Concert and opera reviews from Southern California.
For the Sunday performance of Verdi’s “Otello”, the sound engineers clearly flattered the dynamic conducting of Gustavo Dudamel. The results were some incredibly exciting passages…
Read MoreLike the happy-go-lucky Duke of Mantua in Act II of the opera, the curse was lifted by the opening night and, judging from the winning performance last evening, “Rigoletto” is probably the finest, most compelling show of the current opera season.
Read MoreThis “Orpheus” is a balletomane’s dream. Not only does it feature the Joffrey Ballet, but the singers are asked to play dancers -- Orpheus as choreographer, Eurydice as his prima ballerina wife, Amor as his assistant.
Read MoreMr. Domingo, amazingly, had sung the tenor role Ismaele some 35 years ago and here sings the agony of the flawed king of Babylon with heartrending pathos.
Read MoreThis “Pearl Fishers” is unapologetically traditional, an enchanting mise-en-scène populated with real divers, fishermen, ocean waves and exotic Oriental colors on stage, as well as real pearls in the cast and orchestra.
Read MoreAnna Maria Martinez, in her second outing as Bizet’s femme fatale since Houston ’14, sang to a combined crowd of 10,000 at the Dorothy Chandler and, through live satellite beams, Santa Monica Pier and Exposition Park.
Read MoreAs Cavaradossi, tenor Russell Thomas apparently saves his best for last and sings with rining Italianate tone and slancio that have heretofore escaped him.
Read MoreSoprano Sondra Radvanovsky looks imperious as the eponymous prima donna Floria Tosca, sings powerfully with Scarpia, and sweetly with Cavaradossi, floating some poignant pianissimo high notes and spinning long, creamy lines of great beauty.
Read MoreThe entire concert was most impressive and inspiring because of Mr. Domingo, who just turned 76 and still sang and conducted almost non-stop with boundless energy.
Read MoreLoosely based on the 1991 critical edition by Michael Kaye, but replaced most of the dialogues with Guiraud’s long recitatives that made it a long evening
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