opera

The word opera comes from the Italian word for 'work', and has come to mean a theatrical work in which most roles are taken by singers and in which music plays a fundamental part. An opera will often contain elements of various different performing arts, such as music, dance (sometimes including ballet sequences), acting, spoken dialogue, costume, scenery and staging, lighting and video projection, and will often be a collaboration between protagonists of the various arts involved. Opera began in Italy at the end of the sixteenth century and spread quickly through Europe.

You'll find our articles about opera below, with the most recent listed first.

 

A selection of articles about opera

Spotlight. Rare but Lovely - Gerald Fenech recommends Catalani's 'La falce'. 'Performances are excellent in every sense and Fabrizio Da Ros keeps things moving without undue fuss.'

Ensemble. A Sure Feel for Dramatic Pacing - Mike Wheeler reviews Opera North's Mascagni/Rachmaninov double bill

Classical music news - Kublai Khan - The first performances of Salieri's opera 'Cublai, gran kan de' Tartari' will take place in April 2024

Spotlight. Fire and Brimstone - Gerald Fenech marvels at Alpesh Chauhan's new Tchaikovsky recording with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for Chandos. '... Chauhan's passionate approach is consistently vibrant, sensitive and fastidiously attentive to orchestral details.'

Spotlight. Charmfully Invigorating - Gerald Fenech listens to eighteenth century composer Boismortier's 'Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse'. 'Matthias Maute and his Ensemble Caprice deliver performances of the utmost clarity ...'

Ensemble. An Expendable Frivolity? - Ron Bierman assesses San Diego Opera's production of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'

Profile. It's Art - Ron Bierman talks to Amerian opera director Kyle Lang

Spotlight. Sensitively Beautiful - Gerald Fenech recommends two albums from Signum Classics, marking this year's Puccini anniversary. '... an irresistible programme full of shimmering melodies ...'

Spotlight. One of the Happiest French Symphonies - Gerald Fenech is impressed by Édouard Lalo's orchestral music. '... consistently transparent and intensely alive.'

Classical music news. Laughter and Tears - Announcing a new Canadian opera and marking the Gustav Holst anniversary at the UK's Thaxted Festival

Classical music news. New Year's Eve from Berlin - The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's 2023 New Year's Eve concert will be broadcast live to around three-hundred-and-fifty cinemas across Europe

Ensemble. Innocence Leading to Empathy - Ron Bierman experiences the mariachi opera 'The Miracle of Remembering'

Spotlight. A Window into the Glories of the Past - Geoff Pearce listens to Adrian Boult conducting Berg, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams. '... truly inspired performance.'

Spotlight. Overwhelmingly Thrilling - Gerald Fenech is impressed by Ivan Repušić's recording of Verdi's 'I lombardi alla prima crociata'. 'Another triumph in Repušić's ongoing cycle of early Verdi in excellent sound and annotations.'

Classical music news - International Opera Awards - A series of organisations and individuals were honoured at a ceremony in Poland on 9 November 2023, plus other news

Spotlight. Uncanny Precision - Gerald Fenech recommends Frieder Bernius' recording of 'L'Olimpiade' by Hasse. 'Frieder Bernius has a convincing way with Hasse.'

Ensemble. An Exhilarating Celebration of Purcell's Genius - Mike Wheeler enjoys Opera North's 'eco-entertainment' based on music by Henry Purcell

Ensemble. A Joy to Watch - Mike Wheeler finds that Opera North's 'La Rondine' has all the company's usual flair, but has reservations in general about Giacomo Puccini's music

Ensemble. Miraculous Orchestration - Mike Wheeler enjoys Opera North's production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Falstaff'

Spotlight. Nonexistence Reconsidered - John Dante Prevedini listens to a recording of John Aylward's opera 'Oblivion'. '... enigmatic and philosophically challenging ...'

Spotlight. Dramatic and Passionate - Gerald Fenech ardently recommends extracts from operas in the Italian verismo tradition. 'Hindoyan gets superb playing from his Liverpudlians, and the white-hot streak of the music is delivered with unabashed virtuosity.'

