Opera Profile: The Ever-Controversial ‘Death of Klinghoffer’

https://operawire.com/opera-profile-the-ever-controversial-death-of-klinghoffer/

“The Death of Klinghoffer” is one of the most controversial operas ever created. The work, written by librettist Alice Goodman and composer John Adams, had its world premiere on March 19, 1991, in Brussels, but upon appearing in NYC later that year, the work has been followed by major protests; it was initiated by Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer, the daughters {…}

Editorials, Special Features

3 Controversial Moments From Opera History

https://operawire.com/3-controversial-moments-from-opera-history/

(Credit: Marty Sohl) Throughout the entire history of opera, from its beginning in the Francophile 18th century to the American 21st, there have been numerous moments which stand out as having been controversial of their time and controversial even today due to the contentious nature of the events. If one looks to contemporary issues like Anna Netrebko’s alleged blackface while {…}

Special Features

The New Face Of Opera in ‘The Traction Project’

https://operawire.com/the-new-face-of-opera-in-the-traction-project/

(Photo credit: François Matarasso) When you think of opera, one imagines a beautifully finished product, usually disconnected from the labor involved in its creation. But what would happen if the labor to produce opera was just as foregrounded as the result of that labor? This question has been taken up in many forms over the last six to seven decades. {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: James Robinson on His New Production of ‘Galileo Galilei’ & Philip Glass

https://operawire.com/q-a-james-robinson-on-his-new-production-of-galileo-galilei-philip-glass/

Since 2008, James Robinson has served as the Artistic Director of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL). He has emphasized a great deal on bringing modern works to the company and has directed such operas as Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” and “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” John Adams’ “The Death of Klinghoffer,” Marc Blitzstein’s “Regina,” Jack Perla’s “Shalimar the {…}

News, Reviews, Stage Reviews

Teatro São Luiz 2024: Felizmente Há Luar

https://operawire.com/teatro-sao-luiz-2024-felizmente-ha-luar/

(Photo credit: ©EGEAC, José Frade – photographer ) An extraordinary new opera premiered last week at Lisbon’s historic Teatro São Luiz, called “Felizmente Há Luar!” (loosely translatable as “fortunately the moonlight still shines”) by the prolific Portuguese composer Alexandre Delgado. Commissioned by the Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa, this was the most significant national opera premiere in recent years, and perhaps the {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Metropolitan Opera 2023-24 Review: El Niño

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2023-24-review-el-nino/

(Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) Metropolitan Opera debuted John Adams’s “El Niño,” with libretto based on original sources by Peter Sellars and John Adams, to a sold out house of past, present, and future opera goers on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024. “El Niño” is unlike anything John Adams has done before and the historical timing of this debut is {…}

News

IN Series to Honor Peter Sellars at May 2 Gala

https://operawire.com/in-series-to-honor-peter-sellars-at-may-2-gala/

(Credit: Ruth Walz) IN Series has announced that it will honor director Peter Sellars during its 2024 Gala. The famed opera director will receive the first-ever June Jordan Award on May 2. The Award recognizes “living creative voices whose body of work reflects the poetic principles exuding the many writings, workings, wonderings of luminary poet and activist June Jordan.” Sellars {…}

Special Features

Trekking Through American Opera (Part Three)

https://operawire.com/trekking-through-american-opera-part-three/

Photo Credit: Cannupa Hanska Luger Throughout this new series, we will be looking at the history of American opera beginning in the 2000s to the present through a revisit of certain iconic works of the decade and OperaWire’s coverage of them throughout the 21st century. In part two, we looked at five operas that reflect the incredible change in operatic {…}