Opera Review

‘Don Carlo’ Returns to the Met

March 18, 2013, 10:13 am

Giuseppe Verdi’s “Don Carlo,” based on Friedrich Schiller’s play, is an epic opera, a love story and father-son conflict set during the Spanish Inquisition.

Jonas Kaufmann on CD and DVD

March 5, 2013, 4:00 pm

Jonas Kaufmann has certainly won the genetic sweepstakes. He has a unique tenor voice, powerful with a baritonal quality and explosive high notes.

The Met’s New “Parsifal:” Jonas Kaufmann Takes Charge

March 5, 2013, 3:30 pm

“Parsifal,” Richard Wagner’s last opera, had its debut in 1882 at the Bayreuth Festival house. Instead of calling the work an opera, he called it “a festival play for [...]

Opera Review: Joyce DiDonato Rules the Stage as Maria Stuarda

January 31, 2013, 7:54 am

Donizetti’s 1834 opera, based on Schiller’s play “Mary Stuart,” is about the conflict between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Opera Review: ‘Turandot’ at the Met

January 17, 2013, 4:24 pm

“Turandot” was Puccini’s last opera, unfinished at his death and completed by Franco Alfano.

Opera Review: Ladies Night at ‘Les Troyens’ at the Met

December 24, 2012, 8:50 am

While men may be the warriors in the epic opera, women clearly dominate the Met’s performance of Hector Berlioz’s “Les Troyens”—a revival of Francesca Zambello’s 2003 [...]

‘Drama Queens’ Ranks as Operatic Dream

December 19, 2012, 12:28 pm

In real life, a drama queen can be a pain in the neck, but Joyce DiDonato “Drama Queens” is pure delight.

Opera Review: Un Ballo in Maschera

November 30, 2012, 12:59 pm

Verdi’s librettist Antonio Somma based his script on an actual assassination at a masked ball.

Opera Review: ‘La Clemenza di Tito’

November 27, 2012, 10:56 am

Regicide seems the hot topic at the Metropolitan Opera this season.

Opera Review: ‘L’Elisir d’Amore’

October 17, 2012, 5:11 pm

Some great operas take time to achieve popularity with audiences and critics. For example, Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” initially received hostile reviews and a lack of [...]