Khalil "pristine," Barrett "exquisite" in whimsical production of La bohème

Review

Calgary-born director Brenna Corner should be celebrated for her vision in making this production so memorable. Her sense of whimsy permeated everything, from the character relationships to the set design, resulting in an experience where one can sit back and let the drama unfold.

The evil banality of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at Oper Frankfurt

Review

Both Kampe and Golovnin are extraordinary in terms of vocal technique and stamina. Neither voice diminished noticeably by the end of what is an enormously challenging sing. But neither voice translates the overwhelming circumstances of the opera into music that matches its stakes. Points for consistency, but where was the drama?

Room & Board hosts hilarious triple-bill

Review

And yet, something about the confines of the store were perfect for producing the triple-bill of short operas by Jonathan Bailey Holland that graced Room & Board, courtesy of Boston Opera Collaborative, and it led to a very entertaining, and frequently hilarious, night at the opera.

A fab kick-off to the FireWorks Festival: Belle Darling Klondike Queen

Review

It's not just a historical vaudeville hoot, but it's as different as it could be from the other two on the line-up - the social-media tragedy of Crystal Wood's Grief Circus, and the feminist-Cinderella of If the Shoe Fits.

Stellar performances from a star cast in Chicago's Dead Man Walking

Review

Graham's performance is gut-wrenchingly sincere and she's as vocally resplendent as ever, even when her voice seems on the verge of breaking with emotion.

Ambitious & epochal: Saul at Houston Grand Opera

Review

The performance I saw was a microcosm of Houston at her best, a perfect example of the glorious, if not uncontroversial, results of numerous talented individuals combining their efforts to create something far bigger than the sum of its parts.

Treat yourself to WNO's Magic Flute

Review

A cast of charismatic singing actors with impeccable comic timing to go with their across-the-board excellent Mozartean singing are the whipped cream and cherry on top of this operatic ice cream sundae.

Karah Son a "true jewel" of Opera Omaha's Madama Butterfly

Review

"Son's entire demeanor shifted in this scene from distraught mess to calm intensity. The effect was quite jarring, ending the opera with a truly tragic shock."

Revived Maria, Regina d’Inghilterra A Crowd-Pleasing Guilty Pleasure

Review

"I absolutely believe the program's assertion that Pacini was Rossini's main rival for the bel canto crown during the peak of his career."

Moral dilemmas & an excellent quartet: HGO's Rigoletto

Review

As Rigoletto leaves the party, we see the true depth of his character. As Mayes interprets him, the jester is very fidgety, his routines a compulsive series of tics that he feels compelled to practice even when nobody else is around, very much the modern laborer trapped in his work.