You can go your own way
Eli Jacobson on a luscious evening of early Strauss with Guntram at Carnegie Hall
Alesander Birch Elliott
8 pieces since 2017 — in 7 roles, at 6 companies, most often at Metropolitan Opera.
8
pieces
7
roles
6
companies
10
years
Role Duke Robert
Role Enrico
No heather on the hill: ‘Lucia’ in LA
LA Opera sent out an email warning that the production “contains depictions of blood, violence, and drug use, as well as strobe lights and a gunshot effect in Act III.”
Role Frank
Sweet dreams
Bard SummerScape’s concert staging of Die Tote Stadt emerged triumphant thanks to Clay Hilley and Sara Jakubiak.
Role Lucifer
Pandelirium
We live in a time of open-season for jokes on ancient myths, mixing and matching, sometimes with great success, as The Book of Mormon and Hadestown demonstrate.
Role Schaunard
Not really about ‘La bohème’
What is there to say about the Franco Zeffirelli Bohème? What is left to say?
Role Sonora
Not much gold, but plenty of rush
Is this not Puccini’s greatest opera, his most human, least manipulative?
Role Zurga
Stormy weather
Looking at the Houston Grand Opera’s 2018/19 season, I think Hurricane Harvey subconsciously must have had an impact on the choice of operas.
‘Perles’ hearing
Alexander Birch Elliott‘ s dynamic if gauche Zurga added some pizzazz to an otherwise bland evening.