Elizabeth – The Scarlet Ibis, the first opera of the third annual Prototype Festival and part of Opera America’s New Works Forum, was a refreshing break from the classical opera scene. The intimate atmosphere of HERE was perfect for Stefan Weisman’s chamber music and David Cote’s libretto telling the story of Brother and his young disabled… [Read More]
The Future of Opera in 20 Minute Increments: Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative
Elizabeth – Last Friday we hopped on the afternoon Acela to DC to check out Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative present three new 20 minute operas at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Now in its third year, the goal of the program is to train librettists and composers and prepare them… [Read More]
Man and Woman Meld Musically: The Premiere of As One at BAM
In BAM’s Fisher Space the moving new opera As One had its world premiere. Composed by Laura Kaminsky with Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed as co-librettists, As One tells the story of transgender Hannah from her childhood up through adulthood when she transitions to living as a woman. I entered the Fisher Space with… [Read More]
The Music That Isn’t There Yet: The American Premiere of Stockhausen’s Michaels Reise um die Erde at Avery Fisher Hall
photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Festival Facebook Elizabeth – We had tickets to Toshio Hosokawa’s one act opera Matsukaze this past weekend, but when offered the chance to see the American premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Michaels Reise um die Erde (Michael’s Journey Around the Earth) we jumped at the chance. Admittedly, I don’t know much… [Read More]
The Gospel According to Dudamel, Adams and Sellars: The Gospel According to the Other Mary at Avery Fisher Hall
Last week, under the cool springy hair and steady hands of LA Philharmonic’s dynamic Gustavo Dudamel, Avery Fisher Hall held the New York premiere of John Adams and Peter Sellars’ most recent collaboration, The Gospel According to the Other Mary. The crowd seemed noticeably more excited, and aggressive, than the usual tame Avery Fisher vibe…. [Read More]
Discordant Fellatio: Powder Her Face (NYCO at BAM)
We saw the final performance of New York City Opera’s production of Powder Her Face at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Powder Her Face follows the life of Margaret Campbell, the so-called Dirty Duchess of Argyll, her many affairs, divorce trial in 1963, and eventual lonely death. Rich subject matter for an opera. We had seen… [Read More]
Dirty Codpieces, Sequins and Sneezing: The Tempest at the Metropolitan Opera
We saw The Tempest at the Met last week and it left me with many questions. Perhaps someone can answer at least a few of them. I know it was a contemporary opera, written in the last decade, but it left me not only with questions but also a general feeling of unease like I… [Read More]
