Grand, if overlong, Henry VIII

Review

Of course, when the music found its dramatic stride, Saint-Saëns could deliver the drama in spades.The septet (actually an octet) that closed Act II made me wonder why it was cut to begin with, for it's the perfect musical climax to the second act.

Burlesque meets opera: OperaTease

Review

I longed for more of this full integration of the two art forms, the burlesque and opera were truly crossing paths in this entertaining act.

A Lucretia rich in symbolism from Journey North Opera

Review

The Male Chorus (sung fiercely and with crystal clear diction by tenor Wesley Frye) was dressed as half man half stag. The Female Chorus, played by lyric soprano Amy Wolf was a more feminine version and also had antlers. The head pieces were quite ornate.

An audible huff of awe and amusement: Maria Callas in Concert

Review

Coming into this concert, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. Coming out of it, however, I felt a rekindled appreciation for Callas as a stage artist.

The Beast steals the show in world premiere of Beauty's Beast

Review

In this version, the Beast only has a year to earn the love of a woman, or his heart will stop. It's an interesting twist on the tale, that adds a sense of immediacy to the love story.

Stars of Lyric Opera: a cheery season preview at Millennium Park

Review

The night's program veered amiably from operatic hits and season teasers to some truly deep cuts of the repertoire, like Fernand's aria from Donizetti's rarely-performed La favorite, gamely sung by the always-appealing, always spot-on Lawrence Brownlee.

Projecting on opera: Oper Frankfurt's Radamisto in revival

Review

Then the production succumbs to another tired trope in an attempt to solve the problem of too little too late. Tiridate slits everyone's throat in the midst of their celebratory epilogue as if to ask: is it still opera if no one dies?

Don't miss: Journey Opera North's bold inaugural production

Review

In a preview on Monday, the company showed an impressive cast of young local talent and a very thoughtful premise for the controversial show. The company has also included a violence and intimacy director in the production - a presence that, hopefully, will some day be a regular credit in programs.

Little room for creativity in Font's WTO Barber

Review

This was a co-production with multiple opera houses around the world, including Houston Grand Opera and Opera Australia. As usual, the individuals in the company were top notch vocally, but unfortunately the production over all fell flat.

A freshly mixed bag at Tête-à-Tête's Opera Festival

Review

What I like about The Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival is that it is always a mixed bag. It is an incredibly liberating thing to watch so many creative performers and theatre-makers experiment with the limitations of the form.