Reviews

In transition, Boston Baroque's Don Giovanni shows very few bumps

In transition, Boston Baroque's Don Giovanni shows very few bumps

Boston Baroque's casting absolutely knocked it out of the park when it came to casting this particular production. It's a very rare time at the opera where I can say I feel everyone was memorable in their own way, but this performance had probably one of the best ensemble casts I've had the pleasure to watch.

Arturo Fernandez
Stellar singing and lots of swagger in Manitoba Opera's Carmen

Stellar singing and lots of swagger in Manitoba Opera's Carmen

For Carmen the opera to really succeed, you need an exceptional Carmen like Ms. Costa-Jackson.

Neil Weisensel
Fifties Futurism Figaro

Fifties Futurism Figaro

Their antics in act III were so funny that the music had to repeatedly pause because the audience was roaring with laughter.

Melissa Ratcliff
Surrealism in Spain: Pacific Opera Victoria's Ainadamar

Surrealism in Spain: Pacific Opera Victoria's Ainadamar

Akin to a photographic vignette, each 'image' is a static setting onstage with highly stylized scenery, projections, and costumes. While the imagery is visually lush and brilliant, it made the pacing extremely slow, with little on-stage action to complement the modern design.

Melissa Ratcliff
Vancouver Opera's Mod cats Don Pasquale

Vancouver Opera's Mod cats Don Pasquale

Vocally, Polese was triumphant, breezing through incredibly difficult coloratura with such skill that it looked effortless.

Melissa Ratcliff
Simplicity strikes a chord in BLO Anonymous Lover

Simplicity strikes a chord in BLO Anonymous Lover

This opera is a rather simple affair, where the entire storyline is 'Valcour loves Leontine and absolutely cannot spit it out until their mutual friends and a young peasant couple in love inspire him to do so', and… that's it.

Arturo Fernandez
Archibald shines in COC's whimsical, physical Vixen

Archibald shines in COC's whimsical, physical Vixen

While the direction was creative and clear for the most part, I felt the show was trying to tackle too many struggles in a way that I think somewhat detracted from what I assume the primary allegory is: the need for feminism.

Greg Finney
Thrilling debuts and stellar alumni in the COC's Don Giovanni

Thrilling debuts and stellar alumni in the COC's Don Giovanni

The set and design were a technical marvel. The massive stage was filled with a giant cube, with morphing walls and configurations set on a revolve. There seemed to be an endless amount of staircases.

Greg Finney
High notes and deep emotion: don't miss FGO's I pagliacci

High notes and deep emotion: don't miss FGO's I pagliacci

Together, Pulliam and Brown form a powerhouse duo, breathing life into the timeless narrative of I pagliacci.

Samuel Loetscher
López sings a nuanced Violetta in FGO's Traviata

López sings a nuanced Violetta in FGO's Traviata

Cecilia Violetta López's portrayal of Violetta Valéry was a _tour de force_. Her nuanced performance effortlessly traversed the character's emotional complexity, delivering a portrayal that was both vulnerable and powerful.

Samuel Loetscher

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