In Quest of Operatic World Premieres – June-December, 2015

Below is a list of world premieres of new operas, which I will be reviewing between June and December, 2015.    This list is supplementary to previous lists in this “Quests and Anticipations” series of selected operas being performed from April 2015 through February 2016: Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” at the Houston Grand Opera and the San Francisco Opera and … Read more

Review: New Faces for “Marriage of Figaro” – Los Angeles Opera, March 21, 2015

The Los Angeles Opera presented Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” in a performance that was cheered by the appreciative audience. The cast demonstrated, not only the depth of the world’s operatic talent, but the commitment of the Los Angeles Opera to introducing new singers or singers in new roles to Los Angeles audiences. The quintet of … Read more

Review: San Diego Opera’s “Nixon in China” with Pomponi, Kanyova, Kim and Shelton – March 20, 2015

The San Diego Opera mounted the most complex production of its three-opera 2014-15 season – the first San Diego appearances of John Adams’ extraordinary 1987 opera “Nixon in China”. The opera has been discussed on these pages, particularly the popular Vancouver (British Columbia) production seen in San Francisco [see  25 Years Old, “Nixon in China” … Read more

Dressing Renée Fleming’s Violetta: A Conversation with John Pascoe, Part 7

This continues the series of conversations that I have had with British opera director John Pascoe. This is the seventh part of the conversation. This part follows: Homage to Dame Joan Sutherland: A Conversation with Director John Pascoe, Part 6.     [Below: Director John Pascoe; resized image of a personal 2014 photograph, courtesy of John Pascoe.] … Read more

Review: New Orleans Opera’s Spectacular “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Laura Claycomb, William Burden – March 15, 2015

The New Orleans Opera presents two performances each of four operas each season. As the third opera of its 2014-15 season it created a new production of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor”, directed by E. Loren Meeker with sets by Ryan McGettigan. The cast, led by Texas lyric coloratura soprano Laura Claycomb in the title role and … Read more