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When opera companies protect abusers
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Candide: projecting the best of all possible worlds
There is the vexing notion that Bernstein was his own Dr. Pangloss, coaxing himself out of Westphalia into a musical and theatrical breach. If divine providence finally lights the way, it is energized more by the rigorous tug of theatrical absurdity and naive optimism, than Voltaire's satirical bite.
Read MoreBeloved Bernstein: HGO's West Side Story
HGO hit the nail on the head in making West Side Story come across as a highly successful play with songs, with Jerome Robbins's choreography being by far the lead attraction of the evening in terms of its sheer power of unspoken expression.
Read More"Requiem for a Lost Girl is based on a true story."
"The tragedy of her death and stigma that surrounded it is still with me. This experience is how I found my way into the themes of this piece."
Read MoreSweeney Todd: Demon of Disguise
Audiences have been flocking to the Barrow Street Theater, which has been converted into a 135-seat pie shop, for over a year. The producers have the delicious cheek to sell meat pies, by reservation only, prior to each performance. They will be serving up those pies well into the summer.
Read MoreFidelio: still political in 2018
"I hope people who know Fidelio already will be surprised and challenged to experience the opera in a new way. I hope newcomers to Fidelio will come away with admiration for Beethoven's beautiful music and appreciation of this story's powerful resonance today. I hope all audience members will take away questions and concerns that they continue to talk about and wrestle with."
Read MoreDistractions & indifference: Opera Omaha's Medea
Cherubini's music suggests that Medea is going out in a blaze of remorseless glory, but nothing manifested in the staging to support this. I wanted to either hate Medea or cheer her on, but I was left feeling indifferent and unsatisfied.
Read MorePacific Opera Victoria's steampunk-meets-fantasy Rinaldo
As they fall asleep, the magical characters of Rinaldo are transported into their living room to enact the story to the children's delight. It's one part steampunk, one part fantasy movie, one part 50s B-movie, and 100% delightful.
Read MoreBraid "brilliant" in Tosca role debut
Her performance was made more exquisite by the fact she sang the whole aria on the floor, often in positions that would make most voice teachers and coaches cringe. And yet, her sound never suffered, maintaining her presence well above the swell of the orchestra, in nothing short of a world-class performance.
Read MoreTalking with singers: Sara Duchovnay
"In addition to emotional support, I want to be able to provide members of my community with opportunities for financial stability so they can get out of unhealthy situations, whether they be unhealthy relationships, less-than-ideal living situations, or jobs that don’t enhance their careers."
Read MoreMetroWest Double Bill Provides Thrills & Delights Despite Mismatch
Of course, sometimes the trickiest part of finding a pair of operas to form a double bill with is finding the links between the two works to be presented: after all, an operatic double-bill is only made stronger with the right pairing of works to perform.
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