Reviving a pharaoh Reviving a pharaoh

The Met brought back 2019 smash Akhnaten last night, with nearly the exact same cast and creative team, and with nearly the same knockout effect of three years ago.

on May 20, 2022 at 1:26 PM
The sonic clash never resolves itself The sonic clash never resolves itself

The cabaret at Saint Ann’s Warehouse delivered frothy fun and a dollop of pathos with Anthony Roth Costanzo and Justin Vivian Bond in Only an Octave Apart.

on September 29, 2021 at 2:26 PM
The Lord of Cries The Lord of Cries

The Santa Fe Opera’s 17th world premiere is The Lord of Cries by composer John Corigliano and librettist Mark Adamo.

on August 09, 2021 at 5:13 PM
Honor and harmony Honor and harmony

It’s that time of year again, cher public: the 47th 15th annual announcement of the recipients of the F. Paul Driscoll Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence!

on November 26, 2019 at 12:50 PM
A place in the sun A place in the sun

Friday evening’s Met premiere of Akhnaten was a resounding triumph and an outstanding testament to Philip Glass’s enduring operatic vision.

on November 09, 2019 at 5:24 PM
The body electric The body electric

“Asked to Perform Naked, This Is How One Star Got in Shape—Fast”

on November 05, 2019 at 12:24 PM
Peak gay achieved Peak gay achieved

“For five years, concert pianist Theo Mangrove has been living at his family’s home in East Kill, New York, recovering from a nervous breakdown that derailed his career.”

on June 26, 2019 at 3:39 PM
To Wong Foo, Fangs for Everything To Wong Foo, Fangs for Everything

“The opera The Lord of Cries. . . . with the equally astounding Anthony Roth Costanzo.”

on May 08, 2019 at 3:39 PM
Rodelinda warrior Rodelinda warrior

Ardent, astonishing, animated Anthony Roth Costanzo has just unveiled the music video for “Vivi, tiranno.”

on October 04, 2018 at 4:15 PM
Dramatic A.R.C. Dramatic A.R.C.

Imagine you are at Disneyland, and there’s an Anthony Roth Costanzo ride.

on September 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Pretty little lyres Pretty little lyres

While one sympathized with Matthew Aucoin’s urge to add his voice to the Orpheus canon it was difficult to figure out how his work complemented Gluck’s.

on May 07, 2018 at 12:42 PM
Dramatic ARC Dramatic ARC

Wednesday brought Christopher Alden’s grimly dark and violent take on Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo at National Sawdust.

on July 13, 2017 at 2:44 PM
The naked truth The naked truth

Highlights of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-2020 season, according the always intriguing Met Future Wiki.

on December 06, 2016 at 8:29 AM
Something Aten! Something Aten!

Akhnaten, seen at the Los Angeles Opera on November 13 tells the story of the Pharaoh who abandoned traditional Egyptian polytheism.

on November 15, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Monotheism mit Marianne Monotheism mit Marianne

Philip Glass is indisputably one of the most prolific composers of the last half century, yet none of his more than 20 operas has found a place in the standard repertoire.

on May 24, 2016 at 9:00 AM
If looks could kill If looks could kill

What is an Orphic moment? A song so sweet that even Hades must release the dead back to the living?

on March 25, 2016 at 1:10 PM
Isn’t it necromantic? Isn’t it necromantic?

St. Paul’s Chapel is the perfect site for Saul, Handel’s finest dramatic oratorio.

on January 04, 2015 at 1:16 PM
Top hatters Top hatters

Christopher Alden‘s production of Handel’s Partenope is so erudite and theatrically audacious and also such a rollicking ride, it’s hard to believe it isn’t crap.

on October 16, 2014 at 5:46 PM
Queens logic Queens logic

Saturday afternoon at 12:30 on WQXR’s magazine show Operavore, our own JJ talks about Mathilde Marchesi and Antony Roth Costanzo discusses his Orlofsky role in the Met’s Fledermaus.

on January 10, 2014 at 4:48 PM
Tucker everlasting Tucker everlasting

Those dear, dear people over The Greene Space at WQXR would like you, cher public, to join them this Friday for a concert saluting this year’s winner of the Richard Tucker Award, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard.

on October 01, 2013 at 5:03 PM
Our retrospection will now be all to the future Our retrospection will now be all to the future

La Cieca predicts you won’t be seeing any puritans at the Met next season, except of course for the ones who slouch around during intermission hissing, “You call that a trill?”

on October 22, 2012 at 2:18 PM
You’ve got to taste all the fruit You’ve got to taste all the fruit

F. Paul Driscoll, editor of Opera News [not pictured], is optimistic.”

on August 16, 2012 at 2:25 PM