Variations on salon themes Variations on salon themes

In French opera—until Pelleas et Mélisande anyway—there is always a great deal of dance; often, dance rather than song is the main event.

on June 01, 2023 at 12:44 PM
Die Frist ist Glum Die Frist ist Glum

This Holländer offers neither a clear narrative vision for the work nor a sense of turbocharged drama; it simply sits on the Met’s cavernous stage as a dull gray mass.

on May 31, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Candid theatricality Candid theatricality

Out of sheer morbid curiosity last evening I pulled up the “orders” page of my Amazon account and searched Otello to discover that over the past 11 years. I’ve ordered 15 items with that title (one as recently as last night!)

on May 31, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Distinctly human Distinctly human

In the five short years that I’ve been in New York, I have seen that crusty old Franco Zeffirelli production of La bohème more times than I can count on one hand. And there are certainly times when that peeling mise-en-scène really shows its age.

on May 30, 2023 at 11:45 AM
Pretty poison Pretty poison

The wicked poisoner showed herself in fine form, full of purple passion and lusty music-making that would gladden the heart of any bel canto enthusiast or opera lover in general. 

on May 27, 2023 at 2:34 PM
Cloak and dagger Cloak and dagger

The opera took place on an actual boat: the Lightship Ambrose in the South Street Seaport.

on May 25, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Crazy extremes Crazy extremes

Simon McBurney’s Die Zauberflöte, the second new production of the Met’s May Mozart Miracle, opened on Friday to rousing near-unanimous cheers.

on May 24, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Creature of the stage Creature of the stage

Nina Stemme’s program guided her audience through a period of musical history that explores themes of love and mortality with texts that traverse emotional extremes.

on May 12, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Nervous system theater Nervous system theater

Like a sommelier of male entitlement, Peter Mattei paired with precision moves from a wide-ranging vocabulary of gesture.

on May 08, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Calling all fairies! Calling all fairies!

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe, presented at Carnegie Hall this past Wednesday by MasterVoices, is a charming rom-com that pits the feminine world of nature against masculine government with unabashedly silly and utterly delightful results.

on May 06, 2023 at 2:53 PM
I’ll remember April I’ll remember April

If April is the cruelest month, it may be that spring’s arrival brings far too many things to do and see.

on May 04, 2023 at 12:29 PM
A farewell to Frisell A farewell to Frisell

Old opera productions at the end of their performing life can be sad affairs. 

on May 02, 2023 at 11:28 AM
Coronations and other occasions Coronations and other occasions

While Charles III’s coronation (with Harry but without Meghan and Fergie) commences in London on Saturday, the party started early last month at Carnegie Hall when the Orchestra of St. Luke’s joined by La Chappelle de Québec performed Handel’s gloriously celebratory Coronation Anthems which were composed for a 1727 crowning.

on May 02, 2023 at 10:59 AM
Backwards runs ‘Bohème’ Backwards runs ‘Bohème’

Okay, let’s get the silly jokes out of the way first. Around our house, we’ve been referring to this alternately as Merrily We Bohemians Roll Along, or Emèhob Al. 

on May 02, 2023 at 10:20 AM
Kintsugi for Sugihara Kintsugi for Sugihara

“A Concert for Sugihara”—presented at Carnegie Hall by New York City Opera and The American Society for Yad Vashem on Wednesday, April 19—marked 80 years since the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

on April 27, 2023 at 1:27 PM
Pianist envy Pianist envy

How do you remember Oscar Levant?

on April 27, 2023 at 12:16 PM
Artists with enough ‘oomph’? Artists with enough ‘oomph’?

At all of these vocal contests, including this one, I find myself fascinated and perplexed by the same question: What exactly are the judges looking for?

on April 25, 2023 at 10:19 AM
Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan

This review attempts to capture my ecstatic reactions to Contra-Tenor, one of the greatest recordings I’ve ever heard.

on April 25, 2023 at 7:46 AM
A winner and new ‘Champion’ A winner and new ‘Champion’

To paraphrase Terence Blanchard’s Champion, what makes an opera an opera?

on April 11, 2023 at 3:22 PM
Arch types Arch types

What do you see when you look at Into the Woods? Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine‘s musical might serve as a kind of theatrical Rorschach test.

on April 07, 2023 at 12:23 PM
A dazzling range of colors A dazzling range of colors

I wish more sopranos programmed recitals like Fatma Said does.

on April 05, 2023 at 1:00 PM
I shall be released I shall be released

Welcome, beloveds, to the Jessye Norman Memorial Museum. I’ll be the docent for your tour today.

on April 04, 2023 at 10:37 AM
Slow simmer Slow simmer

This was by far my most satisfying experience with Pelléas et Mélisande for a multitude of reasons and I encourage anyone who’s even mildly curious to find their way to the Music Center for a very rich experience.

on March 30, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Preaching to the choir Preaching to the choir

Unfortunately, LOC’s Proximity works only fitfully. 

on March 30, 2023 at 10:22 AM