IphigÈnie en Tauride at the Met

Regarded, until the modern vogue for earlier masters, as the senior surviving grand master of opera, Gluck never quite becomes fashionable and never quite vanishes.

Prokofiev’s War and Peace at the Met

There is no middle ground in War and Peace ó or, rather, itís all middle ground, like a battlefield, and you may feel as if every soldier in Russia (and in France) has marched over you.

Cinderella and her Cinderfella

Once upon a time, we used to only dream about a stellar pairing like Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu has fielded for their current offering on display: “La Cenerentola.”

°Viva Valencia!

Enough ink was spilled last year gushing over Valencia’s new Calatrava-designed opera house and Arts and Science park that I had been chomping at the bit for the opportunity to take in a performance there as soon as my availability and, more important, the availability of a still-very-hard-to-find ticket coincided.

Chicago stages fantastic ìFrauî — Another View

Do we too easily take Richard Strauss for granted? The question is prompted by the superlative production of ìFrau ohne Schattenî that was the highlight of the fall season at the Chicago Lyric Opera.

Genoa Opera Hires New Artistic Director

http://www.wqxr.com/cgi-bin/iowa/resources/musicalamerica/article.html?record=5873

Jan Neckers on Recently Reissued Historicals: December 2007

This recording made half a century ago will not be anyoneís first choice unless one is a die-hard fan of one of the principal singers; neither of them belonging to the absolute top in their profession.

MOZART: Don Giovanni

The glorious universe of the Baroque has been receiving tribute from the wonderful talent of countertenor and early music guru RenÈ Jacobs for more than thirty years now.

RAVEL: Daphnis et ChloÈ

Although considered among Ravelís finest works, Daphnis et ChloÈ may be known best through excerpts, particularly the second suite that the composer derived from his score.

Houston puts final touches on new Heggie opera

http://www.operatoday.com/content/2007/12/houston_puts_fi.php