Performance Reviews

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

Big time sensuality Big time sensuality

Barbara Strozzi links two sensuous programs by L’Arpeggiata and Catapult Opera. 

To be a poet is a condition To be a poet is a condition

Are today’s stars enough to sustain Andrea Chénier?

Monkey business Monkey business

The Monkey King at San Francisco Opera combines spectacle and sentiment.

Hear, O Israel Hear, O Israel

As Messiah season begins, Christopher Corwin reports on two of Handel’s forays into the Old Testament.

I’m getting married in the morning I’m getting married in the morning

Washington National Opera presented a well-sung and humorous Marriage of Figaro, buoyed by clever direction and a strong cast, particularly Rosa Feola’s Countess and Joélle Harvey’s Susanna.

Medieval Times Medieval Times

Carl Orff’s cantata tries its fortunes at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

La fiamma è bella! La fiamma è bella!

A new recording of La fiamma from Deutsche Oper Berlin sets Respighi’s score ablaze.

Celebrate good times Celebrate good times

Austin Opera’s 40th anniversary gala celebrated the present while gesturing boldly towards the future.

Pride in your work Pride in your work

Pittsburgh Opera’s Fellow Travelers delivers a timely story with detail and care.

<em>Blue</em> it <em>Blue</em> it

Jeanine Tesori’s Blue is an ambitious and worthy opera that deserves a better presentation than it got at Lincoln Center on Saturday.

Alien encounter Alien encounter

“Protect the dolls, they say, but who really cares for them?” This question, posed by performer Mara Snip during the postlude of Neuköllner Oper’s 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, had a clear answer: Aliens.

Scarcity mindset Scarcity mindset

Michael Thalmeier‘s Tristan und Isolde in Berlin asks, how much minimalism is too much minimalism?

Do the locomotion Do the locomotion

As my friend and I Ubered out to the luxurious Cobb Energy Centre for Atlanta Opera’s La traviata, I had trains on the mind.

Damned to hell Damned to hell

Only the singers, led by Benjamin Bernheim, can salvage a dismal La Damnation de Faust at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées.

Beyond the wail Beyond the wail

Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci at Lyric Opera of Chicago are hysterical in all the wrong ways.

Comic relief Comic relief

Pacific Opera Project’s high-spirited revival of Fra Diavolo is both therapy and an escape.

The replacements The replacements

Second casts in Don Giovanni and Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera offer mixed blessings.

To our glorious dead To our glorious dead

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offered a rending reading of Britten‘s massive War Requiem with an eclectic trio of soloists.

We wear the masque We wear the masque

A brief concert at the Frick Collection teases the multifaceted artistry of Davóne Tines

Tag team Tag team

The women were the highlights of Washington National Opera’s militaristic Aïda

Beyond the merely pretty Beyond the merely pretty

J’Nai Bridges makes a sophisticated companion to the Morgan Library & Museum’s Renoir Drawings exhibit.

Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns

San Diego Opera’s Pagliacci puts a play within a play within a play.

Grail against the machine Grail against the machine

A new production of Parsifal at San Francisco Opera stirred something deep inside Michael Anthonio about how music soothes the soul

Frieze frame Frieze frame

Shirin Neshat‘s Aïda in Paris is a typical instance of what happens when an artist is brought in to direct an opera.