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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Abroad at Home: Summer Festivals Still Sing”
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 …
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, …
AndyManshel.nyc 