vocal chords into rococo pretzels, Handel’s 275-year-old masterpiece is your basic love, betrayal, revenge, death and happy ending opera seria, loaded with soprano parts written for men and sung by women in 18th century drag. Got that? Think of it this way: Handel was the toast of Europe when Ariodante debuted in 1735. It was created for the male (castrato) soprano superstar Giovanni Carestini — written by a German (Handel) living in London, set in Scotland and sung in Italian. Ben Franklin very likely saw this opera. Twice.
Sunday’s performance was by every benchmark a knock-out, bringing the San Francisco Opera House audience to its feet at least three times during the 3 hours of killer vocal pyrotechnics — imagine all those serious, white-haired opera buffs screaming, cheering and stomping their approval. Delicious. (more…)
