Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
Previous postings in my “Quests and Anticipations” series highlight September, 2013 performances of Boito’s “Mefistofele” in San Francisco [In Quest of “High Concept Direction” in Opera Performance – June-September 2013]. Also highlighted are productions of Bizet’s “Carmen” in Los Angeles and Delibes’ “Lakme” in Montreal [Best Bet Revivals of Live Opera Productions May-September, 2013] and of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” … Read more
The following interview was conducted in the offices of the Glimmerglass Festival, whose facilitation is greatly appreciated. Wm: You grew up in greater Los Angeles in a family that played classical guitar. What were your earliest experiences in vocal music? RM: I sang in choir in elementary school in fourth or fifth grade. When I was older my … Read more
These Wagnerian performances are my suggestions for consideration of opera goers in Washington, DC, San Francisco, Chicago and Phoenix. One is on my schedule for upcoming reviews: Tristan und Isolde (Wagner), Washington National Opera, September 15(m), 18, 21, 24 and 27, 2013. As her first offering in her first season as Artistic Director of … Read more
The following interview took place on the “ranch” of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated. [Below: Tenor Michael Fabiano; edited image, based on a Ariel Doneson photograph, courtesy of Michael Fabiano.] Wm: Most of the opera artists whom I’ve interviewed were engaged or influenced in childhood or adolescence … Read more
The final episode of the first of 2013’s three four-opera cycles of Richard Wagner’s “Ring of the Nibelungs” took place at Seattle Opera’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. The performance coincided with both the 200th anniversary of Wagner’s birth and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Seattle Opera. It demonstrated that the Pacific … Read more