Category: Performances

How often does one experience an opera in which everything works — in which there is not one flaw either in the staging or in its musical dimensions?

As far as world premieres go, Houston Grand Opera is in elite company in the United States, having performed thirty-eight new works prior to opening night of AndrÈ Previn’s new opera Brief Encounter.

By sheer coincidence, the Academy of Santa Cecilia — one of the most authoritative symphonic orchestras in Europe — planned a rather unusual concert in the same days (May 3-7) when just in the very same auditorium there was the world premiËre of a movie expected to be a Hollywood blockbuster — the thriller titled “Angels & Demons”.

For two years following its premiere Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsesnk was one of the most often performed contemporary operas.

Soprano Kate Royal is reported to have said that singing at the Wigmore Hall is “like a religious experience”.

Christine Brewer Commands Performance in Last Minute Appearance

It’s an odd day in opera when the bad girl wins, but that is only one thing that makes the Opera Atelier production of Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea remarkable — and admirable.

April 29th is Zubin Mehta’s birthday. As a gift to its most beloved musical director, Florence unveiled a new production of Gˆtterd‰mmerung, a joint Ring Cycle venture with the Valencia Opera started two years ago.

From the word “go”, the audience feels that this “Maria Stuarda” is quite different from the standard fare offered by Italian theatres.

I first saw this production in Manchester in 1981: I loved it then and love it now, despite the present hero’s un-Heldentenor qualities when compared to the glorious Peter Hoffman of yore.