In Marina Abramović’s multilayered work for the Bavarian State Opera, the performance artist inserts herself into the stories of operatic icons; in a streamed recital as part of a series from the Met, the singer offered expressive renditions of Monteverdi, Mahler and more. By Heidi Waleson Sept. 15, 2020 5:05 pm ET The premiere of Marina …
Author Archives: Andy Manshel
Abroad at Home: Summer Festivals Still Sing
Opera festivals have moved most of their programming online this year, but the offerings, such as Salzburg’s virtually viewable production of Strauss’s ‘Elektra,’ remain tempting. By Heidi Waleson Aug. 14, 2020 5:02 pm ET Like so many other things, summer festivals and festival travel have mostly fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic, but opera fans can …
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A Dozen Nights at the Opera
With tenor Jonas Kaufmann’s performance on Sunday, the Metropolitan Opera launched Met Stars Live in Concert, a recital series featuring the company’s most popular singers livestreamed from around the world. By Heidi Waleson July 21, 2020 3:04 pm ET Among performing arts organizations, the Metropolitan Opera is in both the worst and the best position right …
Opera’s At-Home Experiments
With the closure of the Met and other opera companies around the U.S., groups have taken to other means of entertaining, from livestreams to songs delivered one-on-one over the phone. By Heidi Waleson June 23, 2020 3:44 pm ET On June 1, the Metropolitan Opera canceled its performances through the end of 2020. Two weeks later, …
The Staying Inside Guide: Arias for All Ages
There are many online resources that offer children an entertaining introduction to the world of opera. By Heidi WalesonMay 26, 2020 4:10 pm ET Years ago, when my daughters were too young for the opera house, they watched Ingmar Bergman’s enchanting 1975 movie of “The Magic Flute” (in Swedish) so many times that the videocassette wore …
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The Staying Inside Guide: Outdoor Performances for Indoor Times
Nature provides the ideal backdrop for these operas that you can enjoy even during lockdown. ByHeidi Waleson April 28, 2020 4:29 pm ET With the opera house off-limits and outdoor access limited, now’s the moment for online events that successfully combine the two. In March, the Industry, the boundary-breaking Los Angeles opera company, was presenting “Sweet Land” in …
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The Staying Inside Guide: High Notes in Documentary
Behind-the-scenes views of the opera world for those experiencing theater withdrawal. ByHeidi Waleson April 18, 2020 7:00 am ET With live performance in theaters ruled out for the foreseeable future, opera houses around the world are working to maintain their relationships with their audiences and donors through performances and other programming offered online. Those relationships are …
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Several Crises Back…
By: Andrew M. Manshel March 23, 2020 On Monday, October 19, 1987, Heidi and I were in Les Beaux de Provence, on our second trip together to Europe. We had a week left on our two-week vacation. We had driven south on the Route du Soleil through a raging rain storm, one that was in …
The Staying Inside Guide: Arias Still Ring Out
Opera companies around the world are making filmed versions of their productions available online. ByHeidi WalesonMarch 23, 2020 5:22 pm ET With opera houses shuttered and social distancing the norm, opera lovers can still find a wealth of lyric theater online. Major companies and arts streaming services are offering free performances from their archives; smaller groups …
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‘Sweet Land’ Review: A Journey Through History
In its ambitious, sprawling opera, staged across Los Angeles State Historic Park, The Industry explores a troubled colonial past. ByHeidi WalesonMarch 10, 2020 3:35 pm ET Los Angeles, CA With “Hopscotch” in 2015, The Industry, Los Angeles’s audacious indie opera company, made art that grew out of the environment that Angelenos inhabit every day. It …
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