Living at the Opera

Rossini Opera Festival 2007
If ever there was an opera production that put the words “cultural divide” in neon lights, the Rossini Opera Festival’s 2007 production of La Gazza Ladra is it. The striking differences in opinions between Italian opera critics and their English counterparts were planted front and center.
These diverse viewpoints were directly linked [...]

Rossini Opera Festival 2006
One of the most rewarding experiences in the opera world is to attend an opera where the high expectations for a great performance and the actual event join in making the entire event an evening to remember. Such was the case on August 17th, 2006, when the Rossini Opera Festival [...]

By James L. Zychowicz
Reprinted with permission from Seen and Heard – Music Web’s Live Opera, Concert and Recital Reviews.
Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor) Civic Opera House, Chicago 22.11.2008 (JLZ)
Production:
Director: Paul Curran
Set Design: Kevin Knight
Lighting: David Jacques
Cast:
Animal Tamer/Athlete: Jan Buchwald
Alwa: William Burden
Dr. Schön/Jack the Ripper: Wolfgang [...]

By James L. Zychowicz
Reprinted with permission from Seen and Heard – Music Web’s Live Opera, Concert and Recital Reviews.
Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Lyric Opera of Chicago, John DeMain (conductor) Civic Opera House, Chicago 29.11.2008 (JLZ)
Production:
Director – Francesca Zambello
Set Design – Peter J. Davison
Costumes – Paul Tazewell
Lighting – Mark McCullough
Choreography and Association Stage Director [...]

By Harvey Steiman
Reprinted with permission from Seen and Heard – Music Web’s Live Opera, Concert and Recital Reviews.
Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the San Francisco Opera. Conductor, Nicola Luisotti. War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco. 19.11.2008 (HS)
Mimì: Angela Gheorghiu (soprano)
Rodolfo: Piotr Beczala (tenor)
Marcello: Brian Mulligan (baritone)
Musetta: Norah Amsellem (soprano)
Colline: Oren Gradus (bass)
Schaunard: Brian Leerhuber (baritone)
Benoit, [...]

By Bernard Jacobson
Reprinted with permission from Seen and Heard – Music Web’s Live Opera, Concert and Recital Reviews.
Portland Opera, soloists, cond. Arthur Fagen, original production by Chris Alexander, stage direction by Helena Binder, sets by Robert Dahlstrom, costumes by Catherine Meacham Hunt, lighting designer Alan Burrett, chorus master Robert Ainsley, Keller Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, 15.11.2008 [...]