Dad, I’m seria Dad, I’m seria

Sir Simon Rattle and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra strike (almost) all the right notes in their new recording of Mozart’s Idomeneo.

Settling scores Settling scores

Tobias Kratzer digs beneath the surface of Strauss‘s Intermezzo in an excellent new DVD from Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Doublet trouble Doublet trouble

A messy new I puritani at the Met is a historic and historical disappointment.

The offal truth The offal truth

“Call me traditional, but I want to see a silver platter!”

O stars of wonder, stars of night O stars of wonder, stars of night

A starry (and potentially annual) Christmas gala lights up Carnegie Hall.

Reduce, reuse, recycle Reduce, reuse, recycle

Global warming meets the cool factor in The Seasons.

<em>Contes</em> stop won’t stop <em>Contes</em> stop won’t stop

Juan Diego Flórez and Damiano Michieletto concoct an absinthe-fueled fever dream in a new DVD from The Royal Ballet and Opera and Opusarte.

Life in the Faust lane Life in the Faust lane

Théâtre de l’Athénée Louis-Jouvet mounts a raucous production of Hervé’s Le petit Faust. 

Better the devil you know Better the devil you know

America’s own Faust gets a compelling operatic treatment, courtesy of DC’s IN Series

Capital punishment Capital punishment

A patchy production and musical performance can’t dull the edge of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at the Komische Oper Berlin

Saint-Ex marks the spot Saint-Ex marks the spot

Washington National Opera’s holiday presentation of The Little Prince, based on the classic French novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, showcased the company’s Cafritz Young Artists

I listen to the wind of my soul I listen to the wind of my soul

Washington Concert Opera began its 39th season last month with Christoph Willibald Gluck’s late masterpiece Iphigénie en Tauride.

When Pushkin comes to shove When Pushkin comes to shove

An incoherent production of Ruslan and Lyudmila at the Hamburg State Opera may dispense with the fantastical, but Glinka‘s magic remains.

Old friends, new friends Old friends, new friends

Les Arts Florissants present two ravishing programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan. 

Now I’m an old believer Now I’m an old believer

Big voices overwhelm Claus Guth‘s toothless staging of Khovanshchina at the Berlin Staatsoper.

<i>Carmen</i>, again? <i>Carmen</i>, again?

Gulfshore Opera’s vigorous production of Carmen answers a familiar question.

Psyché’d up Psyché’d up

It would be difficult to find a better description for Ambroise Thomas’s newly-recovered Psyché, recently heard in a new recording from Palazzetto Bru Zane, than the one uttered by her suitors: “Charmante Psyché!”

All the fine young cannibals All the fine young cannibals

Offenbach‘s Robinson Crusoé is salvaged from obscurity. 

Mezzo in the dark Mezzo in the dark

It is a physical pleasure to hear Kate Lindsey at close quarters.

Scenes from a revolution Scenes from a revolution

This isn’t an opera that touches on queer themes; it’s a bundle of queer themes tied up in an opera.”

Form over function Form over function

A consideration of Anika Kildegaard’s extraordinary recital in Philadelphia—and the oddity of recitals themselves. 

Paris is always a good idea Paris is always a good idea

Though perhaps showing its age, a storied production of La bohème nonetheless makes a welcome return to the Los Angeles Opera

Get in the zone Get in the zone

Tamara Wilson and Stanislas de Barbeyrac are the standouts in Calixto Bieito’s underwhelming Die Walküre in Paris

Shades of gray Shades of gray

MasterVoices presents a strongly-cast Sweet Smell of Success—but the merits of this noir musical are hardly black or white.