The Devil Is in the Details

http://nymag.com/arts/classicaldance/classical/reviews/52151/

‘Figaro’ at Music Hall one of best Dallas Opera productions in memory

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/111608dnlivfigaro.1b66db825.html

The Greek Passion, Zurich Opera

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/9e649fc6-b0de-11dd-8915-0000779fd18c,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F9e649fc6-b0de-11dd-8915-0000779fd18c.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Farts%2Fmusic

La Traviata at the MET

When La Traviata had its first performance, in Venice in 1853, it was a scandal.

Lucrezia Borgia at the Washington National Opera

After a somewhat shaky start to the season, as my recently posted review of La traviata attests, Washington National Opera has added considerable luster to its roster this November with the infusion of spectacle and star power in two new productions.

Wozzeck, Munich

Wozzeck stands ankle deep in water on the flooded stage of the Bavarian State Opera, above him hovers a huge, movable box – the dingy apartment he shares with Marie and their adolescent bastard – and he is surrounded by a freak-show worthy of a George Groszian nightmare and worse.

PUCCINI: Madama Butterfly — Covent Garden 1957

Madama Butterfly, opera in two acts.

Great Operatic Arias with Sir Thomas Allen 2

The “2” in this disc’s title indicates that this is the second Chandos recital for Sir Thomas Allen.

Jean Baptiste Lully’s PersÈe

At a time when it is the fashion for stage direction, sets, and costumes to have little, if anything to do with the ouvre presented on stage, this production of Jean-Baptiste Lully’s PersÈe (1682) is candy for the eyes and ears, with adherence to what is known of the French Baroque operatic standards.1

A powerful, poignant Elektra at the Royal Opera House, London

“This won’t be a total Schlacht of sound” said the director, Charles Edwards, of this production. Instead, it’s a strikingly intelligent interpretation, focusing on the deeper aspects of the drama.