Classical music news. November 2023 Newsletter - Our November 2023 PDF newsletter, 'Beautiful, Powerful Music', has just been published

Classical music news. A Competition, a Resignation and a New Opera - The Global Music Education League's competition returns to China after a four-year break, Martyn Brabbins resigns from English National Opera with immediate effect, and excerpts from Jaap Nico Hamburger's new opera 'Ariella' are to be performed across Canada

Classical music news - A New Worker-owned Cooperative - American classical recording company Soundmirror has transitioned to employee ownership

Spotlight. Plain Strange - Patrick Maxwell watches and listens to the new Deutsche Grammophon Blu-Ray disc of Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' from Bayreuth. 'The singing and the playing are largely excellent, but this is not the greatest production available ...'

Classical music news - Malcolm Arnold Festival - The eighteenth Malcolm Arnold Festival will run from 14-15 October 2023, live in Northampton, UK, with an online day on 29 October 2023

Classical music news - Ben Glassberg - British conductor Ben Glassberg will become Music Director of Volksoper Wien in January 2024

CD Spotlight. Truly Unique - Patrick Maxwell pays homage to a 1955 Parsifal from the Bayreuth Festival. 'All these impressive voices, heard here in their prime, combined with Knappertsbusch's wonderful orchestra, make a sound which is truly intimate and doubly intense.'

Ensemble. A Unique Sense of Bravado and Fun - Roderic Dunnett reviews Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen' at Longborough Festival Opera

Ensemble. A Formidable Creation - Roderic Dunnett experiences the first performance of the opera 'Anna' by English composer David Matthews

Ensemble. Extra Joys - Salieri at Bampton, enjoyed by Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight. Masterly Intuition - Gerald Fenech gives the thumbs up to Danacord's Thomas Jensen Legacy Volume 15. '... unfettered enthusiasm and emotional gusto.'

Classical music news - Emotional Highs - Forthcoming performances in the USA and UK

Classical music news - Previews - Looking ahead to events during the 2023/24 season

CD Spotlight. Haydn's 'Turkish' Soundworld - Gerald Fenech explores the composer's seventh opera, 'L'Incontro Improvviso'. '... excellent throughout ...'

Ensemble. Opening up New Possibilities - Mike Wheeler comes across another strand in the concept of historical performance whilst reviewing Handel's 'Orlando' at the Buxton Festival

Ensemble. Really Nice People - Mozart's 'Il Re Pastore' at the Buxton Festival impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Misunderstandings and Jealousy - Mike Wheeler reports on the gender-politics of the Buxton Festival's production of Bellini's 'La Sonnambula'

CD Spotlight. A Trailblazer of Classical Expression - Anett Fodor encourages music enthusiasts to experience 'Il Boemo – The Czech'. '... a gateway, unveiling hidden treasures from a bygone era.'

Ensemble. A Force to be Reckoned With - Mike Wheeler is impressed by Opera North's concert version of Bizet's 'The Pearl Fishers'

Ensemble. A Treat - Roderic Dunnett is dazzled by Rossini's 'La Cenerentola' at Neville Holt Opera

CD Spotlight. Impassioned Advocacy - Music by Pasquale Anfossi, highly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... animated performances full of verve and spirit.'

CD Spotlight. Smothered into Oblivion? - Music by Bernard Herrmann, fervently recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'This is impassioned advocacy for this American genius, in heartfelt performances full of unbridled emotion and unaffected sincerity.'

CD Spotlight. Overwhelming Performances - Previously unreleased recordings by Jessye Norman, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Unmissable for all opera buffs.'

Ensemble. Brilliance, Ingenuity and Excellence - Roderic Dunnett listens to Handel's 'Agrippina'

Ensemble. A Backwards Bohème - Adam J Sacks reports from Opera Philadelphia

CD Spotlight. A Marriage between Drama and Comedy - Gerald Fenech is impressed by recordings of five Mozart operas. '... I have never heard Mozart played with such finesse and beauty.'

Ensemble. Crushing Pathos - Ron Bierman listens to Nicolas Reveles' 'Ghosts'

Classical music news - April 2023 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

CD Spotlight. Sheer Effectiveness - Joseph Bologne's opera 'L'Amant Anonyme', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Craig Trompeter and his team deliver some truly memorable performances full of vocal brilliance imbued with passion and excitement ...'

