Reviews

Which side story? Which side story?

Vivacious performances outweigh a host of odd directorial choices in the Washington National Opera‘s
West Side Story

Clipped wings Clipped wings

Madama Butterfly at Opera Colorado plays it safe — and never fully takes flight.

Un paio in tre Un paio in tre

Christopher Corwin and Andrew Lokay provide dual perspectives on the National Symphony Orchestra‘s performances of Puccini’s triple-bill.

Don’t tread on Marie Don’t tread on Marie

Boston Lyric Opera’s Revolutionary War-set Daughter of the Regiment prioritizes accessibility without losing its charm.

As a hero going to conquest As a hero going to conquest

A joint BeethovenAdams program conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk suggests a way forward for the embattled Boston Symphony Orchestra.

‘Tis almost fairy time ‘Tis almost fairy time

Curtis Opera and a charming cast of young singers cast a spell with their beguiling production of Britten‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

They don’t stoop to conquer They don’t stoop to conquer

The countertenors conquer the day in Handel‘s Giulio Cesare in Egitto at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

The poetry is in the pity The poetry is in the pity

Klaus Mäkelä unexpectedly joins the foray for The Cleveland Orchestra‘s performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

Bloodless revolution Bloodless revolution

Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung at Canadian Opera Company deliver on fine performances even if Robert Lepage‘s production skimps on horror.

La voix surhumaine La voix surhumaine

Barbara Hannigan mesmerizes as both a brilliant vocalist and a proficient opera conductor in a double bill of Strauss and La voix humaine with the New York Philharmonic.

The night is dark and full of terrors The night is dark and full of terrors

Opera Baltimore concludes its season with a piercing semi-staged production of Pelléas et Mélisande.

Hustle your bustle Hustle your bustle

Opera San José‘s La Traviata has all the buzz and energy of a world premiere.

Big man in town Big man in town

A strong revival of Falstaff at the Los Angeles Opera proves a fitting farewell vehicle for Music Director James Conlon.

Now sleeps the crimson petal Now sleeps the crimson petal

Gregory Spears’s Sleepers Awake mystifies and delights at Opera Philadelphia.

Come and Gandhi Come and Gandhi

Led by a mesmerizing Anthony Roth Costanzo, Satyagraha at the Paris Opera dispenses with historical particularities for something for more elusive.

Kuda, woulda, shoulda Kuda, woulda, shoulda

A strong revival of Eugene Onegin at the Metropolitan Opera and a recital by Benjamin Bernheim offered the chance to hear “Kuda, kuda” twice in two days.

Trouble in paradise Trouble in paradise
The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players‘s vivacious music making compensates for uninspired storytelling in their staging of Utopia, Limited.
Dodging a bullet Dodging a bullet

Dull conducting makes Der Freischütz miss its mark at Carnegie Hall.

Northern lights Northern lights

SoCal goes Scandi in two recent concerts, with one featuring an appearance by Lise Davidsen.

Bach to Bach Bach to Bach

An invigorating double bill at the San Francisco Symphony challenges how Bach “should” be performed.

That time of evening That time of evening

Golda Schultz soldiers through illness at the New York Philharmonic.

Heaven, here within my heart Heaven, here within my heart

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra explores love and death in an intense, intelligent program featuring soprano Corinne Winters.

Rose to the occasion Rose to the occasion

The embattled Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra bring Adams and Dvorák to Carnegie Hall.

Seder play Seder play

A new DVD recording of La Juive boasts considerable musical strengths in spite of a frustrating production.