Let’s face it: operatic comedy is extremely hard to pull off. When was the last time you saw a comic opera production that was truly, authentically funny? Australian stage director Lindy Hume came about as close as one can to achieving this in Seattle in 2016 with her outlandish “Le Comte Ory” (retitled for marketing purposes as “The Wicked Adventures {…}
On October 26, 2019, Christman Opera Company presented “An Afternoon of Music for HaitiChildren,” a fundraising concert hosted in the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. The program consisted of opera, musical theatre, featuring three new song composed by Theodore Christman from his upcoming musical “Unfolded,” which tells the journey of Susie Scott Krabacher, founder and CEO of HaitiChildren, in her efforts {…}
If stuffy audiences at the Opéra-Comique first attacked George Bizet’s “Carmen” for its offensive content, today the opera runs the risk of seeming antiquated. Much of the music might get your toes tapping, but over-exposure risks making the most popular tunes seem trite or even parodic. Today’s audiences might not appreciate the orientalist take on Spanish culture that was so {…}
(Credits: Vincent Pontet/ Opéra National de Paris) When I saw Krzysztof Warlikowski’s new production of my favorite Verdi’s opera “Don Carlos” online two years ago, I was deeply disappointed. Even a “dream cast” couldn’t save it for me. Growing in Russian theatres I believed the famed Chekhov expression that “if there’s a gun on stage, it should eventually shoot.” And {…}
When thinking about how we consume music these days, it is hard to question the fact that we live in a “Spotify World.” The famed subscriber service has dominated the online community with its access to a wide range of music of all kinds and from all places. But the reality is that nothing can be everything for everyone. For {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Editor’s Note: This review was a collaboration between David & Francisco Salazar. The Richard Tucker Gala is one of those nights that you circle on your opera calendar every single year. It’s everything people want from a high-end concert. Big stars in glamorous attire. A hallowed venue. And some of the greatest music ever written. In the {…}
(Photo: Patrick Redmond) The Irish National Opera continues to develop apace. Having been going for less than two years, the company has managed to produce a diverse range of operas that is able to shame more established companies. It could have been excused for playing safe in sticking with popular operas, but it has done no such thing: yes, it {…}
(Credit: Clive Barda) Internationally renowned baritone Christian Gerhaher sang Mahler on Tuesday evening at the Herbst Theater, San Francisco alongside noted German pianist Gerold Huber. It was intimacy in a public space, and superb. The range, the expressivity, the pairing of words, music, and thought encapsulated Mahler’s genius beautifully. We go to Mahler’s songs for an intimate exploration of life {…}
(Credit: E. Moreno Esquibel/ABO) On Oct. 19, 2020, the Bilbao Opera opened its 2019-20 season with Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lamermoor” in what was a complete success. With a strong cast, a simple but effective production, and the expertise of conductor Riccardo Frizza, the ABAO reminded audience members of the high standards and quality that the company can offer. “Lucia di {…}