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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.

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May 15, 2023
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.

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June 19, 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.

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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.

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May 7, 2022
Madama Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera, Metopera.org
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

Madama Butterfly at Lincoln Center

From the moment lights dimmed and the curtain raised, we saw Puccini’s vision of Madama Butterfly and entered his artistic world, thoroughly suspending our disbelief to participate in a story of sublime creative beauty, poignancy, and tragedy. Lyric soprano Eleonora Buratto’s breathtaking, sumptuous high Db filled the concert hall with rapturous, soaring grandeur.

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March 30, 2022
Lise Davidsen in Ariadne und Naxos at the Metropolitan Opera. Metopera.org
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

Ariadne Auf Naxos

The music of Ariadne Auf Naxos exemplified Strauss’ sumptuous instrumental colorings and is a remarkable tonal masterpiece.

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March 21, 2022
Metropolitan Opera Staircase at Lincoln Center.
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

Intimate Apparel

In Intimate Apparel, author Lynn Nottage brings to life the struggles of African-American women who came to New York after Reconstruction.

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March 20, 2022
May Scheider as Zerbinetta in "Ariadne auf Naxos"
Music Appreciation
Edward A Kliszus

The Zerbinetta Aria

Coloratura soprano Edita Gruverova performs the virtuoso Zerbinetta aria from Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos

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March 14, 2022
George London Award 2022 winners. Photo by Jennifer Taylor HR
Music Reviews
Edward A Kliszus

The 50th George London Foundation Competition

This event is a gift from the legacy of renowned bass-baritone George London (1920-1985). The Competition introduces and welcomes luminaries of the operatic stage to the world. Past winners of this prestigious competition include Renée Fleming, Sondra Radvanovsky, and Dawn Upshaw. 2022c Competition winner Eric Ferring marvelously conveyed the beauty of each subtle impassioned intone of the music in the bel canto style with mastery of messe di voce, phrasing, agility, and sangfroid.

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February 26, 2022