The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

Recent posts

Month: February 2010

  • Don Carlo at Opéra national de Paris

    * Notes *The opening of Don Carlo at Opéra national de Paris was a bit slapdash. Graham Vick's production had some attractive elements, but lost a lot of tension in the drama because of how slow scene changes were. This was not helped by the two intermissions for four acts. Tobias Hoheisel's costumes were ostentatious…

  • Idomeneo at Opéra national de Paris

    * Notes *Wednesday's performance of Idomeneo at Palais Garnier had some beautiful singing. Tamar Iveri's Elettra could be strident and hysterical, without being ugly. Isabel Bayrakdarian (Ilia) does have quite a bit of vibrato at times, but her voice is pretty. Vesselina Kasarova certainly looked the role of Idamante, but her wobbly gasping was distracting.…

  • Les Arts Florissants’ Giulio Cesare

    * Notes *The Tuesday opening of Giulio Cesare at Salle Pleyel was stunning. For one thing, most of the singing was breathtaking. Both low voices were lovely, these being Andreas Wolf (Curio) and Umberto Chiummo (Achilla). The latter enunciated particularly well, and his aria "Se a me non sei crudele" was strong. Rachid Ben Abdeslam…

  • Staatskapelle Berlin plays Beethoven Piano Concertos

    * Notes *Last weekend the Staatskapelle Berlin performed all five of Beethoven piano concertos paired with works by Arnold Schönberg at Salle Pleyel. Friday night started off with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, a cheerful, almost Mozartian piece. Daniel Barenboim played straightforwardly, without any bravado. The woodwinds had a certain whimpering quality,…

  • Lohan Cancels

    Lindsay Lohan has canceled on going to this year's Vienna Opera Ball with Richard Lugnar tonight. AP Article | Wiener Opernball

  • SF Opera Audited Financial Results 2008-2009

    San Francisco Opera's 86th season ran from September 5, 2008 to July 5, 2009. Eleven operas were performed in 89 performances. The annual operating income was $416,032 on an annual operating budget of $67,806,615. Press Release [PDF] | Official Site | Last Year