On Tuesday, Oct 29, 2019, John Jay College was host to the New York premiere of “Zauberland,” which comes as part of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival. This new work follows an unnamed young woman, forced to leave her native Syria and seek refuge in Germany, where she tries to resume her career as an opera singer. Described as “An {…}
(Credit: Paula Malone) In 1856, the 18-year-old Georges Bizet won joint first prize in a competition for an opéra comique to be played at Offenbach’s theatre, the Bouffes-Parisienes, with a one act operetta, “Doctor Miracle.” The work was premiered in 1857, received 11 performances, and was then forgotten until it was revived in 1951. Lasting around one hour, with a {…}
Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” is back at the Metropolitan Opera. It’s big, grand and a crowdpleaser thats gets reaction from the audience, particularly at the opening of Acts two and three. It’s well-known for its detailed, classic take on the opera and is the most staged production in the Met’s repertory. Since its premiere in 1981 the {…}
(Photos: Clive Barda) With a running time of about one hour 20 minutes, Rossini’s “Adina” is a little too short to justify presenting on its own, especially if the intention is to charge full ticket prices. But then, if it is going to be staged as part of a double bill, the question arises, with what? It is not as {…}
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 {…}
(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 {…}