Miss Saigon Review – An old story newly told

Posted on May 18, 2013 by philip

An American serviceman in the Far East has a happy liaison with a young native woman that is solemnized in a native ceremony. He is suddenly transferred away leaving her behind. Three years pass. He returns to the United States and marries an American woman. Unknown to him, he is the father of a son by his native wife, who never gives up hope of being reunited with her husband. Continue reading »

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Two Handles on Handel – Orlando (Pocket Opera) and Giulio Cesare (MetHD)

Posted on May 10, 2013 by philip

Before I start my review, I want to make it clear where I am coming from. I like the music of George Frideric Handel but Continue reading »

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Orpheus Review – Pocket Opera Captures Essence of Offenbach’s Farce

Posted on May 6, 2013 by philip

Offenbach is one of Donald Pippin’s favorite opera composers, and Orpheus in the Underworld is one of his operas most often produced by Pocket Opera. Continue reading »

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Schicchi Review – Part Two of Opera San JosÉ’s double bill from Puccini’s Il Trittico

Posted on April 19, 2013 by philip

Twenty-minutes after the ethereal redemption that ended Suor Angelica I’m back in my seat applauding Maestro Joseph Marcheso as he makes his way to the podium. He well deserves the applause for the way he led the orchestra in perfect sync with the action and the singing through all the rapid swings of mood throughout the first opera. And with the crashing discords that begin the overture, we immediately know that the forthcoming mood will be drastically different from the emotional wringer we have just been through. Continue reading »

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Angelica Review – Part One of Opera San JosÉ’s double bill from Puccini’s Il Trittico

Posted on April 16, 2013 by philip

There is so much to say about the wonderful production that I saw on Sunday, April 14, 2013, that I am going to do it in two reviews. Here is my review of Suor Angelica; the review of Gianni Schicchi will appear shortly.  Continue reading »

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Sorcerer Review – Lamplighters excel in seldom-heard early Gilbert and Sullivan opera

Posted on March 28, 2013 by philip

William S. Gilbert (librettist) and Arthur Sullivan wrote 14 operas together in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The middle nine (in order of composition) beginning with Pinafore in 1878 and concluding with The Gondoliers in 1889 are still performed more or less frequently by amateur, community, and professional companies throughout the English-speaking world. Continue reading »

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Pocket Opera’s Don Giovanni Review – A Masterpiece

Posted on March 23, 2013 by philip

At 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 10, 2013 the house lights dim then brighten and Dianna Shuster, Executive Director comes on stage to make her opening announcement. A few of us old-timers start to applaud, not only to tell Dianna that we love her, but to Continue reading »

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Lucia Review – And a Special Extra Treat at West Bay Opera

Posted on March 7, 2013 by philip

The curtain comes down on the fourth and final performance of WBO’s production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with tumultuous applause drowning out the last few chords of the orchestra.  Continue reading »

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Princess Ida Review – Lamplighters do it again

Posted on February 23, 2013 by philip

Last summer I ended my review of the Lamplighter’s production of The Mikado with a personal plea to F. Lawrence Ewing who had played Ko-Ko:

If you’re looking for professors who are sometimes not profound
Spare this humble essayist
By my readers I’d be missed
To hear you sing King Gama next I want to be around
To see you shake your fist
As a true misogynist
.   .   .   .   . Continue reading »

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Tosca Review – All Toscas are Above Average

Posted on December 30, 2012 by philip

Years and years ago when I was a lad of sixty or so I attended performances of the Minneapolis Symphony and the Minnesota Opera.  I would then read the review of the performance in the Minneapolis paper and become extremely annoyed by the music critic Continue reading »

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