Honoring David Gockley — San Francisco Boys Chorus honored San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley and his 10-year tenure at San Francisco Opera at its annual gala on March 5, 2016. Throughout his San Francisco Opera career Gockley served as a true friend and supporter of the San Francisco Boys Chorus. “We will miss his support, encouragement and the standard of excellence he set for the Bay Area arts community,” said San Francisco Boys Chorus Artist Director Ian Robertson. Established in 1948 by San Francisco Opera founder and conductor Gaetano Merola, San Francisco Boys Chorus provides music education, vocal training and performance experience to Bay Area boys from all cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Gockley announced his retirement last fall, effective August 2016. Under Gockley’s direction, San Francisco Opera established the Koret-Taube Media Suite, a groundbreaking media platform that enables San Francisco Opera at the Ballpark live simulcasts to AT&T Park, and the San Francisco Opera Grand Opera Cinema Series, wherein San Francisco Opera performances are broadcast locally on KQED TV, nationally on PBS, and distributed internationally in partnership with EuroArts Music International.
San Francisco Opera Honors David Gockley
San Francisco Opera will also celebrate David Gockley with a gala concert at the War Memorial Opera House on June 16. Celebrating David!, a one-night-only event, will honor his 45-year impact on opera in America. Guests can expect excerpts from important productions throughout Gockley’s career including the Ring cycle, Les Troyens, Nixon in China and Porgy and Bess. Featuring San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus, the gala program for Celebrating David! is hosted by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and bass-baritone Samuel Ramey. Performances of arias and ensembles by some of today’s leading singers and conductors include sopranos Renée Fleming, Ana María Martínez, Karita Mattila, Patricia Racette, Nadine Sierra and Heidi Stober; mezzo-sopranos Susan Graham, Daniela Mack and Dolora Zajick; tenors Michael Fabiano, Brian Jagde and Simon O’Neill; bass-baritone Eric Owens; bass René Pape; San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti, Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers and guest conductors Jiří Bělohlávek and John DeMain. Veteran artist manager Matthew Epstein is the artistic consultant for the concert.
Photos by Paul Sakuma Photography
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