A dark opera explores the mind of a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder; a pastoral comedy features earnest lovers, meddling gods and sheep puppets. By Heidi Waleson Jan. 26, 2021 2:29 pm ET Operas directed especially for film have been an intriguing artistic byproduct of the Covid-19 pandemic, opening new interpretive avenues. A case in point is …
Continue reading “‘Soldier Songs’ and ‘Titon et L’Aurore’ Reviews: War’s Wounds and Love’s Arrow”
Now available to watch online, the Atlanta Opera’s in-person performances embraced Covid-19 restrictions as a creative challenge. By Heidi Waleson Jan. 20, 2021 1:21 pm ET The Atlanta Opera has been one of the few American companies to perform live for in-person audiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last fall, using a custom-built, open-sided tent situated on …
This year’s Prototype Festival features six boundary-pushing operas, most of which can be enjoyed at home. By Heidi WalesonJan. 13, 2021 5:07 pm ET The annual Prototype Festival (through Jan. 16), produced by Beth Morrison Projects and HERE, always explores new territory in chamber opera theater. This year’s iteration, restricted to digital content due to the Covid-19 …
Short pieces from 20 Irish composers, a serial space opera and a trio of works inspired by famous diaries. By Heidi Waleson Dec. 28, 2020 2:42 pm ET With opera gone digital due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fans can experience voices, composers and opera companies they might never otherwise have heard. The Irish National Opera commissioned …
A filmed production from the Los Angeles Opera spotlights the work of an 18th-century Black composer; the Boston Camerata offers a clumsy filmed staging of the Purcell classic. By Heidi Waleson Nov. 18, 2020 12:49 pm ET It turns out that pandemic times offer opportunities for new discoveries. The Los Angeles Opera, having canceled its scheduled fall …
Continue reading “‘The Anonymous Lover’ and ‘Dido and Aeneas’ Reviews: A Rediscovery and a Rehash”
Two original productions from the Royal Opera House, performed live before small audiences and viewable on the company’s website, offer a stirring reconnection to opera as it was. By Heidi Waleson Nov. 4, 2020 1:58 pm ET Listen to this article7 minutes00:00 / 07:051x Since government money subsidizes much of their activity, some opera houses in …
Continue reading “‘4/4’ and ‘New Dark Age’ Review: Streamed and Sung From London”
Opera companies’ online offerings, including White Snake Projects’ ambitious ‘Alice in the Pandemic,’ continue to explore the possibilities of virtual performance. By Heidi Waleson Oct. 26, 2020 3:58 pm ET One challenge to making live ensemble music online is latency—the signal lag between the computers of musicians who are not in the same location. With the …
Director Yuval Sharon has repurposed Wagner’s ‘Götterdämmerung’ in an inventive, Covid-appropriate Michigan Theatre Opera production staged in a parking garage for an audience confined to their cars. By Heidi Waleson Oct. 19, 2020 4:50 pm ET Detroit Leave it to director Yuval Sharon to come up with a thought-provoking, original way to do live opera for …
Continue reading “‘Twilight: Gods’ Review: Drive-Through Opera in the Motor City”
This GPS-enabled work of public art uses an app to create a unique sonic experience on your next stroll. By Heidi Waleson Sept. 29, 2020 3:38 pm ET New York After six months without live performance, plus the geographical claustrophobia imposed by barriers to travel, “Ellen Reid Soundwalk” offers both solace and liberation. Ms. Reid, the …
Continue reading “‘Ellen Reid Soundwalk’ Review: Scoring Central Park”
American opera companies, including Houston Grand Opera, have begun to create original content for virtual viewing. By Heidi Waleson Sept. 22, 2020 2:47 pm ET Live performance with audiences remains difficult for opera companies as long as Covid-19 infection rates remain too high to permit large indoor gatherings. In response, several American companies have embraced comprehensive …
AndyManshel.nyc 