Reviews

Mistress class Mistress class

Everett Quinton’s Galas is a star at the end of her tether, and she goes nova with the best.

Band in Boston Band in Boston

In the triumphant American premiere of Orlando Generoso at the Boston Early Music Festival last week, the hippogriff was among the many stars of the show.

Something cool Something cool

Elina Garanca was radiantly present at Carnegie Hall Friday night performing a ravishingly somber Rückert-Lieder with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the MET Orchestra.

Mr. Fabulous Mr. Fabulous

Michael Fabiano is a boss. This is a fact. 

Welcome Bach Welcome Bach

An unusually provocative program by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Bernard Labadie with soloists Lydia Teuscher and Benno Schachtner made my “return” Thursday evening an illuminating and rewarding experience at Zankel Hall.

Words get in the way Words get in the way

Although stripped down, this comedy of manners was far from boring due to well-choreographed movements and actions of the characters.

Nice nice baby Nice nice baby

“Tame” seemed to be the appropriate adjective to describe San Francisco Opera’s Carmen.

Pardon my dust Pardon my dust

David Lang’s Prisoner of the State, which was premiered on Thursday night by the New York Philharmonic, places the issue of mass incarceration front and center, foregrounding the violence of the prison system, both physical and psychological.

In a deep vaulted cell In a deep vaulted cell

We convoke for Dido and Aeneas in an arched tunnel a city block long, lit by candles in the many recesses.

What we do in the shadows What we do in the shadows

The Wiener Staatsoper commemorated its 150th anniversary with a musically sensational presentation of Richard Strauss’ Die Frau Ohne Schatten.

Paris in the springtime Paris in the springtime

La Traviata offered a cast of fresh debutantes and an uncommonly strong musical performance that could hardly be bettered.

“To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up” “To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up”

Tosca, as it exists now, can’t be real, spontaneous drama-it’s just Camp.

Upon arrival Upon arrival

Lise Davidsen, the young Norwegian soprano who won the Operalia competition in 2015, makes her debut as a recording artist with the Decca label in a new recital of Wagner and Strauss arias and orchestral songs.

All I mask of you All I mask of you

Amore Opera, an old-fashioned, adventurous little company that performs ambitious and sometimes delectably obscure but worthy repertory at the Riverside Theatre, is now (through Sunday) presenting Un ballo in maschera.

Revolution blues Revolution blues

The opera proved somewhat puzzling—the score representing more a collage of fragmented and incidental musical ideas, and the libretto a turgid, slow-moving mass of purple prose.

The evil that men do The evil that men do

The Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Otello is a collection of welcome returns.

First Lady sings the blues First Lady sings the blues

Daniel Thomas DavisThe Impossible She, was a towering musical achievement, a hugely complex work packing a whopping political and intellectual punch.

Tears in heaven Tears in heaven

There is a deep sense of culmination and finality when we discuss the last works of the great Masters. 

Orpheus condescending Orpheus condescending

Iestyn Davies is, of course, a renowned Handellian, and he sang Handel’s music with clarity, restraint, and precision.

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.

Waiting for the sun Waiting for the sun

The New York premiere of Kopernikus, an opera by the Canadian mystic Claude Vivier, who was murdered in Paris in 1983, three years after its completion.

Nothing’s gonna charm you

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

Prophète bien aimé Prophète bien aimé

New Amsterdam Opera specializes in American singers whose abilities are as yet little known.

The end is the beginning of the end The end is the beginning of the end

At the Metropolitan Opera’s Götterdämmerung on Saturday afternoon, the fires which consumed the Gods burned lukewarm.