Living at the Opera

From Seen and Heard International By: James L Zychowicz Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor) Civic Opera House, Chicago, 17.10.2009 (JLZ) With its solid cast of principals, Gounod’s Faust has a vibrant revival at Lyric Opera of Chicago, its second production of the 2009-2010 season. In presenting the [...]

From Seen and Heard International By: Harvey Steiman Soloists, chorus and orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, New York. 19.10.2009 (HS) Watching and listening to Susan Graham as Octavian and Renée Fleming as the Marschallin, it’s inevitable to start comparing them with the great singers who have performed those roles since Strauss blessed [...]

From Seen and Heard International By: José M Irurzun, Picture © Teatro Comunale di Firenze Soloists, Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Florentino.Conductor: Stefano Ranzani.Teatro Comunale di Firenze. 10.10.2009 (JMI) The third title in Florence’s Recondita Armonia 2009 was a new Rigoletto, produced once again by Franco Ripa di Meana and his team. Perhaps this [...]

From Seen and Heard International By: José M Irurzun Soloists, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma.Conductor: Donato Renzetti.Teatro Regio di Parma. 11.10.2009 (JMI) After my stay in Florence and the rather mediocre performances of Verdi’s popular trilogy, I confess that I come to Parma and its Verdi Festival with high expectations, despite the [...]

From Seen and Heard International By: José M Irurzun, Picture © Roberto Ricci Teatro di Parma Soloists, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma.Conductor: Michele Mariotti.Teatro Regio di Parma. 12.10.2009 (JMI) My stay in Parma came to an end with this premiere of Nabucco and again I left the city impressed by the work [...]

General Manager Peter Gelb and Theater Director Luc Bondy certainly have garnered a lot of attention for their new production of G. Puccini’s Tosca. More than 25 reviews appeared in newspapers and online of the work’s opening night premiere in September. For proof, Google Met’s Tosca reviews as a starter. Added to that were the [...]

Photo to the left: Gregory Kunde as Antenore and Juan Diego Flórez as Ilo Act One Scene V11 © Amati Bacciardi. Official ROF photos. Zelmira* was the last of nine operas Rossini composed for the San Carlo Opera House in Naples in 1822. It turned out to be his most adventurous musical drama of all [...]

From Seen and Heard International by: James L Zychowicz Pictures © Dan Rest Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor) Civic Opera House, Chicago, 26.9.2009 (JLZ) With its familiar plot involving political intrigue, secret police, torture, hidden passion, and unyielding scorn, it is small wonder that Puccini’s Tosca remains [...]

From Seen and Heard International by: José M Irurzun Pictures © E. Moreno Esquibel Soloists,Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra. Coro de Ópera de Bilbao.Conductor: Yves Abel.Palacio Euskalduna de Bilbao. 26. 9. 2009 (JMI) ABAO (Asociación Bilbaina de Amigos de la Ópera) remains faithful to its traditions by opening its58th opera season with a very popular title. [...]