💥 Few voices in opera shine as brightly as Susan Graham. Hailed by The New York Times as “an artist to treasure,” she’s conquered iconic roles from Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier (2000-01) to Didon in Les Troyens (2014-15) here at San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham’s journey began with the Merola Opera Program, where she honed her craft and laid the foundation for a career that took her to the world’s greatest stages. At San Francisco Opera, she’s delivered unforgettable performances, including S

Through his uniquely compelling performances with leading international opera companies and orchestras, star tenor Rolando Villazón has firmly established himself as one of the music world’s most critically acclaimed and beloved stars. Listen to his 'Best of' playlist, including his stunning recording of Handel's 'Ombra mai fu': https://DG.lnk.to/BestRolando | Deutsche Grammophon - DG

This music comes from the opera Xerxes by George Frideric Handel, and is best known as the aria “Ombra mai fu” ('Handel’s Largo'). Although Xerxes was a commercial failure at its London premiere — closing after only five performances — this aria was rediscovered in the 19th century and went on to become one of Handel’s most beloved and frequently performed melodies. This performance is played on a W. Bell & Co. reed organ, built in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, in the late 1870s — an intimate and exp