Reviews

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Hannah De Priest
Projecting on opera: Oper Frankfurt's Radamisto in revival

Projecting on opera: Oper Frankfurt's Radamisto in revival

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?

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

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

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.

Callie Cooper
Little room for creativity in Font's WTO Barber

Little room for creativity in Font's WTO Barber

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.

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

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

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.

Alessia Naccarato
Site-specific & intimate: selections from Tête-à-Tête: The Opera Festival

Site-specific & intimate: selections from Tête-à-Tête: The Opera Festival

All senses were catered to as audience members were misted with fragrant water and touched softly by the performers while being whispered and sung to directly.

Alessia Naccarato
Pountney's oversimplified War and Peace

Pountney's oversimplified War and Peace

Writing an opera of this scale is not a simple charge and the task of producing it faces even more challenges; it is an immense work to attempt to pay homage to. There were a few magical, sparkling moments on stage that were completely true to the book, perfectly capturing the essence of Tolstoy's words.

Alessia Naccarato
Opera on the Lake makes charismatic debut with Die Fledermaus

Opera on the Lake makes charismatic debut with Die Fledermaus

Characters would regularly go and stand at the bar to the right of the stage and "hang out" while the action was happening. This made for a very relaxed, fun and interactive atmosphere. In the Prince's aria during the party scene, Falke brought up a random audience member to take part in the festivities.

Callie Cooper

Unlike other sites, we're keeping Schmopera ad-free. We want to keep our site clean and our opinions our own. Support us for as little as $1.00 per month.