San Diego Opera's 60th Anniversary La bohème sees Mimì as a ghost
Reviews
Calgary Opera launches 50th Anniversary Season with gritty take of Bizet’s Carmen
ReviewCarmen was born in the wrong century,” says Chaieb. “She’s no queen, she doesn’t come from a family with a lot of money. But Carmen has power and decisiveness. And she is the only character from the beginning to the end of the opera who doesn’t change who she is and how she expresses herself.”
Calls From Two Worlds
ReviewBoth The Telephone and The Medium end with an unexpected turn and so the two operas result in a night of surprises.
A contemplative reflection on Dichterliebe in Love In The Time Of…
ReviewNajmi’s tender, sensitive reading of Dichterliebe is worth the price of admission all on its own: I dare say that his Dichterliebe might easily rival the performances of some of the great Lieder singers of the 20th century.
Everything For Dawn: EiO premieres new opera-serial on WNET Group’s All Arts streaming service
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A confused concept: Pearl Fishers in Vancouver
ReviewThe projections describe how the librettists and composer themselves had never visited "Ceylon" (currently Sri Lanka) nor knew about the culture, and were writing from a place of ignorance. Then the curtain rises on the chorus, sets, costumes, and the opening in the tropical setting full of palm trees.
“Electric and exciting”: Edmonton Opera launches 2022-23 season with Puccini’s Tosca
ReviewOn October 22, Edmonton Opera launched what it describes as an “electric and exciting” 2022-23 season with one of Giacomo Puccini’s well-known dramas: Tosca.
Show stealers in Enigma Chamber Opera's Prodigal Son
ReviewThe attention to detail in the characterizations extended to everyone else afterwards, as well. Matthew DiBattista brought a certain hesitancy to the Younger Son that made him endearing, even when he sang more confidently.
Sproule sings a rich, effortless Carmen in Victoria
ReviewPacific Opera Victoria’s season opener for 2022 is Carmen, taking a traditional look at a very traditional opera, but with a few excellent updates.
Carmen doesn't quite commit at Lyric Opera of Kansas City
ReviewI wasn't sure where Jackson's interpretation lands on the scale of "bad girl", which was the main tag the company used in advertisements. On one hand, there was an impressively choreographed fight in the beginning between Carmen and another factory girl, where we saw Carmen's aggression.
La bohème reliable as ever, even in reverse
ReviewIt is surprising how little effectiveness Puccini's score loses when performed in reverse order, and the score still lands each emotional beat even when the context feels radically different.