Quests and Anticipations

The following four operas continue an ongoing “Quests and Anticipations” Feature:  In Quest of 21st Century American Operas – November, 2018 – August, 2019. Three are by composers, each of whom has written an opera or operas for which I had previously written world premiere reviews. Three of the operas will be world premieres. If … Read more

Over a 13 month period, I have reviewed or am scheduled to review all seven of Mozart’s major operas. The reviews included the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Mozart’s “Idomeneo” [see Review: Matthew Polenzani Stars in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle “World Treasure” Production of Mozart’s “Idomeneo” – Lyric Opera, Chicago, November 2, 2018] and the Los … Read more

The following is a list of French opera performances that I am scheduled to review over the next year. Carmen (Bizet) San Francisco Opera, June 5, 11, 14, 20, 23(m), 26 and 29, 2019. J’Naii Bridges is Carmen; Matthew Polenzani is Don Jose, Anita Hartig is Micaela and Kyle Ketelsen is Escamillo. [Below: J’Nai Bridges … Read more

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

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