From Strauss to Sondheim: David Gockley's Biggest Debuts

by San Francisco Opera Staff

David Gockley has been an innovator, impresario, and inspiring force in the opera community from the time he developed his love for music and performance.

His extraordinary career as General Director at San Francisco Opera from 2006-2016, has allowed him to commission new operas, such as Two Women and The Bonesetter’s Daughter, and in result of his avant-garde leadership, leave a lasting footprint on American Opera as a whole. His vision for the company, passion for the arts, and desire to pass on the opera tradition drove him to discover and flourish young talent—giving them the ability to perform new roles. During David Gockley’s time as General Director at San Francisco Opera, he gave 282 artists the chance to debut new roles. Here are the most notable!

Joyce DiDonato made her role debut of Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier in 2006. This was the first major role debut during David Gockley’s time as General Director.
In June of the 2008-2009 Season, Eric Owens made his role debut as the disabled beggar Porgy, in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
Diana Damrau performed the role of Marie for the first time in the 2009-2010 production of La Fille du Régiment.
In the summer of 2011, Jay Hunter Morris made his role debut as Siegfried in the opera Siegfried, from Wagner’s famous Ring Cycle.
Within the same 2011 production of Richard Wagner’s The Ring Cycle, Nina Stemme made her role debut as Brünnhilde.
Brian Mulligan made his debut in the role of Richard Nixon in John Adams’ Nixon in China during the 2011-2012 Season.
In September of 2011, Leah Crocetto made her role debut as Liù, a young slave girl in Puccini’s Turandot.
In June of the 2013-2014 Season, Patricia Racette performed the role of Julie La Verne for the first time in the American musical, Show Boat at San Francisco Opera.
In September 2013, Ildar Abdrazakov made his role debut as Mefistofele in Boito’s Mefistofele.
In 2014 Lianna Haroutounian made her role debut as Tosca.
Danielle de Niese made her debut in the role of Partenope during the 2014-2015 Season in Handel’s three act opera Partenope.
Sasha Cooke made her role debut in November of 2015 singing the role of Magdalene in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
In the same production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Brandon Jovanovich performed the role of Walther von Stolzing for the first time.
In the same production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Brandon Jovanovich performed the role of Walther von Stolzing for the first time.
Ana Caterina Antonacci made her role debut in June 2015 in La Ciociara performing the role of Cesira.
Michael Fabiano, has had several role debuts at San Francisco Opera including his debut in the role of Don Carlo in this summer’s production of Don Carlo.
Malin Byström made her debut in the role of Jenufa, and Karita Mattila made her staged debut in the role of Kostelnicka, during the 2015-2016 summer season.