Aegean in place Aegean in place

Greek National Opera’s Medea in the ancient theater at Epidaurus is an intermittently rewarding exercise in nostalgia.

Come and Gandhi Come and Gandhi

Led by a mesmerizing Anthony Roth Costanzo, Satyagraha at the Paris Opera dispenses with historical particularities for something for more elusive.

Old friends, new friends Old friends, new friends

Les Arts Florissants present two ravishing programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan. 

Everything the light touches Everything the light touches

Vincent Lombardo pays poetic tribute to the 60-year-long career of Robert Wilson.

Neither fish nor fowl Neither fish nor fowl

Nigel Wilkinson reviews Kris Defoort‘s kaleidoscopic, unsettling new opera in Brussels.

It’s raining Mennonites It’s raining Mennonites

The music was at every point dramatically compelling, without seeming cheap or manipulative.

“Oh, thoughtless crew! Ye know not what ye do!” “Oh, thoughtless crew! Ye know not what ye do!”

One wonders whether an obsession with metrics and measurement has the potential to create arts organizations that are more preoccupied with finding systems that quickly and efficiently tick the Arts Council’s boxes than with creating meaningful, impactful art.

Truth, force Truth, force

I hardly know where to heap my praise first.

Back to the beach Back to the beach

Now it’s time to grab Albert Einstein for a lengthy swim.

Life is like a train Life is like a train

“In my music, there’s not repetition. Something is always going on.”

Something Aten! Something Aten!

Akhnaten, seen at the Los Angeles Opera on November 13 tells the story of the Pharaoh who abandoned traditional Egyptian polytheism.

Monotheism mit Marianne Monotheism mit Marianne

Philip Glass is indisputably one of the most prolific composers of the last half century, yet none of his more than 20 operas has found a place in the standard repertoire.

Glass warfare Glass warfare

Saturday’s Washington National Opera premiere of a new version of Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton’s Appomattox had everything going for it but the opera.

Night and dreams Night and dreams

At the Opernhaus Zürich, the coat check is not optional.

Canard als Gast Canard als Gast

This week’s canard is contributed in by the artistic director of Gotham Chamber Opera, Neal Goren.

Back to the Beach Back to the Beach

“Is a work an opera simply because its creators choose to call it one?”

Beyond the pale

“Hey the line forms, on the right dear / Now that Macheath’s back in town / You’d better lock your doors, and call the law / Because Macheath’s back in town.” So concludes Marc Blitzstein’s famous English translation of the song that opens Die Dreigroschenoper.

Dark year for NYCO?

UPDATE: La Cieca has just heard that the “dark season” is not a done deal just yet. The NYCO board meets next week to make that decision. (Given how late in the game this is, most likely the “decision” will be no more than a formality. But La Cieca will keep her ear to the…