Performance Reviews

Reviews of operatic, vocal, and classical performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, all across America, and around the world.

Bye bye, birdie Bye bye, birdie

A feast of whimsy for the recently resurrected in Aaron Siegel’s new opera, Rainbird

on April 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Fractured féerie tales Fractured féerie tales

Félix Fourdrain‘s “féerie” Les Contes de Perrault by the Frivolités Parisiennes is as fun for adults as it is for children

on April 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Brain Wurm Brain Wurm

By the time the curtain rose on Verdi’s Luisa Miller last Sunday in Washington Concert Opera’s final show of the season, the originally announced line-up was about as accurate as a federal agency org chart from February.

on April 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I love the flower girl I love the flower girl

It began with charming modesty.

on April 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
C’est une vraie voix C’est une vraie voix

Don Carlos returns to the Opéra National de Paris and it’s an unusually happy occasion

on April 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Humdrum existence Humdrum existence

Missy Mazzoli has established herself as one of contemporary opera’s most skilled and subtle architects of emotional response, and her latest, The Listeners—now at the Lyric Opera of Chicago—is no exception.

on April 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Happiness indeed Happiness indeed

The nail-biting adventures of Voltaire’s titular hero Candide are hardly more circuitous than those faced by Leonard Bernstein’s 1956 Broadway musical adaptation.

on April 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Pennies from heaven Pennies from heaven

BAM is back!

on April 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Like the poem said by a lady in red Like the poem said by a lady in red

Boop! The Musical arrives on Broadway with plenty of colorful glitz, glamour, and talent with an empowering message for women to find their inner confidence to succeed and lead

on April 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Seville servants Seville servants

A muted and merry carousel ride out of feudalism in the Met’s production of Le nozze di Figaro

on April 07, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Povera <em>Butterfly</em> Povera <em>Butterfly</em>

A parade of young singers delight in an intimate Madama Butterfly at Amore Opera

on April 04, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Sick and tired Sick and tired

Before this weekend, I never thought I would want to leave an opera by Act I. The recent production of Puccini’s La bohème at the Lyric Opera of Chicago taught me that there’s a first time for everything.

on April 03, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Monsoon wedding Monsoon wedding

IN Series concluded its exploration of the works of Claudio Monteverdi with a production of the composer’s final opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea, performed with the addition of Indian music and dance.

on April 02, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Selvaggia e aspra e forte Selvaggia e aspra e forte

Pascal Dusapin‘s dynamic and demanding traversal of Dante‘s Commedia arrives at the Paris Opera

on April 02, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Born to command Born to command

Audacious star performances elevate safe direction in Richard II and The Seagull on London’s West End

on April 01, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This magic moment This magic moment

Look, for one of the most-staged operas in the repertoire, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte seems awfully difficult to stage.

on March 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Haircut and paste Haircut and paste

Back to Rameau again this week with Samson at the Opéra Comique, my third Rameau production in as little as three months, after Les Fêtes d’Hébé in the same house, and Castor et Pollux at the Palais Garnier.

on March 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Blue Saturday Blue Saturday

A grand concert from Angel Blue has Patrick Mack wondering, “where’s her crossover album?”

on March 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Yes and no Yes and no

William Kentridge‘s eclectic The Great Yes, The Great No arrives at Cal Performances.

on March 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Beyond redemption Beyond redemption

This performance of Mahler’s Symphony N°8 at the Bozar in Brussels will probably be my last ever Mahler concert.

on March 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Nilsson ratings Nilsson ratings

Christina Nilsson‘s debut enlivens the Met’s new Aïda.

on March 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Proud ladies Proud ladies

Karen Slack is downright magisterial in her recital African Queens.

on March 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM
<em>The Women</em> are like that <em>The Women</em> are like that

A stylish and funny Così fan tutte at LA Opera is a pretty glam affair, according to Patrick Mack.

on March 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
From California to the New York island From California to the New York island

The new musical starring Idina Menzel, ostensibly a paean to back-to-naturism, could hardly feel more manufactured and synthetic.

on March 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM