#operaphiladelphia – reclining standards

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — DF Reviews The Seasons at Opera Philadelphia (for Parterre Box)

Global warming meets the cool factor in The Seasons.

Rossini’s relative rarity gets a splashy if not wholly coherent production at Opera Philadelphia.

A musically strong, theatrically questionable production closes the Opera Philadelphia season.

This production delivers an intriguing mix of conceptual ideas that sometimes scores powerfully.

Unholy Wars is most an opera when it is, with “Lascia ch’io pianga,” actually an opera.

In sum: not a perfect Simon Boccanegra—is there such a thing?—but a grand and often great one.

In 90 minutes, Rene Orth’s riveting work gives us everything we could want in a new opera.

Sharon’s reordering is the boldest aspect of his production, and for me it’s effective.

In bel canto opera, virtuosic singing IS the drama. Accept that, and O22’s OTELLO pays off thrillingly.

In THE RAVEN, Festival O’s characteristic imagination and audacity remain front and center.