Reviews, appreciation and analysis of all things opera
The Virginia Opera has taken on the project of introducing contemporary American audiences to one of the most influential masterpieces of opera, Carl Maria von Weber’s “Der Freischütz”. The opera’s infectious melodies enrich a succession of serene arias and engaging ensembles, yet it is a work that has rarely been performed in the Western Hemisphere. The … Read more
Note from William: This post continues my series of observances of historic performances that I attended at San Francisco Opera during the general directorship of Kurt Herbert Adler. This is the thirteenth of sixteen such observances of performances from the company’s 1965 Fall season. Less than 15 hours after the conclusion of the Saturday night San Francisco … Read more
The following interview took place at the 2016 Glimmerglass Festival, whose facilitation of the interview is deeply appreciated. Wm: Typically, my opening interview questions relate to one’s childhood experiences with music and opera. However, you have given quite a summary of your life so far in your autobiography Odyssey of an African Opera Singer: From Zwide Township to … Read more