Decadent genealogies
Arnold Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder and Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot are, in their different ways, the final decadent flowering of a musical tradition at its twilight.
Alexey Lavrov
8 pieces since 2016 — in 4 roles, at 2 companies, most often at Metropolitan Opera.
8
pieces
4
roles
2
companies
11
years
By role
By company
Role Pang
Role Ping
Thrust into the political spotlight
The Met’s revival of Turandot on Saturday night was surprisingly contentious.
Orientation
There were plenty of Turan-do’s and only a few Turandon’ts at the Met’s Turandot Sunday afternoon.
Turandon’t
From the perspective of current identity politics, Puccini’s Turandot is a disaster of epic proportions.
Role Schaunard
Playing in the rafters
Opera took center stage on the final weekend of the Philadelphia Orchestra season.
Technical difficulties
La bohéme returned to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera once again last night (does it ever leave?)
You give me fever
Mortality is ugly—it smells, it makes uncomfortable noises, it takes its time; and then there is the overwhelming sense of dread and helplessness.
Role Silvio
For the birds
A “lone voice in the wilderness” booed Barbara Frittoli’s calamitous Nedda.