Ensemble. Appealing Voices with Exceptional Power - Ron Bierman is entertained by San Diego Opera's production of Puccini's 'Tosca'

Ensemble. Sisters Under the Skin - Mike Wheeler is impressed with Opera North's production of 'Ariadne auf Naxos'

Profile. Big Roles - Ron Bierman talks to American soprano Michelle Bradley

Ensemble. Distinctive Instrumental Sonorities - Mike Wheeler reports on David Pountney's re-staging of Janáček's 'The Cunning Little Vixen' for Opera North

Ensemble. A Bloody Story of Jealousy - Giuseppe Pennisi witnesses great success for Franco Zeffirelli's return to Rome

CD Spotlight. Unjustifiably Neglected - Gerald Fenech is impressed with orchestral music by Carlos Gomes. 'I encourage you to invest in this beautiful album which will definitely sweep you off your feet.'

Profile. A Fascinating Background and Career - Ron Bierman pays tribute to the late Nicolas Reveles, in the second part of his interview with the composer

CD Spotlight. Plenty of Spanish Sunshine - Spanish music of a bygone era, reviewed by Paul Sarcich. '... poised playing and excellent interweaving of the various wind sounds.'

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - A short night at the opera

Profile. Creativity, Imagination and Curiosity - Ron Bierman talks to American mezzo Stephanie Blythe

Classical music news. Animal Farm - Dutch National Opera's Opera Forward Festival explores uncharted territory, plus Conlon Collective news

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Selling like hot cakes ... maybe, hopefully

Ensemble. Almost as Verdi would have Wanted - Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience for 'Aida'

Profile. Fascination with the Macabre - Ron Bierman talks to opera composer Nicolas Reveles

Ensemble. Not To Be Missed - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from a performance of Vivaldi's pastiche 'Tamerlano'

Ensemble. Osborn Triumphs in 'Elisir' - Giuseppe Pennisi is back in his usual seat at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma for Donizetti's melodramma giocoso

Ensemble. Don Carlo in the Mists - Giuseppe Pennisi visits Florence for a performance of Verdi's most complex and monumental opera

Classical music news - English Touring Opera - New productions of Donizetti's 'Lucrezia Borgia' and Rossini's 'Il viaggio a Reims' will tour in Spring 2023

Classical music news - January 2023 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

CD Spotlight. A Phenomenal Reaction - Gerald Fenech admires Solti's Decca Ring Project. 'John Culshaw died on 27 April 1980 ... but his spirit lives on in this perfect marriage of art and technology.'

Ensemble. 'Boris' at La Scala - Giuseppe Pennisi is impressed by the HD transmission from Milan of Modest Musorgsky's opera

Ensemble. A Triumph on Every Conceivable Level - Mike Wheeler reviews a production of Monteverdi's 'L'Orfeo' which merges cultural worlds

Ensemble. Spirituality and Revolution - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from Rome on Francis Poulenc's 'Dialogues des Carmélites'

Ensemble. More Gluck, please! - Mike Wheeler finds Opera North's production of Gluck's 'Orfeo ed Euridice' totally riveting

CD Spotlight. A Dark Nordic Kingdom - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Verdi's 'Gustavo III' ('Un ballo in maschera'). '... a good recording to remember a much expected but somewhat disappointing performance.'

Ensemble. The Sheer Cynicism of a Hedonistic World - Mike Wheeler experiences Alessandro Talevi's revised production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'La traviata'

Classical music news - November 2022 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Ensemble. Paths of Excellence - Giuseppe Pennisi reports via live stream on the Ravenna Festival Mozart/Da Ponte Trilogy

Ensemble. On the Day of the Dead - Ron Bierman reports from San Diego on Gabriela Lena Frank's opera 'El último sueño de Frida y Diego'

Ensemble. Full of Panache - Giuseppe Pennisi writes about a recent performance of 'Don Giovanni' in Rome

CD Spotlight. A Touch of Immortality - Gerald Fenech listens to Rossini's 'Messa di Gloria'. '... heartwarming performances full of glowing fervour and devotional ardour.'

