For American opera goers, the summer of 2019 could be known as the summer of world premieres. From Saratoga, FL, to Long Beach, CA, just about every opera company/festival active in the summer months has a world premiere on its docket, a … » Read

SAN PEDRO, CA— “Now, I am awake,” the protagonists of The Central Park Five sing collectively in the Prologue. Projected headline images telescope the timeline: These are the five men of color who were accused in 1989, while … » Read

LONDON—Fifteen years on from its much-fêted Broadway premiere, Adam Guettel’s romantic musical The Light in the Piazza finally reaches the London stage as a short-run showcase for the talents of Renée Fleming and teen … » Read

CARDIFF—David Pountney’s swansong from Welsh National Opera will no doubt be seen as the epic production of War and Peace that opened in Fall ’18 and returns next month. But he has one more themed season to get in before he … » Read

LOS ANGELES — A generation has already passed since Meredith Monk first charted an unprecedented operatic world in Atlas. Yet her ambitious stage work, which premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 1991, retains an aura of singularity — … » Read

CHICAGO—On paper, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s subscription program conducted over the weekend by Music Director Riccardo Muti seemed to be a hodgepodge. There were two piccolo concertos, one by Vivaldi, the other composed three … » Read

When audiences come to see a story ballet as part of American Ballet Theatre’s Metropolitan Opera House season, they expect a grand affair: opulent sets, lavish costumes, and drama and romance played out through virtuosic one-upmanship. … » Read

MILFORD HAVEN, Wales—Welsh National Opera could probably do with a few laughs at the moment. Having bid farewell to Artistic Director David Pountney (he leaves this summer) amid talk of falling audiences, it now sees managing director … » Read

OJAI, CA—Historically, the venerable, incorrigibly adventurous Ojai Festival has appointed a conductor to be its annual music director. There are a few exceptions, including the ensemble Eighth Blackbird and soprano Dawn Upshaw. But there … » Read

David Lang set for himself a daunting task in accepting a commission from the New York Philharmonic and five Europe-based entities to compose a new opera. Like many composers, he might have looked for inspiration in a pre-existing play, novel, or … » Read