Author Archives: Andy Manshel

‘La Straniera’ and ‘La Gazza Ladra’ Reviews: New Corners of the Canon

With period instruments and an unusual orchestral setup, Teatro Nuovo’s productions of two obscure operas by Bellini and Rossini offer a taste of what once made these works so wildly successful. ByHeidi WalesonJuly 19, 2019 4:08 pm ET New York Teatro Nuovo, founded by conductor Will Crutchfield to apply historical performance practice to early 19th-century …

Continue reading “‘La Straniera’ and ‘La Gazza Ladra’ Reviews: New Corners of the Canon”

Ellen West’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Reviews: Food’s Cruel Torment

At Opera Saratoga, the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s riveting one-act about a woman with an eating disorder, and a confused, puppet-heavy production of Humperdinck’s fairy-tale opera. Keith Phares and Jennifer Zetlan in ‘Ellen West’ PHOTO: GARY DAVID GOLDJuly 8, 2019 2:42 pm ET Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Ricky Ian Gordon’s riveting one-act opera “Ellen West, ” …

Continue reading “Ellen West’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Reviews: Food’s Cruel Torment”