On a cold winterís day in Vienna, just before Christmas 1790, Mr. Haydn dined with Mr. Mozart for the last time.
Category: Reviews
Michael Maniaci Flies High as OrphÈe at Glimmerglass
The legend of Orpheus and Eurydice has come down through the centuries to us, on the way inspiring some sixty-four other known operas.
Monteverdiís ìLíOrfeoî, Glimmerglass 2007 ó Slattery rises to Aldenís challenging concept
The first masterpiece in the history of opera. Thatís a tall order to live up to for any company and for any band of singers, especially those at the beginning of their careers.
Madame Butterfly: The Search Continues
Over the past decade, there have been a plethora of works trying to identify the historical models for characters in Puccini’s famous opera Madama Butterfly.
CosÏ fan tutte Deconstructed
W. A. Mozartís CosÏ fan tutte, heard on a stormy night July 11, proved a sorry exercise in deconstruction, something I never expected to endure at Santa Fe Opera.
Bieito Does La Fanciulla del West at Staatsoper Stuttgart
Staatsoper Stuttgart presented its new production of The Girl of the Golden West, directed by Calixto Bieito. And, well, it began with an added dialogue scene to establish the “concept.”
Love and death among battlements
In 2003, at Cagliís Accademia del Teatro, Elisabetta Courir directed a compelling CosÏ fan tutte, minimalist, sophisticated and low-budget; quite unlike Daniele Abbado, whose Lohengrin for Bolognaís Teatro Comunale integrated ìhardî scenery, video projections and historically informed costumes into a dream-like pageant.
DONIZETTI: Don Pasquale
An ingenious and handsome staging, in the proper period and full of delicious color, fashion and furnishings, a production that honors the compatibility of tradition with good fun, and four singers who look their parts, play the farce, and are as easy on the ears as on the eyes ó what more could you want from a Don Pasquale?
SZYMANOWSKI: Songs of a Fairy-tale Princess; Harnasie; Love Songs of Hafiz
The Polish composer Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) is one of more engaging composers of the early twentieth century.
DONIZETTI: Dom SÈbastien, roi de Portugal
When hearing the final work of a composer whose life was cut short, one can not help but wonder, ìWhat if?î