THE HANGOVER REPORT – Simon McBurney’s new human-scaled staging of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE basks in low-tech spectacle and literally elevates the music

Last week, the Metropolitan Opera unveiled its new production of Die Zauberflöte. Helmed by British theater director Simon McBurney, the production partially replaces Julie Taymor’s long-running staging (I say partially because … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ivo van Hove’s potent new DON GIOVANNI arrives at the Met, splendidly sung and surprisingly straightforward

Last night, I caught up with Ivo van Hove’s anticipated new production of Don Giovanni, which opened last week at the Metropolitan Opera. The Belgian auteur’s production replaces Michael Grandage’s lifeless … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The 81-year-old MasterVoices performs a starry, utterly delightful staged concert of Gilbert & Sullivan’s IOLANTHE

Earlier this week at Carnegie Hall, MasterVoices finished off its astonishing 81st concert season with a starry, utterly delightful staged concert of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe (or, The Peer and … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nights at the opera: A tenor wows in his Met debut in L’ELISIR D’AMORE and the last days of a monumental AIDA

Over the past week or so, I twice paid a visit to the Metropolitan Opera to take in two staples of the repertoire. Read on for my thoughts. L’ELISIR D’AMOREThe … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nights at the opera: Terence Blanchard’s jazzy, turbulent CHAMPION opens & Lise Davidsen glimmers in DER ROSENKAVALIER

On two consecutive nights this week, I had the opportunity to take in a pair of notable productions at the Metropolitan Opera – one an anticipated premiere and the other … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – David McVicar’s conservative staging of Bellini’s NORMA returns to the Met with a merely adequate cast

This past week, I made it back to the Metropolitan Opera to catch the revival of David McVicar’s 2017 staging of Bellini’s Norma. The primary reason to catch the production … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – François Girard’s musically resplendent new production of Wagner’s LOHENGRIN continues the bleak saga that began with PARSIFAL

Last night, I attended the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Lohengrin by Richard Wagner. As one of the composer’s Romantic operas, the 1850 work includes elements of traditional grand opera … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Winter nights at the Metropolitan Opera: Giordano’s FEDORA and Poulenc’s DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES

This past week, I had the chance to attend a pair of productions at the Metropolitan Opera before the company takes its newly-instituted February hiatus from performances. Here are my … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINT – PROTOTYPE 2023 continues to be a fertile incubator for the development of important new works of music theater

Last week, I immersed myself in the 2023 edition of Prototype, a weeklong festival of new operas (in the most forward-looking instances of the genre) presented by Beth Morrison Projects … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players brings back its charming and infectiously-pitched production of H.M.S. PINAFORE

Earlier this month at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players wrapped up its holiday run of H.M.S. Pinafore. The frivolous piece takes place … Continue Reading →