David Fox


Sack of Rome Sack of Rome

Finding Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia on the Academy of Vocal Arts calendar was both a pleasure and something of a surprise—the latter because the work is far from central repertoire, even in a conservatory.

on March 01, 2024 at 9:00 AM
For so our master said For so our master said

Ah, that Bernstein dichotomy.

on December 29, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Giving head voice Giving head voice

Anna Bolena might be the earliest of Donizetti’s operas that might have name recognition to a non-specialist audience.

on November 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Unchanged for good Unchanged for good

No show should last 20 years.

on November 17, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Rotten Eggs Rotten Eggs

In this vulgar world, there is no situation that can’t be limned with a power ballad.

on October 30, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Growers and showers Growers and showers

For Philadelphia opera lovers, October means the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition—a staple event for the Academy of Vocal Arts, and a pipeline for the public to discover some of their strongest resident artists.

on October 27, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Georgia on my mind Georgia on my mind

Suddenly, here it was, and I wondered if it was a dream or an illusion.

on October 18, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Aging of aquarius Aging of aquarius

Wanna feel old? Hair, “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical,” as it styled itself, has its 56th birthday this month.

on October 12, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Son can you play me a memory? Son can you play me a memory?

It’s a warning that could strike fear in even the heartiest theatergoer.

on October 06, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Some unholy war Some unholy war

Rather than focusing on a narrative, Unholy Wars explores a series of timeless yet current themes: war, destruction, alienation, and what it means to be perceived as outsider—particularly from the Middle East—in the context of a violent world.

on September 27, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Dogecoin Dogecoin

In sum: not a perfect Simon Boccanegra—is there such a thing?—but a grand and often great one.

on September 25, 2023 at 2:31 PM
A madhouse is not a home A madhouse is not a home

David Devan may be leaving the company, but there can be no better living tribute to him than this extraordinary work, which in 90 minutes gives us everything we could want from a new opera

on September 23, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Backwards runs ‘Bohème’ Backwards runs ‘Bohème’

Okay, let’s get the silly jokes out of the way first. Around our house, we’ve been referring to this alternately as Merrily We Bohemians Roll Along, or Emèhob Al. 

on May 02, 2023 at 10:20 AM
Artists with enough ‘oomph’? Artists with enough ‘oomph’?

At all of these vocal contests, including this one, I find myself fascinated and perplexed by the same question: What exactly are the judges looking for?

on April 25, 2023 at 10:19 AM
Arch types Arch types

What do you see when you look at Into the Woods? Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine‘s musical might serve as a kind of theatrical Rorschach test.

on April 07, 2023 at 12:23 PM
Somewhere in time Somewhere in time

The current Met revival of Der Rosenkavalier, while not perfect, has much to feel joyful and excited about.

on March 28, 2023 at 10:42 AM
Did I mention there’s a mime? Did I mention there’s a mime?

In terms of wild applause, it was Donna Murphy as Aurelia who was front and center, exciting the audience to a fervor with each re-emergence on the stage.

on March 24, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Monsters, no-neck and otherwise Monsters, no-neck and otherwise

Through a lucky coincidence of timing, I was able to catch up with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a play I adore, in two productions playing at the same time.

on March 09, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Coast to coast Coast to coast

Non-observant Jew that I am, my recent immersion into not one by two new plays—Pictures from Home on Broadway, and The Wanderers at the Roundabout—that very much live in that world was something of a double-whammy.

on March 03, 2023 at 9:33 AM
So a fool returns to his Philly So a fool returns to his Philly

Updating opera settings is, of course, expected; I’d wager in most houses more often than not it’s now the norm. Still, few in my experience have the specificity and local immediacy of Don Pasquale at the Academy of Vocal Arts.

on February 24, 2023 at 9:08 AM
The sense of dramatic thrust The sense of dramatic thrust

Soprano Lydia Grindatto confirmed the fine impression she had made at Giargiari vocal competition with a charismatic, thoroughly inhabited performance that showed careful preparation in every aspect.

on November 25, 2022 at 11:27 AM
They are the champions They are the champions

This is likely the best Giargiari Bel Canto competition year in my experience, evidenced in several important ways.

on October 12, 2022 at 9:46 AM
A divided duty A divided duty

Rodrigo is a ball-breaking role, but Lawrence Brownlee makes the demands sound easy—tossing in additional high notes and audaciously decorating cabalettas as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

on September 24, 2022 at 2:42 PM
As ‘The Raven’ flies As ‘The Raven’ flies

Festival O is back, and the sense of joy and expectation was palpable among the audience and Opera Philadelphia staff, who chatted together as we awaited the start of The Raven.

on September 22, 2022 at 2:15 PM
Page 1 of 512345