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Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna - Ermelinda Rediscovered - Leif Ove Andsnes - The Art of Memoir Writing

Martin Girard

This week on Open Air, KALW’s radio magazine for the Bay Area performing arts, host David Latulippe talks with cellist and singer Amanda Zidow (pictured), who plays the role of the Island Queen Prospera, in Cirque du Soleil’s production Amaluna, currently visiting the Bay Area. 

Ongoing through January 12, Amaluna can be seen Under the Big Top at Oracle Park in San Francisco. After that, the whole production travels to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, where it will stay from January 22 - February 23. 

We talk with Céline Ricci, artistic director of San Francisco based opera company Ars Minerva, devoted to resurrecting forgotten operas from the Italian Baroque. They present the modern world premiere of Ermelinda, by composer Domenico Freschi (1634 - 1710), on November 22, 23 and 24 at ODC Theater

Ermelinda received its one-and-only staging in Italy in 1680. The opera’s story takes place in ancient Phoenicia. Two star-crossed lovers, Ermelinda and Ormindo, are forbidden to marry. Ermelinda’s tyrannical father abducts her far away, and a series of dramatic scenes ensues as Ormindo tries to track down his love, who demonstrates herself to be full of determination and cleverness.

We talk to Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes upon his return to Davies Symphony Hall to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22, with the San Francisco Symphony under Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck.

Concerts are on November 22 (8pm), November 23 (8pm) and Sunday, November 24 (2pm matinee). Also on the program: Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony.  

Plus, Open Air’s regular contributor and critic at large, Peter Robinson, discusses The Art of Memoir Writing, for those who want to take Thanksgiving as an opportunity to start writing your family's story. Plus, a review of the third season of The Crown, on Netflix. 

For information on the San Francisco Literary Society's Memoir Writing Workshop, call 415-381-6671. 

Open Air with host David Latulippe, heard live on Thursday, November 21 at 1pm. Listen now or anytime...