CD Spotlight. Irish Coffee - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Puccini's 'La bohème' from Irish National Opera. 'The excellent Italian diction of all the singers, both the protagonists and those in secondary roles, is remarkable.'

CD Spotlight. 'La fille' in Cuba - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Donizetti. '... a good memory of a very good joint production.'

Profile. Opera is a Whole New World - As rehearsals begin for her new opera, Gabriela Lena Frank talks to Ron Bierman

CD Spotlight. Beautiful and Well-crafted - Gerald Fenech listens to Johann Simon Mayr's opera 'Alfredo il Grande'. 'This is a gem of a premiere recording that should enhance Mayr's reputation as a truly fine opera composer which he richly deserves.'

CD Spotlight. Inner Turmoil - Handel's 'Amadigi di Gaula', strongly recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... full of passion and angst.'

Classical music news. Gothic Opera - This Halloween in London UK, Gothic Opera presents a double bill of unknown supernatural operas by female composers Louise Bertin and Pauline Viardot

Ensemble. A Family Portrait in Hell - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences an excellent 'Otello' at the Rossini Opera Festival

Ensemble. An Opera in Need of a Haircut - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on the Rossini Opera Festival's second production of 'La gazzetta'

Ensemble. Unabashedly Erotic - The Rossini Opera Festival begins with a new production of 'Le Comte Ory', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Giggle from Start to Finish - Bampton Classical Opera's 'Fool Moon', experienced by Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. Handel vs Bononcini - Mike Wheeler listens to the English Concert and soprano Anna Dennis at the Buxton Festival

Ensemble. Noteworthy and Sometimes Momentous - Roderic Dunnett visits the UK's Garsington Opera for Britten's 'The Turn of the Screw'

Ensemble. Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride - Mike Wheeler experiences 'Viva la Diva' at Buxton

Ensemble. Taut and Focused - Mike Wheeler reports from the Buxton Festival on Rossini's 'La Donna del Lago'

Ensemble. Stunningly Staged and Sung - Longborough Festival Opera's 'Die tote Stadt', extolled by Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight. Champagne Stuff - Gerald Fenech listens to Rossini's 'La Scala di Seta'. 'José-Miguel Pérez-Sierra's vivid conducting draws from both singers and Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra players performances full of delectable charm and infectious pleasure ...'

Ensemble. A Triumph - Roderic Dunnett listens to two one-act operas

Classical music news. Obituary - Richard Taruskin (1945-2022)

Ensemble. A Rare and Novel Experience - Opera Warwick's production of Weber's 'The Marksman', heard by Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. Deeply Mystical Intentions - Wagner's 'Parsifal', on tour with Opera North, heard by Mike Wheeler

Classical music news. Obituary - David Lloyd-Jones (1934-2022)

CD Spotlight. A Monumental Work - Geoff Pearce is impressed by Viktor Ullmann's opera 'Der Kaiser von Atlantis'. 'The performance ... cannot be faulted ...'

Ensemble. A Revolutionary Score - Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience for Verdi's 'Ernani', back in Rome

Classical music news. June 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our June 2022 newsletter - a special feature on women composers

CD Spotlight. Star of the North - Gerald Fenech strongly recommends Meyerbeer's 'L'Étoile du Nord' on Naxos. 'Vladimir Jurowski conducts the piece with natural gusto and sparkling flair ...'

CD Spotlight. A Scintillating Operatic Rarity - Gerald Fenech's discovery of the year is possibly Danish composer Horneman's opera 'Aladdin'. 'Another stylish re-issue in a series that is experiencing a highly deserved renaissance.'

Profile. Suffering and Delight - Ron Bierman talks to conductor Rafael Payare

Classical music news. Obituary - Teresa Berganza (1935-2022)

CD Spotlight. Passion, Intensity and Verve - Gerald Fenech listens to Giordano's 'Siberia'. '... full of emotional warmth and heartfelt fidelity.'

