Local Performances
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The Enchanted Island Review – A Baroque Pastiche
I wish the author would extend “Baroque” to include early Mozart, and remind Neptune about his subject Calabanetta, a sweet-voiced young woman with a deformed body but a beautiful spirit who lives in the far reaches of his kingdom
2011_Review - and A look ahead to 2012
I reviewed sixteen “Ten Best” opera productions in 2011 – no problem. I’ll just use a hexidecimal definition of “Ten”.
Hansel & Gretel Preview – Déjà vu all over again
I had some free time last week and figured to get a head start on my review by writing part of it before seeing the opera; then after seeing it, I would revise as appropriate -- things didn’t work out that way
Hansel & Gretel Review – Bah! Humbug!
I don't enjoy being Scrooge at this time of year, but "Bah! Humbug!" are the only words to thoroughly convey my reaction to the 2007-8 Met HD Live production of Hansel and Gretel
Faust Review – A Morality Play for the Atomic Age
Marina Poplavskaya's acting and singing is superb; In Act II her Marguerite is young, pretty, vibrant, popular; less than 9 months later, she is an old woman about to give birth - friendless, exhausted, utterly miserable
Rodelinda Review – Fleming’s Handle on Handel
Fleming WAS Rodelinda. Her expressive face was showing every emotion that Rodelinda was feeling. Thanks to the close-up camera, at one point I could see a tear in her eye
Satyagraha Review – Philip Glass’ monumental tribute to Gandhi
Philip Glass, his librettist Constance DeJong, and the entire creative staff of the MetHD production have presented the essence of Gandhi’s 21 years in South Africa in a most unusual fashion – the complete opposite of verismo.
Siegfried MetHD Review – A Star is Born
The same voice box produced the powerful German singing by Siegfried on stage and the delightful Texas drawl of Jay Hunter Morris in the interviews - I could easily believe him to be a reincarnation of Wagner’s famous 17 year old hero.
Tosca ROH Review – A Five-* Production
The divine words of the choir and Scarpia’s profane words are each sung to entirely appropriate music. When the two are perfectly balanced, the resulting dissonance creates an almost unbearable musical tension.
Carmen SFO Review – America’s favorite opera
What a pair of characters - Carmen: flamboyant, sexy, strong-willed, domineering – yet potentially vulnerable; what an opportunity for a mezzo; tenor Don José: naïve country bumpkin at the start – insane murderer at the end.
LA VOIX HUMAINE Review – Opera San Jose presents an emotional block-buster
The conductor raises his arms - our pulses quicken in anticipation - an opera is about to start - but wait! - the conductor’s arms do not descend; they remain upraised, poised, ready for action. The curtain rises in utter silence
Xerxes Review – SFO’s Handle on Handel
Handel wrote the parts of Xerxes and his brother to be played by castrati who were a respected musical class in 18th century Europe but are now essentially extinct due to changing mores and natural selection
Don Giovanni MetHD Review – Second Production this Season
The advance program said that James Levine would be the conductor; the program at the theater door listed Fabio Luisi
Adriana Lecouvreur Review – an ROH production of a rarely performed opera
Cilia’s Adriana Lecouvreur sounded vaguely familiar to me, so I assumed it would be classical opera, but I knew absolutely nothing about the composer or the plot. I was looking forward to being surprised - and what a wonderful surprise it was
Don Giovanni SFO Review – First of Four Productions this Season
Despite all of his past successes and his unbounded self-confidence, Don Giovanni is totally unfulfilled during the twenty-four hours of his life presented on stage - and it’s not for lack of trying
Anna Bolena Review – Anna: Netrebko IS Bolena
For a moment Anna Netrebko did not reply. She had been sitting relaxed with a smiling face. Her body straightened and stiffened. Her smile was replaced by a firm straight mouth. She said, simply, “I remind myself that I am a Queen.”
Samson and Delilah Review – An exciting opening for West Bay Opera’s 56th Season
The air was electric when José Luis Moscovich, General Director (and Conductor) of West Bay Opera appeared on stage to welcome the audience to WBO's fifty-sixth season
"Unveiled" Review - How and Why to Wear a Hijab in the West
“Unveiled” is Rohina Malik’s one-woman show about how and why five Muslim women living in the Western world choose to wear a traditional head covering, or hijab
Lucrezia Borgia Review – San Francisco Opera presents one of Donizetti’s less well known bel canto operas
There is little correlation between the historical Lucrezia Borgia and the title character of the opera Lucrezia Borgia - and even less between the real Lucrezia's bastard son Giovanni and opera Lucrezia’s long-lost son Gennaro
Heart of a Soldier Review – The World Premier of a Gripping BiOpera
Heart of a Soldier is different from most operas. The Story is a biography of a current person, and it is by far the driving force of the opera; music, acting, scenery, lighting, etc. are important only in-so-far-as they enhance the story telling
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Mother’s Day Home & Garden Gifts – Mother’s Day Home & Garden Gift Guide 2011
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