Reviews

Castanet diva Castanet diva

Lisette Oropesa, a product of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, has not been seen much on the stage of the Met in recent seasons.

on October 29, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Five of a kind Five of a kind

Rare is the revival of Il trovatore that boasts five first-rate singers, and such an occasion should be treasured. And so, at the Met last Saturday, it was.

on October 28, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Thoughts on <em>Il trovatore</em>: recordings Thoughts on <em>Il trovatore</em>: recordings

As for complete recordings of Il trovatore, which was discussed at some length last week, there are at least 200 of them, both studio and live.

on October 25, 2024 at 10:00 AM
It’s Brittany, bitch It’s Brittany, bitch

Sparks flew when the San Francisco Opera opened their new production of Richard Wagner’s monumental Tristan und Isolde on Saturday, October 19th, at the War Memorial Opera House.

on October 25, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Basque in the glory Basque in the glory

For the opening night of Il Trovatore, Houston Grand Opera’s new production aimed high, bringing together a star-studded cast and a fresh, contemporary take on Verdi’s intense drama.

on October 24, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Don’t count out the Countess Don’t count out the Countess

In concert with Renée Fleming’s quietly authoritative stage presence, the performance offered frequent reminders of the special affinity between this singer and Strauss’s aristocratic women.

on October 23, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Spain and neutered Spain and neutered

Ainadamar never quite found its identity between the two poles of conceptual and concrete.

on October 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Witchery and bitchery Witchery and bitchery

Double double, toil and trouble, y’all, and happy spooky season from Slaylem. (It’s like Salem, but fun.)

on October 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Broken branching out Broken branching out

Karim Sulayman’s intentions are to demonstrate links and roots, in themes musical and poetic, crossing every boundary of culture, religion, nationality, genre.

on October 16, 2024 at 9:00 AM
But joys all want eternity But joys all want eternity

Maximalism was on the menu last weekend at the Philadelphia Orchestra.

on October 10, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Nosedive Nosedive

It’s not so much that I hated the Met Opera’s Grounded. I’m just not convinced that it should have been an opera.

on October 09, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Veni vidi vici Veni vidi vici

Mahler’s 8th Symphony is an enormous and enigmatic work.

on October 07, 2024 at 10:00 AM
It’s raining Mennonites It’s raining Mennonites

The music was at every point dramatically compelling, without seeming cheap or manipulative.

on October 07, 2024 at 9:00 AM
The clown of God The clown of God

Rigoletto is the perfect opera. The story is straightforward and powerful; none of the action occurs backstage or between scenes or twenty-seven years before curtain rise; and the ethical anvil lands not once but twice, on the title character singing, “La maledizione!” The curse!

on October 04, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Palette knives out Palette knives out

Lincoln Center is in full diva mode. Or at least that is what it seemed as I passed the line of posters outside Alice Tully Hall for the forthcoming Maria Callas biopic.

on October 03, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Green grow the lilacs Green grow the lilacs

Eastern Long Island remains surprisingly verdant even into the early fall.

on October 02, 2024 at 9:00 AM
The music and the mirror The music and the mirror

Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

on October 01, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Boomers in bloomers Boomers in bloomers

The show, with its high production values and ever so abstract and high-minded Vedic metaphor, presents a nominally innovative performance that points at the avant garde but never quite ventures into challenging territory.

on September 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Humming chorus Humming chorus

Two opera houses, both alike in dignity (but less so in resources and international fame) launched their seasons this week, making similar out-of-the-box choices: new works on edgy, contemporary themes.

on September 30, 2024 at 9:00 AM
S’amuse-bouche S’amuse-bouche

Lyric Opera of Chicago has opened its new season with a revival of its tried and true 2006 production of Verdi’s sixteenth opera, Rigoletto, one of his most tuneful and dramatic works (I attended the Sunday matinée performance).

on September 27, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Nice piece of <i>Tales</i> Nice piece of <i>Tales</i>

Les Contes d’Hoffmann is something of a puzzle in which some of the pieces are missing and others been altered to fit since Offenbach died before he could complete and revise the work.

on September 27, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Star of the shoji screen Star of the shoji screen

My vision may have been slightly blurry at the end.

on September 25, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Self-flagellation Self-flagellation

One moral is that Eugene O’Neill may just not be opera fodder.

on September 24, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Acting is rè acting Acting is rè acting

Boston Lyric Opera’s shows, of late, are often going to war with their texts.

on September 20, 2024 at 9:00 AM