AIX-EN-PROVENCE— Prima la musica, dopo le parole as Richard Strauss affirmed in his last opera, Capriccio . ‘‘First the music, then the words.’’ In late 20th-century Europe, however, both composers and librettists … » Read

CHICAGO—Thank heaven for not-so-grand opera. Grand in the financial sense, that is. Of course who doesn’t thrill to a stage-filling Triumphal March or a lavishly hellish Nibelheim? But in recent months, local opera companies with … » Read

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.— A public service announcement is in order. Yes, the Ravinia Festival might be most famous as the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or as the site of the Steans Music Institute, the prestigious training … » Read

LONDON—If you’ve ever wondered what Puccini was up to between the success of Le Villi in 1884 and Manon Lescaut in 1893, the answer is… struggling. Edgar , his second opera, flopped in 1889. Revised, it fared better in 1888 and … » Read

On June 27 reality tragically intruded on an evening devoted to fantasy—the Cincinnati Opera’s opening performance of Verdi’s La Traviata . As patrons were arriving 15 minutes before the curtain was to go up, a standoff between … » Read

On June 30 Marin Alsop, director of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival Philharmonic, combined her assemblage of musicians just beginning their careers with the Heritage Signature Chorale for a sold-out performance at the Washington … » Read

LONDON —Orlando is one of Handel’s finest Italian operas, full of good tunes and with a refreshingly simple plot offering excellent opportunities for five-star singers. Written in 1733 for the King's Theatre in London, a venue in … » Read

SAN FRANCISCO—With the symphony’s season clouded by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen’s startling decision to depart in the middle of next year, at the conclusion of his five-year contract, this June 28 concert at Davies Hall … » Read

Innocence is not only the standout of San Francisco Opera’s summer season [see Monday's review] but one of the most significant achievements of the company in recent years—and a highlight of this past season overall. Were it not for … » Read

SAN FRANCISCO—A year after Kaija Saariaho’s death at the age of 70, her final opera, Innocence , received its much-anticipated American debut this month at San Francisco Opera. The work’s reputation as a harrowing and innovative … » Read