Boxer briefs Boxer briefs

I had some trepidation about attending Terence Blanchard’s opera Champion because the “sport” of boxing has never appealed to me.

on February 06, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Repent for the time is at hand Repent for the time is at hand

Traditional Christianity has always used the threat of dying unabsolved and going to Hell as a tool to get us not only to accept Jesus but also obey the dictates of the Church. Last week in New York, two classical works touched on the theme of repentance and absolution.

on February 05, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Guardian of the temple Guardian of the temple

And what a sonically fascinating and vibrant Atys it is!

on February 02, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Singing for herself and the boys in the band Singing for herself and the boys in the band

Boston Symphony Orchestra recently confirmed an infinitely renewable contract upon Andris Nelsons, its music director since 2014. To understand why, one needed little more evidence than the outfit’s recent visit to Carnegie Hall.

on February 01, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Roman eye Roman eye

The newest Italian production of L’incoronazione di Poppea was a splendid example of how a 17th century opera can be performed in the best possible way today

on January 30, 2024 at 9:00 AM
That with music loud and long That with music loud and long

The flashing eyes, the floating hair, and the inexplicable barefootnedness during the second half of Saturday night’s performance confirmed one thing: Kristine Opolais is back.

on January 29, 2024 at 9:00 AM
On the steps of the palace On the steps of the palace

Anyone arriving at Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Rossini’s Cinderella (La Cenerentola) expecting the Disney-fied version of the story will be in for a surprise.

on January 26, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Let the children come to me Let the children come to me

It says something about Boston’s opera scene that one of the most consistently ambitious events of the opera season is a one-off performance played by the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.

on January 24, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Critical mass Critical mass

Light streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Space at Irondale, once a church, during the Saturday matinée of Heather Christian’s Terce as part of the Prototype Festival.

on January 23, 2024 at 9:00 AM
A post-electric opera A post-electric opera

Two months ago, when climate activists interrupted a performance of Tannhaüser at the Met, the banners they unfurled from the balconies announced, “no opera on a dead planet.”

on January 22, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Venite adoremus Venite adoremus

The beginning of Mary Kouyoumdjian’s Adoration is marked by silence. The young Simon, played by Sammy Ivany, lies on his stomach, scribbling in a notebook.

on January 18, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Polish rider Polish rider

“The mystery of her voice gripped my soul,” Sharpless tells Pinkerton at the beginning of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. One could say the same thing of Aleksandra Kurzak’s remarkable portrayal of the title role, the main reason to catch the Met’s latest revival.

on January 16, 2024 at 9:00 AM
The school for music lovers The school for music lovers

Angel Island seemed a piece with two simultaneous goals: to musically interpret the poetry of Angel Island detainees and to educate its audience on the history of Asian and particularly Chinese immigration to America.

on January 15, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Early onset dementia Early onset dementia

Nothing says “diva” like an insane recital program.

on January 10, 2024 at 9:00 AM
A woman scorned A woman scorned

Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Thomas Corneille’s Médée is a monument of the 17th century French baroque lyric tragedy.

on January 09, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Star vehicles Star vehicles

This Carmen, in other words, was somewhat less radical than its initial image suggested.

on January 03, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Va, vecchio ‘Don’ Va, vecchio ‘Don’

The whole performance was reminiscent of long-forgotten ways of doing opera (ways which still find the full approval of an Italian public tired of proposals that are all too “experimental”)

on December 19, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Match point Match point

A frigid air swept through the crypt of the Church of the Intercession on Friday, December 8, nearly blowing out the candles that cast a golden light on the bundled-up audience.

on December 13, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Love potion no. 8 1/2 Love potion no. 8 1/2

A perfect escape for a city laden with recent layoffs and job cuts coming into Holiday season

on December 06, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Contents fragile Contents fragile

Perhaps the greatest souvenir of her art there is.

on December 05, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Favola bella che ieri t’illuse, che oggi m’illude Favola bella che ieri t’illuse, che oggi m’illude

Washington Concert Opera’s season opened with a triumphant performance of Gioachino Rossini’s rarely heard Ermione Saturday night at George Washington University in D.C., led by Antony Walker and a stellar quartet of principals in Angela Meade, Lawrence Brownlee, David Portillo, and Ginger Costa-Jackson.

on December 05, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Christian science monitored Christian science monitored

In any case, we probably got as good a Tannhäuser cast as could be assembled these days.

on December 04, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Old school and better for it Old school and better for it

As far as I know, Juan Diego Flórez last appeared in New York City (not totally to his advantage) as Alfredo in the Met’s garish new production of La Traviata back in December 2018, nearly five years ago.

on December 01, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Crowe’s feat Crowe’s feat

I can still vividly remember the first time the music of George Frideric Handel made an impression on me.

on November 27, 2023 at 9:00 AM