Wien disposition Wien disposition

Following classic recordings documenting the work of Karl Böhm and Herbert von Karajan. Orfeo’s 150 Years Wiener Staatsoper box moves on to new releases that are seeing their first incarnation on an officially available disc.

Hamstrung by Maeterlinck Hamstrung by Maeterlinck

Whitney George’s music falls pleasingly upon the ear and is wittily scored for a small ensemble conducted by herself.

The boys of summer The boys of summer

“Trove Thursday” turns to a quintet of baritone/bass voices: Matthias Goerne, Simon Keenlyside, Georg Nigl, Thomas Quasthoff and René Pape performing works by Pfitzner, Sibelius, Adams, Martin and Schubert.

Dream a little dream of me Dream a little dream of me

“Who are you? Who do you want to be?” The search for one’s identity is explored in American composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s brand new opera If I Were You.

Under the silver lake Under the silver lake

“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?” went the introduction to the 1940s radio program The Shadow, an apt description for the San Francisco Opera’s production of Rusalka.

Nice nice baby Nice nice baby

“Tame” seemed to be the appropriate adjective to describe San Francisco Opera’s Carmen.

Kitchen confidential Kitchen confidential

Since 1985, from the Chicago Symphony at Carnegie Hall to the Welsh National Opera visiting BAM and from Chicago Lyric to New York City Opera to the Met, I’ve never encountered a bad Falstaff—or one that didn’t astound and delight me. 

Love of the earth Love of the earth

Claudio Abbado passed away on the 20th of January five years ago, just months before I began my Ph.D.

L’Heure exquise L’Heure exquise

Although she didn’t sing that eponymous song by Reynaldo Hahn at Weill Recital Hall Thursday evening, Sabine Devieilhe did offer an “exquisite hour” of early 20th century French songs.

House of the setting sun House of the setting sun

When a work is named for its lovers one might legitimately expect that pair to dominate its performance but in my experience that is never the case with Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.

A talent to a Muse A talent to a Muse

Use bodily force and get your friends to one of the next five performances of the Met’s new production of Adriana Lecouvreur. It is everything!

The good shepherd The good shepherd

L’Arlesiana in a vibrant live performance from a dozen years ago with Giuseppe Filianoti, Latonia Moore and Marianne Cornetti.

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.

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.

Tristan up close Tristan up close

Sunday, August 26, marked the inaugural performance for the newly-created The Claude Heater Foundation with a concert performance of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde in the Herbst Theatre. 

Dazed and confused Dazed and confused

Last weekend marked the opening night for West Edge Opera: Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.

Country matters Country matters

Stefan Herheim productions may be many things, but they’re always theatrical.

Women on the verge Women on the verge

“Trove Thursday” offers Così fan tutte with Pilar Lorengar, Josephine Veasey, Lucia Popp, Luigi Alva and Kieth Engen with Georg Solti conducting.

Medium cool Medium cool

Nico Muhly has set himself the task of presenting Winston Graham’s elusive heroine Marnie on the operatic stage.

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

The tendency to rank—to create subjective lists of best or greatest, or to organize things in ascending or descending order—is a human compulsion.

‘Wunder’ of wonders ‘Wunder’ of wonders

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

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.

Back to the beach Back to the beach

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

Apparition Apparition

There was a moment during Natalie Dessay’s performance of Schubert’s “Gretchen am Spinnrade” when the singer summoned the ghost of her former self.