Aix tremendae, salva me Aix tremendae, salva me

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence confronts the living and the dead — and its own future — through audacious productions and an intimate world premiere.

Extravagant minimalism Extravagant minimalism

Ahead of his new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten, Barrie Kosky chats with Kevin Ng in Aix about pretty much everything — except the details of his new Frau.

Beyond the valley of the gods Beyond the valley of the gods

The Bayerische Staatsoper’s Ring cycle scores another triumph with Tobias Kratzer’s take on Die Walküre.

Bembo eruption Bembo eruption

Supported by an ingenious production and strong performances, Antonia Bembo’s Ercole Amante makes a successful Paris Opera debut.

The Grand Salzburg Hotel The Grand Salzburg Hotel

A.J. Goldmann on the Salzburg Festival’s revolving doors, both in its administration and in its delectable production of Il viaggio a Reims.

Hit me with your best Shoshty Hit me with your best Shoshty

Barrie Kosky’s zany production of The Nose time-steps back onto the Komische Oper Berlin stage.

They do the sand dance, don’t you know? They do the sand dance, don’t you know?

Akhnaten has lost none of its power or glitz at the Los Angeles Opera.

She’s no basic britch She’s no basic britch

Samantha Hankey’s Composer is the standout in the Wiener Staatsoper’s episodically sublime Ariadne auf Naxos revival.

A lady of coarse and vulgar inclinations A lady of coarse and vulgar inclinations

A stark, sweltering performance of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk shocks the Komische Oper Berlin.

The best thing I saw in 2025 was <em>Robinson Crusoé</em> The best thing I saw in 2025 was <em>Robinson Crusoé</em>

“When there’s so much to get right, unsurprisingly a lot can and, as we all know, does go wrong.”

Capital punishment Capital punishment

A patchy production and musical performance can’t dull the edge of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at the Komische Oper Berlin

Hear, O Israel Hear, O Israel

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

Everything is “and,” not “or” Everything is “and,” not “or”

James Gaffigan, the incoming Music Director of Houston Grand Opera, strikes a balance between New World precision and Old World flair in repertoire, staging, and wine

I’m still thinking about Barrie Kosky’s <em>Dialogues des Carmélites</em> I’m still thinking about Barrie Kosky’s <em>Dialogues des Carmélites</em>

Barrie Kosky’s incredible production widened and universalized the ending.

I’m still thinking about Laurent Pelly’s <em>The Golden Cockerel</em> I’m still thinking about Laurent Pelly’s <em>The Golden Cockerel</em>

In a lifetime of opera going I suppose I have seen many transformative productions, but this recent one seems, in the light of the increasing disaster enfolding this country, uncannily pertinent.

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Der Rosenkavalier</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Der Rosenkavalier</em>

Der Rosenkavalier is a three-hour meditation on nostalgia. What could be better to bathe in?

A favorite Wagner performance from Le Petit Yniold A favorite Wagner performance from Le Petit Yniold

Nowhere are the contradictions between Wagner’s small-mindedness, his meanness of spirit, and his human insight on clearer display than in Hans Sachs monologue Wahn, Wahn überall Wahn in the third Act of Mesitersinger.

The Aix factor The Aix factor

This summer’s festival, taking place amid record high temperatures and in the wake of its artistic director, Pierre Audi, featured a disquietingly zeigeisty focus on sexual violence.

Sing of happy, not sad Sing of happy, not sad

Matthias Davids‘s reactionary new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg might be fun, but no one comes to Bayreuth for fun.

Breaking the box Breaking the box

Jacquelyn Stucker talks to Kevin Ng about repertoire, tearing down the Fach system, and what it takes to make music from baroque to George Benjamin her own.

There’s a parade in town There’s a parade in town

Les Brigands at the Paris Opera is an expensive joke that never lands

Prêtre a manger Prêtre a manger

parterre box serves up an amuse-bouche of Natalie Dessay as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd in Strasbourg!

Promising young women Promising young women

Ahead of her return to the Met, soprano Corinne Winters chats with Kevin Ng about her repertoire, overcoming biases about her voice type, and how she plans to play “energetic, young women” as long as she can.

Pennies from heaven Pennies from heaven

BAM is back!