Big man in town Big man in town

A strong revival of Falstaff at the Los Angeles Opera proves a fitting farewell vehicle for Music Director James Conlon.

Conductors for the ages Conductors for the ages

In Munich, performances by 97-year-old Herbert Blomstedt and 32-year-old Thomas Guggeis show the city’s orchestral ensembles at their best

Singing from our chains Singing from our chains

There are two problems to address – problems of the sort the arts thrive on addressing.

Voce di donna o D’Angelo Voce di donna o D’Angelo

Her star is indeed on the rise, but squarely on her terms.

Atlantis in Atlanta Atlantis in Atlanta

“Once upon a time / Lived a foolish king. / Mocking Death, his crime, / Pure chaos he bring.”

Death, warmed over Death, warmed over

Kaiser Overall—the name is intended to be sung in English, though the opera is in German—is probably mad, though perhaps no madder than anyone else.

Unexpected ghost Unexpected ghost

Frustrated, perhaps, by the bulky requirements and dubious future of grand opera—and grand opera commissions—Benjamin Britten created some of his most intriguing and, nowadays, popular pieces for small casts and chamber orchestra.

Recovered, covered

In the process of unearthing forgotten musical works, sometimes we stumble across a gem.  World War II saw an entire generation of European composers forced into internment or diaspora, and their works are only slowly being rescued from obscurity. In a recent DVD release from the LA Opera, a part their Recovered Voices series, we…