The Secret Garden is an opera by Nolan Gasser with a libretto (based on the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett) written by Carey Harrison. Commissioned by the San Francisco Opera and presented in partnership with Cal Performances, it premiered on March 1, 2013, at Zellerbach Hall at the University of California, Berkeley.
Roles RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 1 March 2013Conductor: Sara JobinMary LennoxsopranoSarah ShaferColin Cravena boy tenorMichael Kepler MeoArchibald CravenbaritonePhilippe SlyDickon SowerbytenorScott JoinerMartha Sowerbymezzo-sopranoLaura KrummMrs. MedlocksopranoErin JohnsonBen WeatherstaffbaritoneAo LiSusan SowerbysopranoMarina HarrisOrchestraSan Francisco Opera OrchestraDirectionJose Maria CondemiVisual designNaomie KremerCostume designKristi JohnsonLighting designChristopher MaravichMusical preparationRobert Mollicone, Sun Ha Yoon, John Churchwell,Sara Jobin
Critical reception The opera received positive reviews from Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle, Janos Gereben in The San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Classical Voice, Stacy Trevenon at StageandCinema.com and others, with mixed reviews from the San Jose Mercury News and elsewhere.Kosman, Joshua (3 March 2013) "Secret Garden' review: Child's delight" The San Francisco ChronicleGereben, Janos (5 March 2013) "Secret Garden a hit with opera's young target audience" The San Francisco ExaminerCrawford, Caroline (7 March 2013) "Review: 'The Secret Garden' at Zellerbach Wins Thumbs Up" The Berkeley PatchScheinin, Richard (3 March 2013) "Review: San Francisco Opera's Secret Garden is a misfire" The San Jose Mercury NewsTrevenon, Stacy (7 March 2013) "Bay Area Opera Review: The Secret Garden" Stage and Cinema
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