Reviews

Cri du coeur Cri du coeur

Sondra Radvanovsky returned for her 29th Met Aïda Thursday night (but only her second Aïda.)

Alpha doge Alpha doge

West Bay Opera’s sterling production of Verdi’s I due Foscari played over the last two weekends.

Disappearing act Disappearing act

Tenor Matthew Polenzani and pianist Julius Drake’s performance left this listener in a a state of euphoria.

Let’s hear it for the boa Let’s hear it for the boa

What happens in Karlsruhe stays in Karlsruhe!

Kitchen confidential Kitchen confidential

Since 1985, from the Chicago Symphony at Carnegie Hall to the Welsh National Opera visiting BAM and from Chicago Lyric to New York City Opera to the Met, I’ve never encountered a bad Falstaff—or one that didn’t astound and delight me. 

Women in revolt Women in revolt

The full title of the opera pretty much describes the plot: Il mondo alla roversa osia Le donne che comandano.

Once more with feeling Once more with feeling

We humans tend to dislike uncertainty, therefore there is something comforting going to opera revivals; you know exactly what you are going to get. 

‘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.

A view to a kill A view to a kill

You’d want to expect that every Met retread would draw the same curiosity, the same large crowds, to Lincoln Center.

Wintertime, and the living is easy Wintertime, and the living is easy

Porgy and Bess, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward’s 1935 “folk” opera, graced the stage of Dutch National Opera for the first time last month, and it was resounding success from start to finish.

Sex and Vivaldi Sex and Vivaldi

The “Red Priest” of Venice once made reference to his “94 operas” in a letter to his patron. 

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.

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.

Lost in Thrace Lost in Thrace

Handel’s Radamisto returned to New York when Opera Lafayette movingly performed this early masterpiece.

Mage of all work Mage of all work

Utopia Opera is fond of the less well known branches of the Savoy repertory (as the company name suggests), and is currently (through next weekend) doing a job on an early and rare bird of the flock, The Sorcerer.

Follow her lead Follow her lead

Barbara Hannigan‘s electrifying performance with the Juilliard Orchestra on Friday night proves that she is as much a force to be reckoned with on the podium as she is onstage.

Can you ‘Fille’ the love tonight Can you ‘Fille’ the love tonight

La Fille du Régiment, Donizetti’s half-spoken ode to La France about a girl raised by a division of daddies, is at once infamous and beloved for the string of nine high C’s capping act one.

This means war This means war

Considering the size and the logistics for staging Les Troyens, every new production of Berlioz’s epic masterpiece is a special event.

Tales as old as time Tales as old as time

The Paris Opera continued their 350th anniversary celebration January 26 with a brand new production of Alessandro Scarlatti’s 1707 oratorio Il Primo Omicidio ovvero Caino.

Boy meets world Boy meets world

A beautiful concert of 18th century sacred music arrived at Weill Recital Hall performed by the soulful Polish Wunderkind Jakub Jósef Orlinski.

Revenge served cold Revenge served cold

Of course, Stemme had the character’s frenzied fury at her father’s murderers in hand, but she had far more nuance—at times this Elektra was seductive, sympathetic, loving, even humorous in her bitterness. 

Grazie Millo Grazie Millo

There are, on rare occasions, moments in a live performance where some intangible symbiotic relationship between audience and performer creates an instant that borders on the sublime.

New blood New blood

I was shocked to realize I hadn’t seen Don Giovanni at the Met since Michael Grandage’s stultifying production opened in 2011.

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.