Odyssey Opera's grand La reine de Saba a great season opener

Review

Odyssey Opera's work restored all of the finales of the middle three acts to their complete forms, with a note in the program adding that they believe most of the material they restored had never been heard prior to their performance. That this content was cut to begin with should come as an absolute shock: the restored content felt absolutely vital to how the work unfolds dramatically.

Brenda Rae earns her ovation in O18 Lucia

Review

As a musical force, opera is an art form that relies on the power of the unamplified human voice to move audiences. The voices of this cast undoubtedly provide the power to bring this opera to life. Whether you have never seen Lucia before, or you are a bel canto connoisseur, these vocalists and musicians make for a rewarding and awe-inspiring night at the opera.

Sky on Swings a must-see of O18

Review

The most captivating moments in the opera are those that involve only von Stade and Simpson together onstage. They create a sense of emotional intimacy and truth, by superb acting and unshakable presence. Their performance is the epitome of genuine artistry and truthful expression.

Psycho meets Sartre at the Nigredo Hotel

Review

Director Alan Corbishley describes Nigredo (blackening) as a process that ancient alchemists believed was necessary to create the Philosopher's Stone, and thus find immortality. In psychology, this process is a metaphor for the "dark night of the soul" that is necessary for a person to confront in order to reach acceptance of oneself.

Lyric Opera kicks off a starry season at Millennium Park

Review

The night's theme, (and requisite hashtag) #LongLivePassion was on-point — we were treated to some of opera's most impassioned moments from Puccini's beloved "O mio babbino caro" to the seductive "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Saint-Saën's Samson et Dalila. It was a glamorous, fun-filled night that featured the headliners of the Lyric's upcoming production of La Bohéme as well as four young artists from the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center.

A summer Mozart menu

Review

After such a substantial appetizer there was a reasonable interval before the entrée. It is at this point appropriate to mention the reconfiguration that Mostly Mozart brings to David Geffen Hall. The stage extends beyond the proscenium into the auditorium. Seating is placed at either side of the extended portions of the stage and, when a chorus isn't performing, behind it.

Relentlessly sinister: Rigoletto at Wolf Trap Opera

Review

The production, directed by Crystal Manich, is pretty standard as *Rigolettos* go, the Italian renaissance evoked in the costumes and scenery, and all the characters do what they always do - the Duke rapes, Rigoletto rages, Gilda falls foolishly in love, Sparafucile murders. There is an added element of surreal projections on the architectural set which proved more a distraction than an enhancement.

Swept away: Roméo et Juliette

Review

The contemporary setting didn't feel like a gimmick but a way to make the characters that much more relatable, and the overall effect was that of a John Hughes movie. Muller's approach gets teenagers and how they feel emotion so intensely that it can turn fatal in an instant.

Layered comedy: Flight

Review

What struck me most about this work by Jonathan Dove and April de Angelis is the intricate, layered nature of the music and text. I could see numerous performances of this opera and discover something new about it everything single time. Great comedy should make us think, and Flight provides plenty of food for thought.

Strange inside: The Tender Land

Review

The Maytag hosts clearly took the term "Iowa Nice" to heart. Free snacks and beverages were supplied prior to the performance, as well as pie and ice cream afterwards. The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly, and I could sense that the Newton community had enthusiastically embraced their first opportunity to host the opera.