Reviews & Articles

Find Reviews by Category
L-R: Joanna Vladyka-Mezzo Soprano, Aaron Blake-Tenor, Cristina Maria Castro-Soprano, Mario Dioza Moresco-Baritone, Maggie Finnegan-Soprano. Photo by Edward Kliszus
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

On Site Opera presents The Magic Flute

The On Site Opera production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute was a night of magical enchantment, charismatic strains, and sublime artistry. Moreover, the characters roamed about the garden and interacted with the audience, creating an intimate, immersive experience nearly impossible in a concert hall. With superb singing, a refined but effectual musical accompaniment of piano, and two accomplished flutists, listeners were transported to a mythical realm of captivating imagination and charm. The audience’s experience was transformative, transcending into the boundaries of reality through engagement in the rich tapestry of the opera’s narrative, characters, and music.

Read More »
June 24, 2023
Eric McKeever as Michele in Il Tabarro by the On Site Opera. Photo by Bowie Dunwoody
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

The ON SITE OPERA Presents Puccini’s Il Tabarro

Soloists in the ON SITE Opera production of Puccini’s Il Tabarro were consistently marvelous and presented a thrilling performance of a seminal artwork with the support of a splendid chorus, orchestra, and production team. With fine sound, staging, and costumes rendered in a unique maritime setting, we extravagantly experienced the opera’s dramatic and emotional depth characterized through Puccini’s rich, evocative inventions. The performance was a memorable, compelling, and immersive experience.

Read More »
May 15, 2023
Ted Sperling conducts MasterVoices production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe at Carnegie Hall. Photo by Toby Tenenbaum
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus

MasterVoices presents Iolanthe

This production of Iolanthe by MasterVoices at Carnegie Hall portrayed the essence of superlative artistry coupled with modern technological tools. Audience members were masterfully delivered full access to every quip, idiom, and reference intended by Gilbert and Sullivan. During the production, laughs, chuckles, cheers, and other affirmations continued. Applause occurred frequently, and the denouement was acknowledged through an extended standing ovation and multiple bows. The soloists, dancer, orchestra, costumes, choreography, and lighting were superb. Sperling’s conducting was masterful, precise, effective, and expressive.

Read More »
May 5, 2023
L-R Flamenco guitarist Juan Pedro Jimenez, Flamenco Dancer Nelida Tirado and percussionist Jeremy Smith at Art Bath in The Sunken Garden. Photo by Santiago Felipe @santiagraphy
Dance
Edward A Kliszus

The Art Bath Artist Salon Series

The Art Bath Salon Series program was 21st century-multimedia at its finest, but with the intimacy of the Parisian salons made famous by the likes of Gertrude Stein, Gustave Courbet, and Franz Liszt. In this inviting artistic environment with stimulating badinage, patrons experienced and marveled at film, sculpture, painting, dance, photography, and music created by world-class artists and performers.

Read More »
May 1, 2023
The American Classical Orchestra presents Healing Bach at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer. Photo by Edward Kliszus
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus

The ACO presents Healing Bach

The The ACO presents Healing Bach featured sopranos Sherezade Panthaki and Corrine Byrne, mezzo-soprano Sylvia Leith, countertenor Daniel Moody, tenors Brian Giebler and Lawrence Jones, and bass-baritones Edmund Milly and Joseph Parrish. This astounding coterie of gifted musicians presented continuously breathtakingly beautiful and inspired performances.

Read More »
March 3, 2023
Ginger Costa-Jackson as Carmen. Photo Credit: Erin Baiano
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

MasterVoices presents Carmen

With the production’s delights of flamenco dancing, passionate arias, magnificent costuming, staging, lighting, soaring melodies, and powerful drama, we ultimately gasp in awe at the power of Bizet’s Fate theme, akin to the tragedy of the last act in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with its piercing melancholy. Carmen’s impact is profound, in part due to Bizet’s launching of the verismo school, where contemporary characters live true to life.

Read More »
October 26, 2022
The Death of Ophelia at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, posted on Openingnight.Online. MET DP852283
Music Reviews
Elizabeth Ann Foster

Hamlet

Hamlet was not written for dance numbers but for murders. But there are ample opportunities for arias. The recent Macbeth version, directed by Sam Gold, added original songs to altered text. A full-length opera of Hamlet is ambitious.

Read More »
June 19, 2022
Merkin Hall. Kaufmanmusicenter.org.
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

Riverside Opera Ensemble

The broad selection of musical works provided marvelous musical moments; artistry, vocal command, drama, and sheer choric beauty abounded.

Read More »
May 17, 2022
La Boheme Stage Set, Act 1, by Reginald Gray
Music Reviews
Elizabeth Ann Foster

La Bohéme at the Met

Taking several newbies to The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in New York was fascinating and heartwarming as I witnessed their almost instantaneous psychic connection to the multimedia extravaganza with its story, music, drama, characters, setting, orchestra, and amazing choric artistes extraordinaire – the singers.

Read More »
May 16, 2022
Don Carlos at the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center. Photo: Metopera.org
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

Don Carlos

In the Met’s Don Carlos we are in the time of the Inquisition at the peak of its ultramontane evil powers. We discover love’s immortality.

Read More »
May 7, 2022