opera

Music

Midsummer Dreamscapes: Boston Lyric Opera’s “Dream”

Thumbnail image for Midsummer Dreamscapes: Boston Lyric Opera’s “Dream” May 6, 2011

BLO closes out its season with a lucid production of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Music

Sex and the City (of Rome): BLO’s “Agrippina”

March 17, 2011
Thumbnail image for Sex and the City (of Rome): BLO’s “Agrippina”

Handel’s “Agrippina” describes the title character’s attempt to install her son Nero as emperor, or at least heir, to her husband (and uncle) Claudius’ throne. You might remember something similar from the last episode of I, Claudius (and Claudius the God), but Handel’s librettist Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani had his own take on things and it [...]

Music

Meta-Minimalism and OperaHub’s “The Four-Note Opera”

Thumbnail image for Meta-Minimalism and OperaHub’s “The Four-Note Opera” March 13, 2011

It’s long past the short run of OperaHub‘s production of Tom Johnson’s 1972 The Four-Note Opera, but I owe a few words to this hilarious show from a company that’s doing big things in the fringe opera scene. This production marked the close of their season, as they move to rename and re-orient themselves (and [...]

Music

Death in Atlantis: The BLO”s “Emperor of Atlantis”

Thumbnail image for Death in Atlantis: The BLO”s “Emperor of Atlantis” February 5, 2011

Boston Lyric Opera is nailing it with its Opera Annex productions. Last year’s Turn of the Screw was a hugely anticipated smash hit and this season’s production of Victor Ullmann’s The Emperor of Atlantis is something of a surprise hit, continuing the record of sold-out runs. Obviously, the BCA’s Calderwood Pavilion doesn’t make quite as [...]

Music

Operatic Beastiality: Guerilla Opera’s “Heart of a Dog”

Thumbnail image for Operatic Beastiality: Guerilla Opera’s “Heart of a Dog” September 19, 2010

Fringe opera at its best in a smart meta-satire…with plenty of sex and gore.

Music

MetroWest Opera presents “The Magic Flute” with a boarding school twist

May 2, 2010

More fringe opera coverage from Erin Huelskamp; MetroWest Opera sets The Magic Flute in a 1920s boarding school.

Music

Opera Boston’s “Madame White Snake”

Thumbnail image for Opera Boston’s “Madame White Snake” March 3, 2010

Boston lowbrow attends the first local opera premiere in decades.