Natalie Dessay, the diva du jour in the high coloratura roles, caused quite a stir in her belated San Francisco Opera debut this month.  Next to the Mona Lisa and the Eiffel Tower, Dessay could very well count herself to be one of France’s cultural treasures. 

For this “American Ring", the production team of director Francesca Zambello and set designer Michael Yeargan use imagery from various eras of American history – the California Gold Rush and the Roaring Twenties

Ariodante is a feast for the eyes, but not so much for the ears -- with the single exception of Susan Graham.