Missy Mazolli resisted opera when she was studying with Louis Andriessen in the Netherlands.  But she came upon the story of a Swiss advneturer, Isabel Eberhardt, and felt the scope of opera, and the opportunity it offers to engage all the senses, was perfect to tell the story, “Songs from the Uproar,” emerged from the dark waters into which Eberhardt’s journals and diaries had fallen.    Article

One of the short one act plays presented in New York the other night proposed that Empress Catherine visited the revolutionary Pogashov in his prison cell the night before he died   Katrin Hilbe rouses passion and politics as she directs.  Article

Alan Cumming is a brilliant artist who wears many hats.  In this take on Macbeth, all of the roles come through his head, which is whirling into madness.  Shakespeare would love the Scotch actor in his Scotch play.  Would he love Cummings’ Lady Macbeth?  Article 

With the numerous cancellations of former Music Director, James Levine, his inevitable retirement and a two year interregum, the past few years have been a nightmare for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Just in his mid 30s the Latvian born Andris Nelsons has been appointed as Music Director of the BSO and Tanglewood.  Article

Dessay has not been comfortable on the Metropolitan Opera stage recently.  In productions by a theater director who did not understand the opera form, her voice too was often challenged.  Now working with the great British opera director, Sir David McVicar, Dessay is at the top of her form.  During the run of Handel’s Giulio Cesere in New York she regularly practiced Iyengar yoga.  Her split pose imprecating Caesar, her drop to fixed-firm-flatback on the stage floor, all were as natural as her floated top notes and trills. Article

“Le Prix Martin” is less aggressive than Feydeau’s late plays. Yet the message is unmistakable: Although adultery may be fun at the beginning, it soon turns into a terrible burden ..Article

Two European conductors, Andris Nelsons of the City of Birmingham Symphony, and Daniele Gatti, Principal Conductor at the Zurich Opera and frequent conductor at Bayreuth, are both under consideration for the music directorship of the Boston Symphony.  Stephane Deneve of Stuttgart may be in contention too.   Article

Norma is the long distance run for great bel canto sopranos and mezzos too. By that high standard, Angela Meade and Dolora Zajick hit their marks as the Washington National Opera mounted a new production of the Bellini opera.  Article

It is difficult for Europeans to understand that we don’t have princesses in America.  Jelinek is interested in how women are used and abused and how they survive.  Jackie O did better than she imagines in her play.   Article