Reviews, Special Features, Stage Reviews

Pocket Opera 2018-19 Review: La Rondine

https://operawire.com/pocket-opera-2018-19-review-la-rondine/

Puccini’s “La Rondine” soared out of Berkeley’s Hillside Club Sunday afternoon, in full flight. Pocket Opera, under the artistic direction of Nicholas A. Garcia and music director David Drummond, gave voice to its bittersweet charm. With the Pocket Philharmonic tucked neatly upstage and the small cast of ardent singers weaving in and out of a petite and well-designed set, the {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Pocket Opera 2019 Review: The Two Widows

https://operawire.com/pocket-opera-2019-review-the-two-widows/

Pocket Opera’s “The Two Widows” was a treat. A Smetana rarity, Pocket Opera performed the work with gusto. The opening performance at Berkeley’s historic Hillside Club provided an intimate setting for this charming production directed by Nicholas A Garcia, Pocket Opera’s current Artistic Director. Donald Pippin’s English version of the original Czech libretto by Emanuel Züngel, aptly enhanced the music. {…}

News

Cape Town Opera Presents ‘A Pocket Magic Flute’

https://operawire.com/cape-town-opera-presents-a-pocket-magic-flute/

Cape Town Opera presents a bite-sized opera through the 40-minute film, “A Pocket Magic Flute.” The film geared towards children is an educational opera project by Pocket Opera that reimagines Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in Africa. “A Pocket Magic Flute”combines acting, animation, and opera. Music for the project came from African-American performers at Pocket Opera, alongside orchestral tracks by young {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Wexford Festival Opera 2026 Review: The Rose Of Castile

https://operawire.com/wexford-festival-opera-2026-review-the-rose-of-castile/

(Photo: Padraig Grant) Few people today will recognize the name of William Balfe’s 1857 opera “The Rose of Castile,” and for most of those who have, it is more likely to be thanks to James Joyce’s numerous references to it in “Ulysses.” Certainly, very few will have actually seen a production, unless, that is, they are regulars at the Wexford {…}

News, Season Announcement

Wexford Festival Opera Unveils 2027 Season

https://operawire.com/wexford-festival-opera-unveils-2027-season/

(Photo credit: Ger Lawlor Photography) The program for the 2027 Wexford Festival Opera is announced. Casting for main stage operas is underway. Main Stage Operas Rodula Gaitanou directs “Anna di Resburgo” by Carolina Uccelli and Gaetano Rossi is up first. Cordelia Chisholm is the set and costume designer. Sieva Borzak conducts. The opera is performed in Italian. Performance Dates: Oct. {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Metropolitan Opera 2026-27 Review: La Bohème

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2026-27-review-la-boheme/

(Photo: Karen Almond © Met Opera) Conductor Ramón Tebar made his Metropolitan Opera debut for this season’s opening night of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” The cast included a surprising addition as well—tenor Freddie De Tommaso as Rodolfo, who is also performing as Macduff in “Macbeth” this season. Altogether soprano Juliana Grigoryan as Mimì, soprano Rosa Feola as Musetta, baritone Hansung Yoo {…}

Editorials

Why I’m Retiring from Staged Opera at 43

https://operawire.com/editorial-why-im-retiring-from-staged-opera-at-43/

I am 43-years-old. My voice – a true bass, the kind this art form waits decades to mature – is at its peak. The instrument I spent my life building is finally, fully mine. Low notes that took years to settle and high notes that took a decade to secure. A career that carried me to national stages, and to {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Jordan Best & Lori Schulman on the Santa Cruz Opera Project

https://operawire.com/q-a-jordan-best-lori-schulman-on-the-santa-cruz-opera-project/

(Photos: courtesy of the artists) Chamber opera is growing in appeal. Not only with composers, such as Missy Mizzoli and Nico Muhly, but also with producers such as Pocket Opera and West Edge Opera looking for small and untraditional venues in which to present their work. Minimalist opera in small halls invariably attracts new, young, inquiring audiences and companies such {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Elizabeth Askren on Growing MaestraMagic! & Opera as a Comic Book

https://operawire.com/q-a-elizabeth-askren-on-growing-maestramagic/

(Photo credit: J. Kraemer) Following the release of the Spanish edition of MaestraMagic!’s comic book, “La Flauta Mágica,” Dr. Elizabeth Askren sat down with OperaWire to discuss this creative journey. The project started as part of Askren’s mixed-media edutainment show that she created with her daughter Lily during the lockdown in 2020. The English version and first edition of the {…}

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Pocket Opera 2018-19 Review: La Rondine

Pocket Opera 2019 Review: The Two Widows

Cape Town Opera Presents ‘A Pocket Magic Flute’

Wexford Festival Opera 2026 Review: The Rose Of Castile

Wexford Festival Opera Unveils 2027 Season

Metropolitan Opera 2026-27 Review: La Bohème

Why I’m Retiring from Staged Opera at 43

Q & A: Jordan Best & Lori Schulman on the Santa Cruz Opera Project

Q & A: Elizabeth Askren on Growing MaestraMagic! & Opera as a Comic Book