OPERA

by Richard Sasanow - May 13, 2025

There’s an old expression, “A lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client.” While John Adams didn’t decide to take on the libretto for his latest opera, Monday night’s Met premiere, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, all on his own, I wonder whether he might have bypassed the one resource that might have ...

by Erica Miner - May 12, 2025

Ending the season with a memorable production of one of opera’s most tour de force masterpieces is sure to motivate audiences to return for Seattle Opera’s next season...

by Richard Sasanow - May 07, 2025

By definition, the historical view of the oratorio is that it’s typically religious in nature, performed unstaged and without costumes or scenery. Going by that description, The Oratorio Society of New York’s (OSNY) program at Carnegie Hall this week—a combination of contemporary and classical works...

by David Friscic - May 07, 2025

An evening of the myriad modes of music that constitute the American Experience was celebrated at the Kennedy Center’s production of American Rhapsody. The evening was a rich treasure trove of the glory that is American music from opera, spirituals, modern composers, classic songwriters, and Broadwa...

by Steve Callahan - May 06, 2025

A rich and lively production of an Ibsen classic--with Grieg's full instrumental music. The St. Louis Symphony, with director Stéphane Denève, interpret Grieg’s music with their usual perfection.  All in all it’s a memorable presentation of a very great work of music and theater....

by Roger Catlin - May 05, 2025

It’s not so strange, really, that there’s  a serious opera about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. His life’s work is usually invoked before every production of the last decade or more, when audiences are asked to silence their smartphones....

by Gary Naylor - May 04, 2025

Super show that lightens a very dark subject (corecive control), but does not diminish it...

by Richard Sasanow - April 30, 2025

Even without an over-the-top production—and the Met has had a couple of those—Richard Strauss’s SALOME has been outraging audiences for more than 120 years. This week’s new take by director Claus Guth in his Met debut was no exception....

by Richard Sasanow - April 29, 2025

When we last saw Brunnhilde in Atlanta, in the second segment of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, DIE WALKURE, she’d been punished by the gods for saving Sieglinde, but rescued by her father, Wotan. She was forced into sleep on a rock surrounded by a ring of fire, until wakened some day by a hero. Ta-da...

by Sarah Dussome - April 14, 2025

For many Edmontonians, the Telus World of Science evokes fond childhood memories. Until April 15, one of the museum’s most beloved features- the Zeidler Dome- lights up with Edmonton Opera’s dazzling sold-out production, Aquarius: Songs of the Stars. The Zeidler Dome- a digital theatre famous for it...