I’m still thinking about John Cox’s <em>The Rake’s Progress</em> I’m still thinking about John Cox’s <em>The Rake’s Progress</em>

I came to The Rake’s Progress with a huge “Show Me” chip on my shoulder.

Think of the children Think of the children

One of the highlights, if not the highlight, of No-Met-February was an all-Ravel evening presented by the Juilliard Orchestra.

A favorite Mozart performance from Peter Russell A favorite Mozart performance from Peter Russell

For many opera lovers of the Baby Boomer generation, German bass Kurt Moll (1938-2017) was Sarastro, exuding wisdom and kindness through his unaffected bearing and incomparably rich, homogeneous sound.

It’s Brittany, bitch It’s Brittany, bitch

Sparks flew when the San Francisco Opera opened their new production of Richard Wagner’s monumental Tristan und Isolde on Saturday, October 19th, at the War Memorial Opera House.

Die Frau ohne Schatten Die Frau ohne Schatten

Tonight’s chat is late (10:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM PDT) and based on a pay-per-view event, but….

Crazy extremes Crazy extremes

Simon McBurney’s Die Zauberflöte, the second new production of the Met’s May Mozart Miracle, opened on Friday to rousing near-unanimous cheers.

Magic Freyer Magic Freyer

I still remember, and some of it quite vividly, what it was like to experience Achim Freyer‘s intense and groundbreaking Ring production all these years later.

Stranger with candy Stranger with candy

Saturday night I navigated the Music Center concourse, or what’s left of it with it’s seemingly eternal construction to the main plaza, wending my way to the Dorothy Chandler for the opening night of LA Opera’s Hansel and Gretel.

Let me live by my wits and Trost to my luck Let me live by my wits and Trost to my luck

I finally get to complete my personal operatic Top Ten this week with Igor Stravinsky’s only full-length opera, The Rake’s Progress. 

Saluting Kurt Moll Saluting Kurt Moll

“Trove Thursday” pays tribute to the great German bass Kurt Moll

Fifty shades of gold Fifty shades of gold

Anticipation of events like the Metropolitan Opera’s 50th Anniversary bash turns me back into the newly opera-soused kid who begged his parents to let him watch the highlights of the Bing Gala on the family color television.

Dancing lady Dancing lady

I entered the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday night for LA Opera’s 30 year old revival of their production of Salome with a combination of enthusiasm and apprehension.

La lune est encore sur la mer La lune est encore sur la mer

There was a general feeling of homecoming in the hall on Friday evening in anticipation of what promised to be a special return visit on many levels.