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Reviews, Stage Reviews

New York City Opera 2018-19 Review: Dear Erich

https://operawire.com/new-york-city-opera-2018-19-review-dear-erich/

On Jan. 9, 2019, the New York City Opera proudly presented the 35th world premiere in the company’s history, Ted and Lesley Rosenthal’s “Dear Erich,” at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The jazz opera tells the story of Erich, a young man who emigrates the United States right as Hitler rises to power in {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Manhattan School of Music 2018-19 Review: `I Due Timidi´& `Suor Angelica´

https://operawire.com/manhattan-school-of-music-2018-19-review-i-due-timidi-suor-angelica/

The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) showcased two one-act operas this past fall in its newly renovated Neidorff-Karpati Hall that set the bar high for an exciting season ahead. First Up, Rota The first opera, Nino Rota’s “I Due Timidi” was the perfect choice of scenery to have on display for the new stage. Scenic Designer Lee Savage showcased an {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Interview: Tenor Stephen Costello’s Debut Double-Header

https://operawire.com/tenor-stephen-costellos-debut-double-header/

What’s a nice guy like the 2009 Richard Tucker Award-winner Stephen Costello to do when playing a character known for anger issues and a jealous streak a mile wide? Go for sympathy, make the audience empathize with “a lost person with a good heart.” That’s what Costello did for his role debut as Don José in the Dallas Opera production {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Opéra de Lille 2018-19 Review: Rodelinda

https://operawire.com/opera-de-lille-2018-19-review-rodelinda/

Even by usual standards of patently implausible baroque opera plots, “Rodelinda” reaches new heights of Delphic abstruseness. William Hartston in the London Express described Handel’s 19th opera as “everyone wanting to marry or kill everyone else.” Regardless of Hartston’s hyperbole, confusion certainly abounds. A Penelope-esque wife erroneously thinks her husband is dead not once, but twice. The two principal protagonists {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Hungarian State Opera 2018 Tour Review: Mario and the Magician & Bluebeard’s Castle

https://operawire.com/hungarian-state-opera-2018-tour-review-mario-and-the-magician-bluebeards-castle/

As the Hungarian State Opera continues its New York tour at Lincoln Center, the second night saw a double feature of performances from Hungarian composers: “Mario and the Magician” by Janos Vajda, and “Bluebeard’s Castle” by  Bela Bartok. What followed was an enthralling showcase of the talents of the company, wherein the artists powerfully brought to life the methods, and {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Interview: Soprano Deanna Breiwick On Dealing With the Currency of the Human Heart

https://operawire.com/interview-soprano-deanna-breiwick-on-dealing-with-the-currency-of-the-human-heart/

Soprano Deanna Breiwick has been around music and performance her entire life. She comes from a family of musicians and vocalists. She sang her first studio recital at age five, began as a classical harpist at age seven, and was let loose on Italian arias by age 14. Her first opera production was “Dialogues des Carmélites” at age 21 and {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Beijing Music Festival 2018 Festival Review: Orfeo

https://operawire.com/beijing-music-festival-2018-festival-review-orfeo/

Over the past decade, opera has evolved with many composers experimenting and infusing new ideas into the art form. That was what Fay Kueen Wang and Zou Shuang did when they created the new work “Orfeo.” The work, which was promoted as an “immersive opera,” had its world premiere at the Beijing Music Festival and the results were visually gorgeous {…}