Month: February 2019

In Quest of 1890s Italian Verismo Operas – September 2019 – March 2020

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Over the next year, I am scheduled to review four performances of three Italian operas that premiered between 1892 and 1896 by the composers Alfredo Catalani and Giacomo Puccini. Playwright Luigi Illica was librettist or co-librettist for each of the three operas. La Boheme (Puccini), Los Angeles Opera, September 14, 22, 25, 28, October 2 … Read more

In Quest of Handel Operas – June 2019-July 2020

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During the next year and a half, I am scheduled to review performances of contemporary productions of four operas composed by the great baroque composer, George Frideric Handel. Orlando (Handel), San Francisco Opera, June 9(m), 15, 18, 21 and 27, 2019 Handel’s “Orlando”, based on Ariosto’s fanciful 16th century tale inspired by of the characters of the medieval epic “The Song of Roland” has been time-shifted … Read more

Review: San Diego Opera’s Rousing “Rigoletto” – Well-deserved Ovations for Stephen Powell, Alisa Jordheim, Scott Quinn – February 2, 2019

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The San Diego Opera presented a physically attractive, dramatically effective, and beautifully sung performance of Verdi’s “middle period” masterpiece, “Rigoletto”. Stephen Powell’s Rigoletto Baritone Stephen Powell was Rigoletto. Powell has vocal power and strength in the upper part of the baritone range, both prerequisites to taking on this iconic role. Powell’s voice has a lyrical quality that … Read more