David Fox

Reform follows function Reform follows function

Love in Hate Nation is a little musical that could and can… and I sure as hell hope it does!

on November 18, 2019 at 4:34 PM
The opposite of sex The opposite of sex

Since 1934, Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts has been preparing emerging artists for operatic careers.

on November 14, 2019 at 3:21 PM
The Philadelphia stories The Philadelphia stories

As we also saw last year, Festival O19 ended on a sweetly quiet note, movingly connecting Opera Philadelphia with the larger city and our musical future.

on September 30, 2019 at 9:00 AM
And when I die And when I die

For the academics who may be reading this: Let Me Die exists in a confounding but intriguing interpretive liminal space.

on September 23, 2019 at 10:38 AM
Total ellipse Total ellipse

Employing the most slimly elegant resources, Festival O’s Denis & Katya is a monumental, dramatically shattering event.  

on September 21, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Tales of the citrus Tales of the citrus

Opera Philadelphia’s Love of Three Oranges is never less than extravagantly entertaining theater.

on September 21, 2019 at 11:09 AM
Trial by Korngold Trial by Korngold

What is the best metaphor for this year’s Bard Music Festival?

on August 19, 2019 at 11:24 AM
A grandeur night for singing A grandeur night for singing

Die Zauberflöte is an opera!”  “No, it’s the first musical comedy!”

on August 07, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Maid in America Maid in America

The second summer session of the Russian Opera Workshop concludes this week with concert performances of Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans.

on July 31, 2019 at 11:39 AM
Sweeping down the plains Sweeping down the plains

Within minutes, something wonderful happened. None of my reservations mattered.

on July 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM
From Russia with love From Russia with love

Under any circumstances, the Russian Opera Workshop’s radiant concert performance of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta would have been an event to celebrate.

on June 27, 2019 at 12:16 PM
A little ‘Nixon’ goes a long way A little ‘Nixon’ goes a long way

The Princeton Festival has long been a “Little Engine that Could,” but the current operatic offering, John Adams’ Nixon in China, is a good deal more than that.

on June 24, 2019 at 11:13 AM
Lenny thing goes Lenny thing goes

With the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Candide, they saved the best (of all possible worlds) for last.

on June 21, 2019 at 2:26 PM
Bolder sister Bolder sister

Brigitte Fassbaender‘s sound is piquant and, I’d hazard to guess, instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with her work.

on June 20, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Star-crossed Star-crossed

For more than 40 years, the magnificent opening image from Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites has served as an icon for the Met.

on May 16, 2019 at 2:23 PM

Even the hit songs in this early Jule Styne musical would recede in a better show.

on May 13, 2019 at 4:32 PM
Riding on empty Riding on empty

Two atmospheric but bleak works provide a musical illustration of the notion that misery loves company. 

on May 06, 2019 at 5:24 PM
All she has to do is dream All she has to do is dream

In the most hectic and sometimes marvelous year of theater I’ve had in memory, Lady in the Dark at MasterVoices this weekend thrilled me most.

on April 28, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Pigment of the imagination Pigment of the imagination

It’s a wonderful idea to cast Bohème with young singers, and these delivered astonishingly assured, confident, mature performances.

on April 28, 2019 at 12:17 PM
Sophisticated Hades Sophisticated Hades

The sexiest moment on Broadway this season features a 73-year-old man and a single button.

on April 21, 2019 at 4:30 PM
Everybody loves to break a bough Everybody loves to break a bough

We owe director John Doyle and Classic Stage Company a debt of gratitude for bringing Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock—warts and all—to the stage.

on April 03, 2019 at 9:00 PM
Winged defeat Winged defeat

Frankly, I can’t imagine there’s a future for I Married an Angel.

on March 26, 2019 at 4:50 PM
One more ‘Kiss’ One more ‘Kiss’

Kiss Me Kate is a sophisticated soufflé of a show: a comedy of manners, requiring effortless verve and elegance in the playing.

on March 22, 2019 at 12:40 PM
Easily assimilated Easily assimilated

I’ve never liked the term “crossover.”

on March 19, 2019 at 12:43 PM