Cosmopolitan Opera

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I'm looking for information on Cosmopolitan Opera which was San Francisco's other opera company in the 40's and 50's?. My understanding is it was in direct competition with San Francisco Opera until about 1960 during which year it cancelled its season abruptly and never resumed operations.

-- Melanie Ross (mitcub@aol.com), June 24, 2002

Answers

In browsing the web for information about the S.F. Cosmopolitan Opera Co. I came across your request for similar information on June 24, 2002. I should be grateful if you would let me know if you have since satisfied your interest in the matter.

I was in S.F. in 1959-60 and attended a series of concerts by the S.F. Cosmopolitan Opera Co., and was interested in fleshing out my recollections of that season with archival information -- if in fact any exists. I vividly recall that this was the only time I heard Jussi Bjoerling in live performance.

I recall Bjoerling's Il Trovatore and Faust, and I thought there were others, but I may be mistaken. The only other performance I definitley recall attending were excellent productions of Mme. Butterfly and Boris Gudonov.

Can you tell me if you found a comprehensive source of information on the company? Any assistance you are prepared to give will be gratefully appreciated.

Professor Byron Lane

-- Byron G. Lane (byron.lane@utoronto.ca), March 18, 2004.


I was loosely attached to Cosmo during the late 50s, kind of a prop-boy-gofer. Dario Shindell(sp?) was the head honcho, Glen Ross was director, the Cambell-McGregors were the largest sponsers.

I came to the Cosmo as the assistant to Lee Tower.

As a young person I was thrilled to hear and meet the performers.

-- Rob White (rho_meson@yahoo.com), June 25, 2004.


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