The Classical Review

Nelsons, cast and BSO give heartfelt and idiomatic advocacy to Barber’s “Vanessa”

Samuel Barber’s Vanessa showcases an alternative: the opera, with its libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti, presents a study of ...
The Classical Review

Sierra and Villazón shine brightly in Met’s new “Sonnambula”

Nadine Sierra stars as Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera For such a famous opera, a vehicle for some of the great modern divas, La Sonnambula ...
The Classical Review

Met’s “Kavalier & Clay” mixes stunning production with largely lightweight music

Andrzej Filończyk (left) and Myles Mykkanen in Mason Bates’ The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera The best works of art, in any medium, ...
The Classical Review

Dubious “Dutchman” and trenchant “Tosca” refract two classics through modern lenses at Santa Fe Opera

Nicholas Brownlee and Elza van den Heever in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO General director Robert Meya has given Wagner fans cause to rejoice: Santa Fe Opera ...
The Classical Review

Under Rouvali, Philharmonia sounds fresh and vital on 80th anniversary tour

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra Monday night at the Music Center at Strathmore. Photo: Marco Borggreve London’s Philharmonia Orchestra returned to the Washington area for ...
The Classical Review

Grosvenor scales the heights with a trio of blockbusters for Chamber Music Maryland

Benjamin Grosvenor performed a recital for Chamber Music Maryland Sunday in Columbia. Photo: Marco Borggreve Chamber Music Maryland brought Benjamin Grosvenor back to the Horowitz Center in Columbia ...
The Classical Review

Rust Belt bel canto: Met provides a dark, mostly compelling update to “Lucia”

Nadine Sierra in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl Cheers greeted Simon Stone and his creative team Saturday night as they walked onstage ...
The Classical Review

Ma & Stott close long musical partnership in generous style in Boston

Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott performed Tuesday night at Symphony Hall. Photo: Robert Torres/Celebrity Series Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott offered a fitting tribute to the myriad beauties of ...
The Classical Review

Met’s witty, opulent “Cesare” proves a vocal and visual delight

With David McVicar’s spirited take on Giulio Cesare, an opulent and vibrant world where British imperialism and raja images represent the Roman conquest of Egypt, New York finally has a stunning ...
The Classical Review

Santa Fe Opera crashes with Bates’ musically inert “(R)evolution of Steve Jobs”

The focus of this season at Santa Fe Opera is the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the first opera composed by Mason Bates. When the company announced, two years ago, that it was ...
The Classical Review

Outstanding new opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” makes a moving debut

Flora Hawk and Jonathan Michie star in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia at Virginia Opera. Photo: Dave Pearson Virginia Opera is marking its golden anniversary season in the ...
The Classical Review

Florida Grand Opera’s “Silent Night” proves a rich and moving tale of common humanity

Alex DeSocio (Audebert), Kyle Albertson (Horstmayer) and Elijah William Brown (Jonathan Dale) in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, presented by Florida Grand Opera at the Arsht Center in Miami. Photo: Lewis ...