Don’t go in the basement
Malin Byström is a radiant water nymph in the Bayerische Staatsoper‘s house-of-horrors-set Rusalka.
Lisa Hirsch
Lisa Hirsch studied music at Brandeis University and Stony Brook. She studied flute seriously for a number of years and has sung a wide variety of music in many choruses. She has written about opera and classical music for San Francisco Classical Voice, Opera News (RIP), Opera, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She blogs about these subjects at Iron Tongue of Midnight, which also includes many of her photos.
Though she has attended San Francisco Opera and other companies since the early 1980s, her opera obsession really started in the early 90s, when she started listening to historic singers.
Hit me with your best shot
Dmitri Tcherniakov‘s production of Der Freischütz in Munich may fire a few blanks, but the musicians are all on target.
Così così
Despite some fine performances, Così fan tutte at the Livermore Valley Opera doesn’t quite click into place.
Americana, reconsidered
Davóne Tines leads a thought-provoking program in San Francisco reconsidering patriotism, dissent, and spirituality as the United States faces down its quarter millennium crisis.
Look to your laurels
A Strauss rarity receives a ravishing concert performance at Seattle Opera.
Marriage is what brings us together today
Le nozze di Figaro in Santa Fe is a light and kindly revival while The Turn of the Screw is crisp and atmospheric
Operation desert storm
The Santa Fe Opera’s fine first Die Walküre finds Wagner in America at a crossroads.
Jester to me
Rigoletto at The Santa Fe Opera is a near miss.
If you’re cold, they’re cold
La bohème at The Santa Fe Opera feels warmed over in more ways than one.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
