She too She too

Like most directors of this opera this century, David Alden is keen to outline the helplessness of women in the face of 19th century patriarchy.

Murder on the orientation express Murder on the orientation express

Rufus Wainwright is determined to offer a spectacle and that intention overrides all other considerations.

A past recaptured A past recaptured

The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players (NYGASP to its friends) is giving Sullivan’s most operatic score a dusting off (or should one say dusting-up?) at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College.

Have I got a girl for you Have I got a girl for you

I was floored to find that Company with a female protagonist, at least in Marianne Elliott’s West End production, is a better and more complete show than original recipe Company.

Atonement Atonement

Sondra Radvanovsky changed my opinion of her through a single performance—I’ll never think of her the same way again; the power of her singing overwhelmed my previous impressions.

Master peace Master peace

With Liber scriptus came the biggest discovery for me, the vocal talent of Elena Stikhina.

Dishonored in the breach Dishonored in the breach

Uneven operas, like Verdi’s Ernani, which just recently finished its Scala run, more often work as theatre on the micro level than the macro.

Cornet and clouds Cornet and clouds

Earlier this month I got the opportunity to sample two very different Baltic operas.  

Bland date Bland date

With a program of Schumann, Wagner, Ravel and de Falla, mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca and pianist Kevin Murphy delivered a underdone performance at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday night.

Magic mike Magic mike

Isn’t it nice to know a lot? And a little bit not.

Whiskey tango foxtrot Whiskey tango foxtrot

I really cannot exaggerate the extent to which I truly did not know what was going on in New York City Opera’s production of Maria de Buenos Aires.

Beyond the sea Beyond the sea

Those readers who know my musical tastes will not be shocked to find that I have a somewhat conflicted view of Mozart’s operatic works.

Hello again, Gorgeous! Hello again, Gorgeous!

It’s high time we see Funny Girl through a different lens.

Truth, force Truth, force

I hardly know where to heap my praise first.

The beautiful doom is empty The beautiful doom is empty

The Met is on it with something something woker than woke: a noirish psychodrama of a frigid hysteric who seeks redemption via Freudian analysis!

Best in snow Best in snow

Lyric Opera of Chicago resumed its season on Wednesday evening with the new-to-Chicago production of Puccini’s perennial audience pleaser La bohème.

Back in black Back in black

He returned. He sang. He didn’t get hanged. 

Coming out Coming out

Beautiful singing, thoughtful staging, lovely melodies… a perfect escape from daily life.

The fantastics The fantastics

“Berlioz Takes a Trip” proclaimed the free psychedelic buttons available at Carnegie Hall Monday referring to Symphonie Fantastique,the evening’s surefire crowd-pleaser.

Original sin Original sin

This new production of the 1847 original version of Verdi’s first stab at Shakespeare features the extraordinary performances of Luca Salsi and Anna Pirozzi as the Thane of Cawdor and his merry wife.

All is forgiven All is forgiven

Why do we go to the opera? Because the world needs a reminder of the power of forgiveness, particularly in these dark and gloomy times!

Automaton poem Automaton poem

With only a few weeks left to slice up our pumpkins and track down the perfect Luigi for our Mario, the timing seems right for a pair of Gothic operas set in a crypt. 

Trouble in paradise Trouble in paradise

Although Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti is always categorized as an opera, the piece certainly has one foot planted firmly in his jazzy musical-theater style.

Magnificent seven Magnificent seven

Even for a medium that often trades in high-impact visuals, The Mile-Long Opera is dazzling to look at.