Girlhood, interrupted Girlhood, interrupted

Erin Wall was an elegant, warm, and sensitive Arabella.

White people problems White people problems

How on Earth will these fictitious luminaries of turn-of-the-century Swedish society keep their clothes clean?

Turandon’t Turandon’t

From the perspective of current identity politics, Puccini’s Turandot is a disaster of epic proportions.

‘Wunder’ of wonders ‘Wunder’ of wonders

Opera Vlaanderen opened its 2017-18 season with a rare staging of Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane.

I love you to death I love you to death

New York fans of 17th century Italian vocal music should be rejoicing this month.

Diver gent Diver gent

Georges Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles has been knocking steadily at the door of the standard repertoire now in this country for quite some time.

Plus a little jest Plus a little jest

Verdi’s Rigoletto returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago, a rousing performance both musically and dramatically.

Sgombra è la sacra megaplex Sgombra è la sacra megaplex

I suspect that David McVicar’s new production of the Metropolitan Opera’s Norma had its most congenial showing as a totality, specifically in the HD format at the movie theater.

The love that dare not yawp its name The love that dare not yawp its name

Matthew Aucoin’s Crossing depicts Walt Whitman’s experience serving wounded soldiers in a DC infirmary and chronicles the period’s tragic effects.

A voice that must be heard A voice that must be heard

At the center of the Met’s revival of Puccini’s La bohème, one found the rich and layered talent of Angel Blue.

As time goes on, I realize just what you mean to me As time goes on, I realize just what you mean to me

There is a slight chill in the air during the final minutes of La Traviata.

Outside this house Outside this house

The 55th New York Film Festival presented the world premiere of Susan Froemke’s marvelous new documentary The Opera House in a special one-time-only screening at the Metropolitan Opera. 

Dark matter Dark matter

In Schikaneder’s patriarchal cosmology, darkness is the province of emotional women—not just the erratic fury of the Queen of the Night, but the pathetic supplications of Pamina as well.

You were dead, you know You were dead, you know

Lyric Opera of Chicago opened its 2017-18 season on Saturday evening with a new production of Gluck’s Orphee et Eurydice in the 1774 Paris version.

Better call Gaul Better call Gaul

Bellini’s Norma Monday evening didn’t at all improve on the production it was replacing.

Star and garters Star and garters

No amount of scholarly diligence has kept Les contes d’Hoffmann from being the messiest of all standard-repertory messes.

Py shy Py shy

This black-box recital was an aggressively Gallic affair

Triumphal Arc Triumphal Arc

Tchaikovsky’s Orleánskaia Djeva (The Maid of Orleans) kicked off Odyssey’s Opera’s fifth season

Divine intervention Divine intervention

The second half of Warner Classics’ Maria Callas Live Remastered set represents the years 1954 to 1964 in the career of La Divina.

Divinity, restored Divinity, restored

All the daring and imagination of La Divina’s live work, particularly in the early years, is revealed in Warner Classics’ Maria Callas: The Live Recordings.

Carmen denominator Carmen denominator

When you attend a performance of Georges Bizet’s Carmen you can never be quite certain which one you’re in for.

Seriously? Right in front of Mycenae? Seriously? Right in front of Mycenae?

You’ve got your “Night in the Museum,”and your “It’s All In Her Head” and your “Pantomimes of Childhood Trauma” and that’s all before halftime.

Celeste graffiti Celeste graffiti

Aida certainly has its longueurs.

This is a man’s world This is a man’s world

Brian Jagde‘s creative and charismatic Calaf was almost enough to make up for his counterpart Martina Serafin’s distant portrayal of Turandot.