Caitlyn Lynch

Co-Directors Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade's production of Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE as staged by the Houston Grand Opera is brilliant and astounding. From the incredible set and projection design to its clever staging and superb acting—this production is one that even a 'non-opera-goer' should attend. While the production is primarily in German, this is one of the most accessible operas for anyone and everyone. As far as it's concerned to this reviewer, you must make every attempt to attend this production.

Palm Beach Opera presents Mozart's iconic opera "Don Giovanni" through the modern lens of film noir in a stylistic production at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts for one weekend only, Feb. 22-24.

Palm Beach Opera presents Mozart's iconic opera "Don Giovanni" through the modern lens of film noir in a stylistic production at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts for one weekend only, Feb. 22-24.

English National Opera has been having a hard time with Don Giovanni lately. First there was Calixto Bieito's groggy, pastel-coloured nightmare (who could forget the pistachio leather dentist's chair), which paled into adequacy when compared to Rufus Norris's bafflingly unlovely (and just generally baffling) vision that followed. Richard Jones's new production is in no way a failure - there's far too much intelligence here for that, as well as more than one flash of utter brilliance - but it still feels like a show as yet not fully in focus. At his best Jones can make the most startlingly revisionist concept seem like it has always been staring you in face. Here his reading intrigues, compels, but never feels fully rooted in Mozart's music-drama.

Dark Sisters is a suspenseful, emotional, and lyrical depiction of one woman's struggle with life and faith and the universal dilemma of whether to stay or leave. The opera opens a window into the lives of Eliza and her sister wives, members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamous sect based in the southwestern United States. Creators Muhly and Karam have drawn inspiration from the crush of media attention surrounding two of the many raids on FLDS compounds (the 2008 raid at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, TX and the 1953 raid at Short Creek, AZ), as well as from the stories of the more than 80 wives of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

Tickets are now on sale for the World Premiere production of DARK SISTERS, composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam, conducted by Neal Goren, directed by Rebecca Taichman, and co-commissioned and co-produced by Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. DARK SISTERS will premiere from November 9-19,2011 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC. Tickets are $30-125 and are available at www.ticketcentral.com or by phone at 212-279-4200.

Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and the Opera Company of Philadelphia announce the commission of a new American opera, DARK SISTERS, composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam, conducted by Neal Goren, and directed by Rebecca Taichman.

Nashville Opera presents Giacomo Puccini's La bohème at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. Curtain for both performances is 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $17 in the Student Section to $80 in Premiere/Orchestra section, with a limited number of 'pay-what-you-can' tickets available directly from the Nashville Opera office. A free discussion of the work takes place one hour prior to curtain in the theatre.

Nashville Opera presents Giacomo Puccini's La bohème at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. Curtain for both performances is 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $17 in the Student Section to $80 in Premiere/Orchestra section, with a limited number of 'pay-what-you-can' tickets available directly from the Nashville Opera office. A free discussion of the work takes place one hour prior to curtain in the theatre.