David Fox

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
They love a piano They love a piano

It’s difficult to reconcile what Schlather writes with what we see onstage, which is a jumble not only of pianos, but of periods and concepts.

on March 11, 2019 at 11:04 AM
That’s how they’ve done it That’s how they’ve done it

Così fan tutte, Mozart’s final Italian comedy with Lorenzo Da Ponte, is this season’s heaviest lift for Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA).

on March 08, 2019 at 1:45 PM
‘Spring’ is here ‘Spring’ is here

The Day Before Spring , while not exactly experimental, shows a young and adventurous team thinking both traditionally and out-of-the-box.

on February 16, 2019 at 10:22 AM
Dream a little ‘Dream’ Dream a little ‘Dream’

It may have taken 28 years to see Robert Carsen’s production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the U. S., but it was worth waiting for.

on February 12, 2019 at 4:38 PM
Close ‘Call’ Close ‘Call’

Director Casey Hushion attempts to spice up Call Me Madam in ways that make it feel more than ever like an out-of-touch relic.

on February 11, 2019 at 12:08 PM
What’s done cannot be Undine What’s done cannot be Undine

Academy of Vocal Arts’ Rusalka—surprisingly, only their second venture in many years into the Slavic repertoire—left a divided impression.

on January 30, 2019 at 11:42 AM
Lenny and God Lenny and God

Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s “Music of Faith” with the Philadelphia Orchestra was a sensational concert, perhaps the best I’ve heard in more than a season.

on January 27, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Romance holiday Romance holiday

Russian repertoire figures very centrally in AVA’s mission.

on December 22, 2018 at 11:38 AM
Emmanuel labor Emmanuel labor

Philadelphia is a city famous for its musical institutions—so, of course, at this time of year Messiah performances abound.

on December 18, 2018 at 2:28 PM
Razors, edge Razors, edge

Curtis Opera ventured Sweeney Todd.

on November 16, 2018 at 10:44 AM
Tales of the unexpected Tales of the unexpected

In the Academy of Vocal Arts’s (AVA) clever pairing of two Puccini works, there was every reason to expect the fix was in.

on November 09, 2018 at 10:56 AM
Hello again, Gorgeous! Hello again, Gorgeous!

It’s high time we see Funny Girl through a different lens.

on October 22, 2018 at 1:35 PM
Trouble in paradise Trouble in paradise

Although Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti is always categorized as an opera, the piece certainly has one foot planted firmly in his jazzy musical-theater style.

on October 08, 2018 at 2:14 PM
Glamour, reconceptualized Glamour, reconceptualized

Opera Philadelphia’s O18 Festival continues through the weekend, but Friday represented a finale of sorts with the last two premieres.

on September 29, 2018 at 11:15 AM
When queens preside When queens preside

“Fricka is on fucking vacation.” 

on September 26, 2018 at 10:44 AM
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
Dark shadows Dark shadows

Those who want a rethought Lucia to allow the heroine more sense of agency will be especially confounded at Laurent Pelly’s reading.

on September 24, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Elle is other people Elle is other people

Soprano Patricia Racette is superb in La Voix Humaine, a work that she makes absolutely her own.

on September 23, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Grand tourists Grand tourists

Soprano Ashley Marie Robillard and mezzo Siena Licht Miller evoke a journey to Paris, Venice, Berlin, and London.

on September 22, 2018 at 11:15 AM
Touch the sky Touch the sky

It would be hard to imagine a more apt and poignant metaphor for the ambitious O18 Festival than the world premiere of Lembit Beecher and Hannah Moscovitch’s Sky on Swings. 

on September 21, 2018 at 9:38 AM
The sun shines nellie The sun shines nellie

Warmth, humor, and joyful out-and-proud-ness dominate the mood, yet there is considerable darkness in Taylor Mac’s view of both past and present.

on June 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM