SFO Cast Change AND Opera Medal Announcement

It's two, two, two posts in one!

Patrick Summers will be heading back to Houston a bit early; he will conduct tonight's Sweeney Todd, then return to Houston for an "urgent professional obligation." The two remaining performances in the run will be conducted by James Lowe.

But before Summers gets on the plane, he'll receive the San Francisco Opera Medal, honoring his 25 years of service to the company, during which he has conducted a wide variety of repertory with distinction. Congratulations, Patrick!

And congratulations to the member of the communications staff who included this gem in the press release:

Currently thrilling San Francisco Opera audiences with razor-sharp performances of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 

Yes, I did chortle over that.