Latvian National Opera 2025-26 Review: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci

On February 17, the Latvian National Opera premiered its new production of “Cavalleria rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” The evening stood as a demonstration of the highest artistic level, expressed in every dimension that only opera can so powerfully unite. Two fundamental pillars sustained the success of the enterprise: the formidable musical direction of Mārtiņš Ozoliņš and the extraordinary stage vision {…}

Latvian National Opera 2024-25 Review: Les Contes d’Hoffmann

(Photo: Agnese Zeltina Latvian National Opera) Latvian National Opera’s new production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” was no simple reflection on the poet’s failed love affairs, in which the Muse/Nicklausse attempts to convince Hoffmann to forsake love’s attraction in favor of poetry. Rather, the director, Aik Karapetian, had an intriguing and very different reading in mind that turned it into {…}