Do the locomotion Do the locomotion

As my friend and I Ubered out to the luxurious Cobb Energy Centre for Atlanta Opera’s La traviata, I had trains on the mind.

This magic moment This magic moment

Look, for one of the most-staged operas in the repertoire, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte seems awfully difficult to stage.

Thane enthusiasm Thane enthusiasm

Washington National Opera’s second full-run offering of the season, a new production of Verdi’s perennially appealing Macbeth, premiered last Wednesday at the Kennedy Center.

Blow the house down Blow the house down

Hailed as the first opera by an African-American composer performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones was a huge audience and box office hit in the Fall of 2021 when it reopened the Met after two seasons shut down by COVID-19.

That which we call a Rosa That which we call a Rosa

Rosa Feola, hailed last year for her Gilda at the Met, brought a level of vocal refinement and elegance to Juliet that substantially elevated the night’s proceedings.

Last dance Last dance

If it is true that there are few respectable ways for people over 40 without small children to celebrate Halloween, a performance of Richard Strauss’ pioneering horror opera Elektra belongs on the short list.

Room temperature Room temperature

It’s maybe not a surprise that Carmen is neither a good vocal nor temperamental fit for Isabel Leonard.

Open and clothes case Open and clothes case

From an exposure standpoint, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the best thing to happen to opera since Beverly Sills.

Group therapy Group therapy

As long as women have been preyed upon, Don Giovanni has been relevant.

Celeste graffiti Celeste graffiti

Aida certainly has its longueurs.

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.

The kindness of Previn The kindness of Previn

Renée Fleming is one of the most polarizing figures to be discussed here on an ongoing basis.

Born to be Wilde Born to be Wilde

Cocooned in an amiable production of Theo Morrison‘s revised Oscar, David Daniels flew to new heights in the congenial title role.

Walk on the Wilde side Walk on the Wilde side

After Heart of a Soldier, The Perfect American, The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene, et al., the premiere of Theodore Morrison’s Oscar in Santa Fe last Saturday came as a welcome relief.

Desert fox Desert fox

Karol Szymanowski’s 1926 King Roger was the sleeper hit of SFO’s season, not so much for its weird, mystical theme and feeble libretto but because the music is powerfully effective.