Clipped wings Clipped wings

Madama Butterfly at Opera Colorado plays it safe — and never fully takes flight.

Other desert settees Other desert settees

Washington Concert Opera returned on November 24th for its first show of the 2024-2025 season with a production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, another (relative) rarity from the composer following last year’s season-closing presentation of La rondine.

Ashes to ashes Ashes to ashes

Gioachino Rossini’s adorable adaptation of Cinderella famously dispenses with a slipper in favor of a bracelet to lead the Principe Ramiro back to his Cenerentola. If only this performance had benefitted from such a glittering guiding hand.

The river of dreams The river of dreams

The opera utilizes the idea of “magical realism,” telling a realistic story combined with elements of magic and fantasy.

Catch a falling tsar Catch a falling tsar

You’d think by now I’d know better than to make snap judgments about an opera or a singer—but apparently not.