Operas through the centuries are filled with creative characters – from Bohème’s starving artists to Death in Venice’s haunted author. About ten years ago I started dreaming about an opera that would examine a different kind of creative individual: the creative technologist.
Living in the Bay Area for a decade leading up to that moment, I became familiar with the fascinating breed of creative people whose innovations transform civilization.
And no one better exemplified this than Steve Jobs.
As we gear up for The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at San Francisco Opera this fall, a feeling of homecoming is in the air. Not only is the opera’s story grounded in the Bay Area, but the piece was conceived and written here as well. Matthew Shilvock, General Director of SF Opera, was the first person to jump aboard this production after seeing it premiere at Santa Fe Opera, so SF Opera has played a key role in bringing this piece to life.
After two years that have seen a glorious new production tour through five cities, it’ll be thrilling to see the original production on the grand stage of SFO. This original production is renown for its mix of cutting edge projections and old-fashioned stagecraft, exemplified by the six huge monoliths that combine in endless ways to form the set. The walls of Young Steve’s garage fly apart after the opening scene to create every subsequent scene!
The opera also feels even more resonant in 2023 than it did six years ago, with its message of “look up, look out” extremely relevant in a post-pandemic world. After the challenging years of lockdowns and digital life, many people have embraced the return to true connection. That’s the message of the opera, as sung by Laureen Powell Jobs in her final aria.
As a tech mogul who presented as an artist, Steve Jobs gives us a unique opera subject – both protagonist and antagonist – who journeys from hippy idealist to master of the universe. It’s a story that resonates deeply in the Bay Area, and it is tremendously meaningful to experience this story at San Francisco Opera.