The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

Recent posts

Category: Opera Review

  • Alternate Cast of Don Giovanni at Seattle Opera

    * Notes * The alternate cast of Seattle Opera’s current Don Giovanni production is well worth seeing. Their final performance is this Friday, but they also sang on January 14th and 21st. Morgan Smith had a very different characterization of the title role than Mariusz Kwiecien. Smith seemed less dangerous and more athletic. His voice…

  • Opening of Don Giovanni at Seattle Opera

    * Notes * Chris Alexander’s new production of Don Giovanni premiered last Saturday at Seattle Opera. The set, designed by Robert A. Dahlstrom, was rather flat and limiting. Basically, it consisted of a large wall with many partitions, which did make the scene changes seamless, but was rather domineering and monolithic. Marie-Therese Cramer’s costumes were…

  • Carmen at ROH

    * Notes * A new co-production with the Norwegian Opera of Carmen opened at the Royal Opera House opened last month and runs until February 3, 2007. All the performances are sold out, but 67 tickets are held to be sold the day of the performance as day seats. Last Thursday I tried this, getting…

  • L’incoronazione di Poppea

    * Notes * Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea was performed at Los Angeles Opera from November 25th to December 16th this year. I had the opportunity to attend the penultimate performance in the Grand Circle. All in all, the experience was moving. The music is amazing and the production did not detract from it. Harry Bicket…

  • Closing of Carmen

    *Notes* The final performance of Carmen this season was on the 9th. The standing room area was fuller than it has been in a long time, not unlike the opening night of a season. The performance was adequate, though Hadar Halévy still gasped a few times and danced badly. However, Marco Berti was most impressive,…

  • Sola, Perduta, Abbandonata

    * Notes * The last opera of the year at San Francisco Opera will be Manon Lescaut this Sunday. Overall, this production was the best of the seven, because the cast is strong and the set design is neither distracting nor nonsensical. It is interesting to note that Carmen sold out for the last three…

  • Carmen, ou la Carmencita

    * Notes * The fourth performance of Carmen this season was yesterday, and I had the chance of seeing the performance from Box A. From there I could discern that Hadar Halévy was gasping, rather than wobbling, at least, most of the time. She has a wholesome, sunny smile. Marco Berti was rather loud, but…

  • Buona sera, mio signore

    * Notes * Il Barbiere di Siviglia closes this Thursday, and last Sunday’s performance was not bad, though I was rather distracted by reading the vocal score and not watching the stage. * Tattling * The main problem with the balcony is the latecomers, because otherwise, the sound is rather good up there. A family…

  • L’amour est un oiseau rebelle

    * Notes * Mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich is singing Carmen in the alternate cast at San Francisco Opera, replacing Hadar Halévy, who in turn is replacing Marina Domashenko in the regular cast. Aldrich debuted at San Francisco Opera last Saturday, her voice was strong at first, and she sang the Habanera beautifully. She also managed to…

  • Opening of Carmen

    * Notes * Yet another revival of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s production of Carmen opened yesterday. This particular production seems to be a staple at San Francisco Opera, it comes around again every few years, the last time was in 2002, and the time before that was in 1997. This production is fairly traditional and, in truth,…