John Keene will join the Seattle Opera to become director of the San Francisco Opera Chorus. Photo: Philip Newton
John Keene, currently Head of Music Staff and Chorus Master for Seattle Opera, will join the San Francisco Opera staff in January as choir director, the company announced on Tuesday, December 7th.
Keene succeeds Ian Robertson, who is retiring after 35 years in San Francisco.
“It’s amazing to be able to follow Ian with someone who shares the art form and in-depth knowledge of the repertoire,” General Manager Matthew Shilvock told The Chronicle. “I know we switch from one great choir director to another.”
Keene, 62, has been with Seattle Opera nine years since making his debut to prepare the choir for a 2012 production of Beethoven’s “Fidelio”. During this time he also directed a production of Laura Kaminsky’s “As One” and was assistant conductor for the production of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle.
Previously, he was Head of Music Staff and Chorus Master at the Florida Grand Opera in Miami and has worked at the Opera Theater of Saint Louis and the New Orleans Opera.
“This is a career you find, and not something you pave your way to,” Keene said in a telephone interview with The Chronicle. “In general, opera spoke to me early on because it’s such a big art form that involves so many people.”
Ian Robertson is retiring after 34 years as director of the San Francisco Opera Chorus. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
Keene began his musical career as a pianist, but said he knew almost from the first moment that the life of a soloist was not for him.
“I love the collaborative part of making music,” he said, “especially the collaborative part of rehearsing. In a way, I love the rehearsal process even more than the performance. “
Keene got the job based in part on a single three-hour rehearsal with the choir earlier this fall.
“When we saw John work with the chorus, you could feel the connection immediately,” said Shilvock. “There was a bond of understanding – he trusted her musicality and he knew what he wanted and how to get her there.”
Keene agreed that his session with the choir was final.
“It’s been a very busy time in my current job and I haven’t had a lot of time to think about it. So I just went to show them my sample technique and how I worked, ”he recalls. “I immediately felt a connection with this special group of people. I was aware that they were tired and had come off their busy schedule on a day off, but I could feel their energy immediately. That is unusual and made me sit up and take notice. “
Opera singers who have worked and studied with Keene have been exuberant in their praise. In a written declaration to The Chronicle, the mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack called him “a brilliantly sensitive and giving musician and a beautiful soul”.
Bass baritone Greer Grimsley said, “I’ve known John for a number of years and the gifts San Francisco will receive are, to name a few, his amazing musicality and insight, impeccable professionalism and relentless focus on the task at hand. “
Keene plans to stay in Seattle until the end of January and work remotely when he completes his tenure there. In March he plans to start rehearsals for the summer productions of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang’s “Dream of the Red Chamber” as well as a Verdi concert under the direction of General Music Director Eun Sun Kim.
The ensemble will also begin work in the 2022/23 season, which marks the company’s 100th anniversary.
