A cross to bear A cross to bear

A uniformly strong cast triumphs over a dull production of Don Carlo at the Dallas Opera.

Married to their jobs Married to their jobs

Ahead of their opening in Don Carlo in Dallas tonight, Christopher Corwin chats with Nicole Car and Étienne Dupuis — and offers a special edition of Chris’s Cache!

Nice piece of <i>Tales</i> Nice piece of <i>Tales</i>

Les Contes d’Hoffmann is something of a puzzle in which some of the pieces are missing and others been altered to fit since Offenbach died before he could complete and revise the work.

On the road again On the road again

When it premiered at the Opéra Comique in 1875, Carmen shocked audiences with its frank depictions of female sexuality, the proletariat, and violence: subjects that have ensured the piece’s continued relevance and that have inspired numerous retellings and revisions.

Wild bird Wild bird

On this day in 2017, Clémentine Margaine made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Carmen.

Three dimensions Three dimensions

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Don Carlos was a real feast of good singing and orchestral grandeur.

Give me the Templar life Give me the Templar life

Otto Nicolai’s Il Templario with Juan Diego Flórez, Clémentine Margaine and Luca Salsi.

Revelation Revelation

Beg. Borrow. Steal. Bargain. Cajole. Seduce. Threaten. Extort.

Discomfort zone Discomfort zone

Roberto Alagna’s physical and vocal embodiment of Don José lent his particular narrative a complication I hadn’t anticipated.

Fleur du mal Fleur du mal

Too bad, then, that this season’s tossed flower was a bit of a wilted one.

Too cloistered for comfort Too cloistered for comfort

New Amsterdam Opera’s concert version of Donizetti’s elaborate score La favorita, offered energy, panache and several top-notch young soloists.

Imogenary beings Imogenary beings

Will Crutchfield’s Bel Canto at Caramoor program of concert operas concluded with a bang on Saturday with Bellini’s first success, Il Pirata.

Not my dragoon Not my dragoon

The Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Carmen began with a bit of drama Thursday night when tenor Rafael Davila replaced Marcelo Álvarez.

Winning streak Winning streak

Like our beloved Cubs, Chicago Lyric Opera is in the midst of a championship season.

Thank you for smoking Thank you for smoking

Along with Don Giovanni, Carmen is an odd bird on the list of the most beloved and frequently performed works.

Something extramarital Something extramarital

Saturday evening conductor Will Crutchfield revived Donizetti’s La Favorite—unheard in New York for fifteen years.