Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsEventsOn DemandOur StoryOur TeamWays to Give Become a Sponsor
How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersAnnual EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

Visit Help CenterContact UsHow to Listen

©2025 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceLocal Public FilesCPB ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity

articles / Pop Culture

John Adams’ New Opera Seeks Gold in California

Pop CultureThe State of the Arts

Girls of the Golden West, the highly anticipated opera by John Adams has its premiere tomorrow night at San Francisco Opera. It’s got a libretto assembled by Peter Sellars from original source material – letters, memoirs, diaries, newspaper accounts – and tells of the difficult life among the camps during the Gold Rush. Conductor Grant Gershon will be leading the performances, and says the sense of place is strong from the opening measures.

John Adams’ New Opera Seeks Gold in California
00:00

There’s more information about the performances, which run through December 10, at San Francisco Opera‘s website.

This has already been a banner year for Adams, with celebrations of his 70th birthday happening all over the country. Gershon says that this new opera will stand with his other achievements. “Each piece of John’s creates its own universe. And this piece, Girls of the Golden West, is really like nothing else that he’s written before. It feels to me like his imagination was particularly excited by the idea of setting an opera in California, and in the Gold Rush country.” Since moving from the East to California like ‘Dame Shirley,’ whose journals provide some of the libretto, John Adams has spent a lot of time in the area depicted in his new work, and that setting is felt immediately. “Right from the very first bars,” Gershon explains, “when we meet this miner named Clarence, and Clarence’s first lines of text are actually written by Mark Twain, from one of his first books called Roughing It. And he talks about, ‘It was a peerless population,’ all these people coming together into Gold Rush country…  The first things that you hear is the full orchestra with this very regular beat, and cowbell on top of it. And so you immediately know, that you’re not in Vienna, you’re right here in Northern California.”

Pop CultureThe State of the Arts
Written by:
Jeffrey Freymann
Jeffrey Freymann
Published on 05.11.2018
Loading...

MORE LIKE THIS

‘Angels’ in Berkeley

‘Angels’ in Berkeley

"Angels in America", a play about love, loss, and the AIDS crisis, is being revived at Berkeley Rep by director Tony Taccone. The award-winning drama remains relevant today.

06/05/2018
‘Early Music’ Redefined in Berkeley

‘Early Music’ Redefined in Berkeley

The Berkeley Festival & Exhibition expands its repertoire, featuring music from the 11th century to Debussy, focusing on the authentic performance of each piece.

05/30/2018
Van Cliburn Competition’s Gold Winner

Van Cliburn Competition’s Gold Winner

South Korean pianist Yekwon Sunwoo wins gold at the Van Cliburn Competition, boosting his career significantly. He discusses the challenges of the competition and his upcoming tour.

05/11/2018
California Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence

California Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence

The California Symphony's final concert features the premiere of 'like a broken clock', a piece by Young American Composer-in-Residence Katherine Balch, inspired by Joanna Newsom's lyrics.

05/08/2018
Opera for Babies and Toddlers

Opera for Babies and Toddlers

San Francisco Opera premieres 'Up in the Mountains', a Norwegian opera for infants to age three. The 20-minute performance features a non-language sung piece, with activities for the specific age group.

09/19/2017
New John Adams Opera and Ring Cycle Next Season

New John Adams Opera and Ring Cycle Next Season

San Francisco Opera's 2017-18 season features a goldrush theme, including the premiere of 'Girls of the Golden West' and the 'Ring Cycle'. Nicola Luisotti's final season as Music Director.

03/27/2017