The Classical Review

Light, warmth and mastery from Andsnes at Carnegie Hall

Tuesday night was frigid but there was ample warmth in Carnegie Hall, emanating from the stage where pianist Leif Ove Andsnes was playing. The crowd was unusually thin, likely due to the weather, but ...
The Classical Review

Rust Belt bel canto: Met provides a dark, mostly compelling update to “Lucia”

Nadine Sierra in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl Cheers greeted Simon Stone and his creative team Saturday night as they walked onstage ...
The Classical Review

Florida Grand Opera’s “Silent Night” proves a rich and moving tale of common humanity

Alex DeSocio (Audebert), Kyle Albertson (Horstmayer) and Elijah William Brown (Jonathan Dale) in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, presented by Florida Grand Opera at the Arsht Center in Miami. Photo: Lewis ...
The Classical Review

Nelsons, cast and BSO give heartfelt and idiomatic advocacy to Barber’s “Vanessa”

Jennifer Holloway (left) in the title role and Samantha Hankey as Erika in Samuel Barber’s Vanessa, performed by Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra Thursday night. Photo: Winslow Townson ...
The Classical Review

Outstanding new opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” makes a moving debut

Flora Hawk and Jonathan Michie star in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia at Virginia Opera. Photo: Dave Pearson Virginia Opera is marking its golden anniversary season in the ...
The Classical Review

Sierra and Villazón shine brightly in Met’s new “Sonnambula”

Nadine Sierra stars as Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera For such a famous opera, a vehicle for some of the great modern divas, La Sonnambula ...
The Classical Review

Philadelphia’s BalletX navigates uncertain times with ingenuity

Presenting dance performances during a global pandemic is a test of ingenuity and perseverance. On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia-based BalletX beautifully rose to the challenge. Three short films ...
The Classical Review

A dazzling desert season bears rich fruit with Santa Fe Opera’s Debussy, Monteverdi

Samantha Hankey and Huw Montague Rendall in Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO The libretto of Pelléas, adapted almost directly by the composer from the ...
The Classical Review

Noseda, NSO and strong cast deliver the grandeur and intimate drama of “Otello”

Erika Grimaldi as Desdemona and Arsen Soghomonyan in the title role of Verdi’s Otello, in a concert performance by the National Symphony Orchestra Friday night at the Kennedy Center. Photo: Scott ...
The Classical Review

Dubious “Dutchman” and trenchant “Tosca” refract two classics through modern lenses at Santa Fe Opera

Nicholas Brownlee and Elza van den Heever in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO General director Robert Meya has given Wagner fans cause to rejoice: Santa Fe Opera ...
The Classical Review

Santa Fe Opera rounds out comeback season with brilliant Verdi and Wagner

Quinn Kelsey stars in the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown The most complex works on the stage this summer at Santa Fe Opera came at the end of the first full week ...
The Classical Review

Mäkelä, CSO wrap year with bracing contemporary works, Beethoven and Schumann

The final Chicago Symphony Orchestra program of 2025 offered much to attract concertgoers: warhorses by Beethoven and Schumann as well as the subscription debut of pianist and Van Cliburn gold medal ...