The Burning Fiery Furnace (1966) is the second of Britten’s Church Parables, based on an episode from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. Its immediate literary inspiration is…
Category: Staged Operas
Nouvelle production d’Il Trittico à l’Opéra Bastille, Paris
There are certain stagings when good fortune shines on casting decisions and produces an operatic miracle. Such is the case with this new production of Puccini’s Il Trittico given at…
Bel Cantanti Opera Presents a Dreamy Roméo et Juliette
For over 20 years now, Bel Cantanti Opera has been a staple of the opera scene in the Washington, D.C. area, and if you take in one of their productions…
Magical Surreality: The Excursions of Mr Brouček from Simon Rattle and the LSO
Simon Rattle’s survey of the Janáček operas has proved a tale of two cities: Berlin (first the Philharmonic and latterly the Staatsoper) and London (the LSO). The latter has been…
Washington National Opera’s The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs: Mesmerizing Tech Opera
Having heard two of the Washington National Opera Domingo-Cafritz young artists at an event at the Kreeger Museum in D.C. earlier this season, I knew I was in for something…
TRAB: The Rest is Dust premieres in Malta
On the Maltese islands, the principal venues for full-scale opera are the Astra and Aurora opera houses on Gozo. While Valletta can pride itself on the exquisite 18th century Teatro…
Telemann’s witty social comedy Pimpinone receives a blunter feminist interpretation by Royal Ballet and Opera
Telemann’s Pimpinone (1725) is perhaps second only to Pergolesi’s La serva padrona (whose plot it pre-empts) as one of the best-known examples of that curiosity of 18th century musical theatre,…
Some standout performances put a shine on this intermittently engaging Die Walküre
This second instalment of Barry Kosky’s Ring Cycle develops the fractured relationships partially glimpsed in Das Rheingold unveiled at the Royal Opera House 18 months ago. With his new staging…
Opera Baltimore’s Albert Herring: Merry May!
Years ago, I had the privilege to see Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring in a fully staged and orchestrated production at my alma mater, UNC-Greensboro. It’s an opera that I haven’t…
La bohème at Lyric Opera of Chicago: A Fresh Look at a Traditional Work
The production of Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème featured during the current season at Lyric Opera of Chicago provides the opportunity to experience both vocal and dramatic elements of this work…