Author: Gary Hoffman

On the barren stage: a few chairs, a dark-gold hectoplasm projected on the wood panels of the acoustic chamber – nothing more.

For the belated Spanish premiere of Brittenís Death in Venice, 35 years after its creation in Aldeburgh, Barcelona seems a felicitous choice.

For Belliniís ìI Capuleti e i Montecchi,î Paris Opera peopled its revival with plenty of star power.

When the Ringling Brothers folded their tents, opera took over. AÔda with elephants, and Walk¸re with real horses.

It is a bit hard to know what to make of Olivier Messiaenís colossal piece ìSaint FranÁois díAssise,î beautifully mounted by Netherlands Opera.

If you are going to produce Jacques Fromental Halevyís forgotten opera ìClari,î I urge you to first make sure you have a signature on the contact from a superstar with the firepower of Cecilia Bartoli.