The sun shines nellie The sun shines nellie

Warmth, humor, and joyful out-and-proud-ness dominate the mood, yet there is considerable darkness in Taylor Mac’s view of both past and present.

Painful progress Painful progress

Many lessons surface in Tony Kushner’s epic Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.

Too cloistered for comfort Too cloistered for comfort

New Amsterdam Opera’s concert version of Donizetti’s elaborate score La favorita, offered energy, panache and several top-notch young soloists.

If it ain’t ‘Brokeback’ If it ain’t ‘Brokeback’

Between staging, music, and material, it’s hard to decide what feels most broken about New York City Opera’s American premiere of Brokeback Mountain.

Home run Home run

The Barber of Seville turned out to be the most overall solid production of the year and even a bit of old-fashioned fun.

I will remember you I will remember you

Whether full-bodied and rich or comic and actorly, the baritone voice contains multitudes.

Senza nube e senza vel Senza nube e senza vel

I attended the Sunday, May 13, performance with bittersweet anticipation.

Give ’em Hellman Give ’em Hellman

I mean, how often does one get to hear Bernstein’s gorgeous, rollicking, and varied score nursed by a full orchestra and the artistic resources of an opera company?

Misty salvation Misty salvation

Ah, finalmente!

“Tosca,” starring the Philadelphia Orchestra “Tosca,” starring the Philadelphia Orchestra

Though orchestrally lavish, this “semi-staging” delivers less theater than no staging at all.

Lovely and never violent Lovely and never violent

There was a lot expectation about the new opera by George Benjamin and Martin Crimp. Their previous collaboration, Written on Skin, was an enormous critical and public success,  earning the work a place in the exclusive club of 21th century classics with selected works by Saariaho, Heggie and Birtwistle. 

Meeting Rigoletto Meeting Rigoletto

I have a confession to make. I have been taking Rigoletto for granted.

When in Rome When in Rome

Mozart was barely sixteen when he wrote Lucio Silla to open the Carnival in Milan in 1772.

Love to love you baby Love to love you baby

Asking the musical question, “They say we know why the poor sleep three in a bed, but why do the rich?

Too much, too soon Too much, too soon

Heartbeat is, after all, a company that loves to tinker.

Pretty little lyres Pretty little lyres

While one sympathized with Matthew Aucoin’s urge to add his voice to the Orpheus canon it was difficult to figure out how his work complemented Gluck’s.

Sondra castle Sondra castle

By the end of the first act, it was clear to me that I was experiencing an artist performing at her absolute peak.

Twist of fate Twist of fate

The Verdi Chorus celebrated their 35th anniversary with their spring concert weekend entitled The Force of Destiny last Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

Unfair ‘Lady’ Unfair ‘Lady’

A revival of My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center makes a muddle of the show’s thoughtful elements and isn’t particularly funny either. 

Jesus hopped the L train Jesus hopped the L train

Just a few years back it would have been seen as ridiculous to put “Lyric Opera of Chicago” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the same sentence.

Thank you for smoking Thank you for smoking

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

Madness on the moors! Madness on the moors!

The new cast at the Met suggested an alliterative retitling of Lucia di Lammermoor was needed—perhaps Lost Loonies in Love or its Italian equivalent?

Songs of disappointment Songs of disappointment

b>Lawrence Brownlee, star tenor of stage and NFL games is a real “pillar of the community.”

Speaking ill of the dead Speaking ill of the dead

Plácido Domingo’s conducting reduced the score’s urgency to the lethargy of a jellyfish.