Here, there, and everywhere Here, there, and everywhere

David Fox and Dan Johnson report on Yannick Nézet-Seguin‘s recent performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Philadelphia and New York.

O Say, Can You Kelsey O Say, Can You Kelsey

Baritone Quinn Kelsey’s recital of English-language art songs in partnership with pianist Craig Ketter was a worthy celebration of Vocal Arts DC’s 35th-anniversary season.

Tunnel vision Tunnel vision

Lise Davidsen, Michael Spyres, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin are astonishing in Tristan und Isolde at the Met, while Yuval Sharon‘s new production is anything but.

Back to school Back to school

Time to Act at Pittsburgh Opera effectively employs Greek tragedy to explore the all-too-common tragedies haunting schools across the United States.

Is this head kosher? Is this head kosher?

A captivating Asmik Grigorian leads the Bayerishce Staatsoper‘s revival of its Holocaust-set Salome. 

The Italian connection The Italian connection

American Bach brings out the operatic side of Bach in a program featuring sparkling vocal talents.

A passing mood A passing mood

Mascagni‘s Zanetto, a slight, Renaissance scene, gets a new recording from the Berlin Opera Group. 

Così così Così così

Despite some fine performances, Così fan tutte at the Livermore Valley Opera doesn’t quite click into place.

They do the sand dance, don’t you know? They do the sand dance, don’t you know?

Akhnaten has lost none of its power or glitz at the Los Angeles Opera.

Songs and snowbirds Songs and snowbirds

Will Liverman and Kiera Duffy brought an eclectic program to their jovial post-blizzard recital at Rhode Island College.

I’m likin’ this American boy I’m likin’ this American boy

Baritone John Brancy smoothly traverses the American songbook at Carnegie Hall. 

She’s no basic britch She’s no basic britch

Samantha Hankey’s Composer is the standout in the Wiener Staatsoper’s episodically sublime Ariadne auf Naxos revival.

Oh, Mary Jane! Oh, Mary Jane!

Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Grammy-winning Intelligence makes a largely successful East Coast debut at Virginia Opera.

Onegin, off again Onegin, off again

The Ralph Fiennes production of Eugene Onegin at the Paris Opera is just…fine.

For my next trick For my next trick

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under conductor Stéphane Denève plays up the schtick in a concert performance of The Magic Flute – and obscures Mozart’s magic in the process.

Dashed hopes Dashed hopes

Joyce DiDonato makes the most of Kevin Puts‘s trite new Emily Dickinson monodrama.

Agent orange Agent orange

That Trump opera at the Staatsoper Hamburg is lazy activism at its finest, we fear.

Diva down Diva down

An excellent Věc Makropulos at Opéra de Lille makes the case for the vitality and necessity of France’s regional companies.

Di qualità, di qualità! Di qualità, di qualità!

San Diego Opera presents a strongly directed and cast revival of Il barbiere di Siviglia. 

Was keinem in Worten ich künde Was keinem in Worten ich künde

In Modena, Teodor Currentzis‘s Ring ohne Worte foregoes words but not gimmickry.

Mother is mothering Mother is mothering

Marina Rebeka comes tantalizingly close to triumph in Cherubini’s Médée at Théâtre des Champs Elysées.

Baroque in the Bay Area Baroque in the Bay Area

Under the baton of Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale proves they have a magic touch in a program of Rameau and Handel.

A shtetl aesthetic A shtetl aesthetic

Austin Opera’s moving production of Fiddler on the Roof grounds itself in lived tradition, to great effect.

Americana, reconsidered Americana, reconsidered

Davóne Tines leads a thought-provoking program in San Francisco reconsidering patriotism, dissent, and spirituality as the United States faces down its quarter millennium crisis.