THE HANGOVER REPORT – David McVicar’s new production of NORMA for the Met is grounded and theatrically satisfying

Last night, I finally caught up with Sir David McVicar’s new production of Bellini’s Norma at the Metropolitan Opera, replacing John Copley’s dismal 2001 staging. Happily, the new production by Mr. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Matthew Aucoin’s CROSSING is that rare new opera of the first order

This past weekend, I attended the closing performance of Matthew Aucoin’s tremendous new opera Crossing, one of headliners of this fall’s ongoing Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Maestro Levine leads a noble account of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE at the Met

Tonight, I caught the opening night performance of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte led by the Metropolitan Opera’s esteemed longtime maestro, James Levine. In recent years, Mr. Levine has suffered a series of health … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The thrilling Vittorio Grigolo leads a coolly menacing LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN

Is it that time of year again? With this past Monday’s premiere of David McVicar’s new production of Bellini’s Norma, the Met’s 2017-2018 season was off and running. Last night, I … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Michel van der Aa’s immersive BLANK OUT at the Park Avenue Armory is a triumph of concept and execution

Tonight, I caught the penultimate performance of Michel van der Aa’s immersive Blank Out at the Park Avenue Armory. Over the years, the Armory has become one of the key purveyors of must-see … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The rarely-performed LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST is given a solid treatment by New York City Opera

Yesterday I caught a rare production Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, an operatic adaptation of David Belasco’s play The Golden Girl of the West (I had only previously seen the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ivan Fischer’s riveting DON GIOVANNI is opera at its most potent

I had missed Ivan Fischer’s acclaimed, stripped-down production of Don Giovanni when it last graced New York in 2011 as part of Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival. However, in subsequent … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Patricia Racette’s raw performance lifts the Met’s SALOME

Richard Strauss’s lurid and luscious Salome has long been one of my sentimental favorites in the operatic repertoire. Strauss’s powerful, sensuous opera is one that exudes, at least for me, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Women rule the world at The Met: Anna Netrebko triumphs in MANON LESCAUT and Kaija Saariaho’s L’AMOUR DE LOIN mesmerizes

This past week, women certainly ruled the world at the Met, with Anna Netrebko triumphing in the title role of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, as well as the premiere of Kaija … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – New York City Opera’s FALLUJAH by Tobin Stokes makes an impact despite being didactic

The resuscitated New York City Opera continues to search for its artistic niche with its production of Tobin Stokes’ Fallujah, a new opera that attempts to depict the horrors of … Continue Reading →