November 22, 2011 | Lifestyle Story Galleries and Performance City Life Reviews Culture
Some unfortunate plot twists are tough to take, including the devoted slave girl who happily sacrifices herself so the hero can find love, but the opera is musically enthralling—I felt like I was holding my breath in nervous excitement throughout the entire first act—and the star of this particular production may well be the David Hockney sets. They’re made of huge, boldly-colored swooping shapes—reds, blacks, and greens, mainly—and look like they could be from a Dr. Seuss book about China, where the opera is set. The costumes are equally gorgeous; but the production is a bit worse for wear since its 2002 debut, and it seems likely that it may go into semi-retirement for awhile. Get there, if you can: It’s a post-Thanksgiving feast, for the eyes and mind.
Nov. 25, SF Opera, 301 Van Ness Ave., 415-861-4008
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