It proved to be smooth sailing as Des Moines Metro Opera thrillingly met the substantial challenges of Wagner’s seminal work, The Flying Dutchman. They started by assembling a nonpareil cast…
Author: James Sohre
Stunning Cunning Vixen in Iowa
Given the miraculously spellbinding production of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen at Des Moines Metro Opera, New Mexico just may have to cede its motto: Land of Enchantment. There is…
Des Moines: A Rake to Remember
Des Moines Metro Opera has advanced its record for excellence with a musically resplendent, visually rich, wholly riveting production of Stravinsky’s multi-faceted piece, The Rake’s Progress. The glories in store…
At Fifty, OTSL Comes Full Circle with Don Pasquale
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is celebrating fifty fabulous years with this festival, and by returning to the first opera it ever presented, Don Pasquale, it has mined anniversary gold.…
Haunting House in the Gateway City
With its stylish festival level performance of the fiercely original piece, This House, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis continues its almost unrivaled record for commissioning and staging World Premieres. This…
Saint Louis Strauss Drives Audiences Batty
Unrelenting, raucous animation was the salient characteristic that pervaded Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ lively version of that evergreen favorite, Die Fledermaus (The Bat), and the capacity audience roared in…
A Dreamy Midsummer Night in Saint Louis
From the downbeat to Britten’s A Midsummer Night Dream at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we instantly sensed there was musical magic in the air, for the esteemed Leonard Slatkin…
Gordon’s Seeing Through: A Fascinating Life in Progress
One of contemporary opera’s most brilliant and prolific composers, the inestimable Ricky Ian Gordon, has not only laid bare his soul, but also richly chronicled the peaks and valleys of…
Glimmerglass: Supremely Stylish La Calisto
High style and ample substance were equally on dazzling display in the new production of Francesco Cavalli’s La Calisto at the Alice Busch Opera Theatre. From the gender bending casting…
Glimmerglass: Impassioned Pagliacci Plus A Surprise
Shortly before the curtain rose on a splendid production of the evergreen favorite, Pagliacci, we were informed that Glimmerglass Music Director Joseph Colaneri was indisposed and would not conduct. That…