The Fall musical season is giving way to they All-Handel-Messiah-all-the-time holiday season with a few Nutcrackers tossed in for good measure, so let's wrap up what happened at the Opera for 2011.

Last night, we got a last glimpse of the current crop of Adler fellows in their farewell Gala. The Adler fellows are the singing equivalent of the medical residents in a university hospital: they're young aspiring singers who learn by doing, staying with the SF Opera for roughly two seasons, appearing on the main stage in supporting roles while honing their craft. Actually we're sure there's as much drama backstage as in the ER, and sometimes love, it should be a TV show. We'd watch that.

The Gala strings together arias from different operas, with the SF Opera orchestra, led by Giuseppe Finzi, on the stage at Herbst theater. If the high note flourish which concludes many famous arias correspond to an exclamation point, often these Galas feel they're being texted!! by!!!1!teenagers!!! Not last night: sure, there were some breathtaking vocal fireworks (Nadine Sierra in Donizetti, Leah Crocetto in Rossini and Verdi), but they managed a nice balance and variety of styles, going for diversity rather than showstoppers all the time.