A divided duty A divided duty

Rodrigo is a ball-breaking role, but Lawrence Brownlee makes the demands sound easy—tossing in additional high notes and audaciously decorating cabalettas as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

on September 24, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Grand passion Grand passion

Reunited and it feels so good!

on May 01, 2022 at 8:27 AM
A Philly that is ready for the race A Philly that is ready for the race

As we continue to watch the world of live performance come cautiously back to post-COVID levels, I felt the greatest surge of joy so far when I saw Opera Philadelphia’s announcement of their 2022-23 season—and most especially, the reboot of Festival O.

on March 16, 2022 at 9:43 AM
I want your Rex I want your Rex

Opera Philadelphia’s return to the stage after two years was greeted by a cheering crowd who clearly would have been happy to stay longer, but as director David Devan acknowledged, this was a step in a continuing trajectory.

on January 24, 2022 at 9:30 AM
The ‘Drama’ you’ve been craving The ‘Drama’ you’ve been craving

Opera is back, baby, and it’s good to be home!

on May 06, 2021 at 3:34 PM
One little soldier One little soldier

Take it as a high compliment to the harrowing, riveting Soldier Songs that I was grateful it lasted only one hour. My nerves couldn’t have handled more.

on January 23, 2021 at 3:49 PM
Friend me a tenor Friend me a tenor

A particularly heartbreaking aspect of the pandemic shutdown has, of course, been helplessly watching rising artists have their careers plunged into indefinite silence. But for a few bold souls who are willing to try new things, the moment has also opened doors.

on October 26, 2020 at 2:52 PM
Brimming with life Brimming with life

I’ve heard starrier performances, but none that made a more powerful case for this masterwork.

on February 04, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Thus let few thanks be paid Thus let few thanks be paid

Kudos to Opera Philadelphia for programming Handel’s Semele in its exceptionally interesting and wide-ranging Festival 2019; unfortunately, despite an extraordinary cast, James Darrah’s drably dull production doomed it.

on September 23, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Total ellipse Total ellipse

Employing the most slimly elegant resources, Festival O’s Denis & Katya is a monumental, dramatically shattering event.  

on September 21, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Tales of the citrus Tales of the citrus

Opera Philadelphia’s Love of Three Oranges is never less than extravagantly entertaining theater.

on September 21, 2019 at 11:09 AM
Pigment of the imagination Pigment of the imagination

It’s a wonderful idea to cast Bohème with young singers, and these delivered astonishingly assured, confident, mature performances.

on April 28, 2019 at 12:17 PM
They love a piano They love a piano

It’s difficult to reconcile what Schlather writes with what we see onstage, which is a jumble not only of pianos, but of periods and concepts.

on March 11, 2019 at 11:04 AM
Dream a little ‘Dream’ Dream a little ‘Dream’

It may have taken 28 years to see Robert Carsen’s production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the U. S., but it was worth waiting for.

on February 12, 2019 at 4:38 PM
Dark shadows Dark shadows

Those who want a rethought Lucia to allow the heroine more sense of agency will be especially confounded at Laurent Pelly’s reading.

on September 24, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Touch the sky Touch the sky

It would be hard to imagine a more apt and poignant metaphor for the ambitious O18 Festival than the world premiere of Lembit Beecher and Hannah Moscovitch’s Sky on Swings. 

on September 21, 2018 at 9:38 AM
Thank you for smoking Thank you for smoking

How do you like your Carmen? Mezzo or soprano? Flirtatious? Confrontational? Smolderingly sexy?

on April 28, 2018 at 11:48 AM
Stop the wedding Stop the wedding

Opera Philadelphia ended its season with Le Nozze di Figaro, Friday, and it will play May 3, 5, and 7—a matinee. Figaro is considered by most to be one of the few perfect operas and although it’s perhaps too easily encountered in routine run-throughs, there are usually rewards in seeing it. 

on May 02, 2017 at 10:55 AM
The opposite of sax The opposite of sax

Opera Philadelphia announced today that Lawrence Brownlee has joined the company as an Artistic Advisor.

on March 30, 2017 at 12:35 PM
Death becomes him Death becomes him

Tancredi, given on February 10th, was a credit to Opera Philadelphia, who offered a well-considered and compelling production.

on February 13, 2017 at 8:05 AM
Geopolitics Italian style Geopolitics Italian style

How Verdi’s opera might address this particular nightmare was unclear.

on September 29, 2016 at 2:10 PM
New waves New waves

Missy Mazzoli, a 36-year-old composer from Brooklyn, has created the most startling and moving new American opera in memory.

on September 26, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Birdsong Birdsong

In Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, an opera based on the famed jazz musician’s life, the title character asks, “So if there is a God, why does the negro suffer? Is my prayer, my music lesser, smaller in God’s eyes?”

on April 02, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Say it with music Say it with music

Capriccio was a great pleasure on Friday night, March 4. This was a co-production of Opera Philadelphia and The Curtis Institute, presented in the intimate Pearlman Theater at the Kimmel Center.

on March 09, 2016 at 10:00 AM