Pountney's oversimplified War and Peace

Review

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.

Opera on the Lake makes charismatic debut with Die Fledermaus

Review

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.

Unique venue makes for a fresh Così fan tutte

Review

I really liked Ms. Manich's bold choice at the end of having the sisters have suitcases in hand ready to leave. Just as the music ends the women make eye contact with their former fiancés, and they freeze.

Decadence at DMMO: Bon Appetit!

Review

At the end of the performance, the audience was served the very chocolate cake depicted in the opera, bringing the experience full circle. A decadent finish to a decadent evening.

Solid & subtle direction in WTO's Ariadne auf Naxos

Review

On Friday, July 19, Wolf Trap Opera opened their second opera of their summer season with Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. An opera within an opera is always a difficult feat in my opinion, and the creative team made it an entertaining and comical evening.

Talking with singers: Rihab Chaieb

Interview

"I've started listening back to my metal band that I was in during high school. That's the whole reason I started signing, is to be in a metal band. I had this nostalgia of going back and starting a band again. It's something in the back of my mind as a mid-30s project: create a metal band and tour the world after being an opera singer!"

Upcoming of note: Opera hits in BC & Henry VIII in Boston

Editorial

On the opposite coast, Boston-based Odyssey Opera is set to offer its latest in opera's under-performed masterpieces. Saint-Saëns' 1883 opera, Henry VIII, centres on the famed love triangle between the Tudor king, his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and his soon-to-be second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Talking with composers: Jonathan Dove

Interview

"I don't try to write anything down until it's already quite a long way to being finished in my mind. Before that, I just keep playing (piano or keyboard) until I have an idea that seems to have a future, and then follow where it leads."

Elvis Costello's The Juliet Letters versatile & imaginative

Review

The staging and direction of this song cycle by Cara Gabriel was versatile and imaginative. The singers moved seamlessly between songs. I had absolutely no idea what the music would sound like, and I was pleasantly surprised. There were some minimalist crunchy 20th-century moments, but overall the melodies were beautiful and catchy. Some sounded very operatic, and some had a flower child, Simon and Garfunkel vibe.

An ambiguous Turn of the Screw at Garsington Opera

Review

This beautiful period production of Britten's The Turn of the Screw, directed by Louisa Muller, is no exception. The newly and rather cleverly built Opera Pavilion borrows from Japanese architecture, creating a space which ambiguously walks the line between the indoor and the outdoor.