Month: May 2016

I attended the second performance of the current revival of Luc Bondy’s production of Puccini’s “Tosca” at the Bayerische Staatsoper, which was a vehicle for Illinois soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Sondra Radvanovsky’s Tosca The title role of “Tosca” is one of Sondra Radvanovsky’s signature roles. It is a role to which her dramatic instincts and her … Read more

South African baritone Jacques Imbrailo and Maryland soprano Corinne Winters assayed the lead roles of “Pelléas et Mélisande” in a radical reinterpretation of the Debussy’s 1902 opera by Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov. Iowa bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen was Golaud. The vocal performances and acting of all three principals was stunning, and the trio was well-supported by a … Read more

Zurich Opera invited Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen to create a new production of Haydn’s comic opera “Orlando Paladino”, derived from 16th century fantasist Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso. Perhaps no opera composer is more unjustifiably ignored that Mozart’s friend and mentor, Joseph Haydn. Zurich Opera has taken a step toward rectifying that injustice. [Below: Composer Joseph Haydn; … Read more

Claus Guth’s revelatory “Rigoletto” production opened last month at the Opéra National de Paris, with Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kelsey scheduled for ten performances in the title role. Illness required Kelsey to withdraw from his scheduled seventh and eighth performances on May 7 and 9th. [Below: Director Claus Guth, left works with baritone Quinn Kelsey on Rigoletto’s gestures; edited image, … Read more