Maometto II Premieres at SFO; Judy Blume’s Tiger Eyes Reviewed

On July 14th the Santa Fe Opera House erupted with standing ovations at the world premiere of the new critical edition of Rossini’s Maometto II – an opera that had its very first performance in Naples, Italy in 1820. Nearly two centuries later, this three-hour opera appeared not only incredibly fresh in its singing, its staging and its music but also contemporary in its themes. Cheers of brava and bravo went up for soprano Leah Crocetto, singing Anna, and bass baritone Luca Pisaroni, as Maometto the Second, the Turkish sultan and would be conqueror with whom Anna shares a doomed love. [Conductor Frédéric Chaslin led the orchestra. David Alden directed. Scenic and costume design by Jon Morrell. Featured image: Photograph by Ken Howard, for Santa Fe Opera.]

AdobeAirstreamRadio’s guest this week is Philip Gossett – a foremost international musicologist, world authority on 19th-century Italian opera and general editor of the series in which this new critical edition of Maometto II will appear. (The world premiere staged performances were edited for the works of Gioachino Rossini Edition by Hans Schellevis; Philip Gossett, General Editor.)

David D’Arcy reviews Tiger Eyes, a movie based on the 1981 novel by Judy Blume about a girl investigating the death of her father. It was filmed in New Mexico – which has many biographical parallels for author Blume. Our Austin music feature stars Grace London performing “Eloise” on her new EP. Back when Don Simpson first talked with Grace London she was the 11-year-old lead vocalist of Residual Kid. He still recalls being blown away by, most of all, her commitment to using her modest success to help the less fortunate around the world. Don writes, “London left Residual Kid shortly after our interview, in order to pursue a solo career. Considering all of the positive press that Residual Kid was generating at the time, I was not sure it was the best move on London’s part; but after becoming madly addicted to the five tracks on the now 12-year-old’s first solo EP — I have no doubts that London made the right move.”