Ensemble. Welcome Back, Puritani - Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience, in Rome, for Bellini's last great masterpiece

CD Spotlight. A Glorious Operatic Triumph - Gerald Fenech listens to Korngold's 'Die tote Stadt'. '... Klaus Florian Vogt and Camilla Nylund rise superbly to the occasion with some searing interpretations worthy of the score.'

Classical music news. Obituary - Philippe Boesmans (1936-2022)

Ensemble. Conceived for TV - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences Teatro dell'Opera di Roma's 'La bohème'

CD Spotlight. A Verdi Avenue - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Francesco Meli. '... a demonstration of Meli's ability but also of his genuine love for Verdi ...'

Classical music news. April 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our April 2022 newsletter

Ensemble. Assumed Identities and Mis-matched Couples - Mike Wheeler reviews Tim Albery's production of Handel's 'Alcina' for Opera North

Ensemble. Two Performances of 'Turandot' in Rome - Giuseppe Pennisi attended one and saw the other on TV

Classical music news. March 2022 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2022 newsletter

Ensemble. A Rare Bird - Verdi's 'Luisa Miller', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. A Young Saxon's Occasional Opera - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to 'Enea in Caonia' by Hasse. 'Stefano Montanari conducts ... skilfully, mostly in support of the voices.'

Ensemble. Káťa Enthralls Rome - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences a Janáček first performance in Italy's capital

CD Spotlight. Sex, Jealousy and the Sea - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Hans Werner Henze's 'Das verratene Meer'. '... an excellent reading ...'

CD Spotlight. Very Rare Stage Works - Gerald Fenech listens to music by Auber. '... committed vigour and passionate warmth.'

Ensemble. Gardiner's Falstaff - Giuseppe Pennisi visits Florence for a new production of Verdi's comic opera

Ensemble. A Sleek, Focused Sound - Mike Wheeler reports on Opera North's production of Bizet's 'Carmen' in Nottingham

Ensemble. Unlocking Operatic Dimensions - John Dante Prevedini reviews the cinematic horror opera 'Cesare, Child of Night' by Jonathan Beard, Stewart Schill and Michael Cramer, and then interviews Jonathan Beard and Stewart Schill

Ensemble. An Unconventional and Complex Score - The first performance of 'Julius Caesar' by Giorgio Battistelli, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. A Universal Happy Ending - Gerald Fenech reviews a new recording of Franz Ignaz Beck's opera 'L'isle déserte'. 'Michael Schneider and his La Stagione Frankfurt players give a pleasant and sprightly performance, but attention to detail is always of paramount importance.'

Ensemble. With Pope Francis' Blessing - The first performance of 'L'ultima estate - Memorie di un mondo che non c'è più' by Marcello Filotei, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Shattered Lives - Gerald Fenech recommends Fabrice Bollon's recording of César Franck's opera 'Hulda'. 'Sensational operatic discovery in an electrifying performance that sizzles with some superb singing and brilliant orchestral playing.'

Classical music news. November 2021 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our November 2021 newsletter

Classical music news. Obituary - Bernard Haitink (1929-2021)

CD Spotlight. A Treasure for Posterity - Complete operas and fragments by Modest Musorgsky, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'This is a unique musical document of inestimable historic value and staggering interpretative beauty.'

Ensemble. A Modern Thriller - Giuseppe Pennisi was at a performance in Rome of the Italian version of Gian Carlo Menotti's 'The Medium'

CD Spotlight. Overtly sentimental? - Bellini's 'I Puritani', heard by Gerald Fenech. '... the chemistry between conductor and performers cannot be faulted.'

Ensemble. Regietheater at the Rossini Opera Festival - Giuseppe Pennisi discusses recent performances of 'Il Signor Bruschino' and 'Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra'

Ensemble. A Great Rossini Opera Festival Opening - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews 'Moïse et Pharaon'

Ensemble. Camping it Up? - Mike Wheeler has some doubts about the Buxton Festival production of Pauline Viardot's opera 'Cendrillon'

Ensemble. The Orchestra is the Winner - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews 'La bohème' in Rome

Ensemble. Utterly Compelling - Errolyn Wallen's sequel to Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas', experienced by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Fairy-tale Opera for the 21st Century - Mike Wheeler experiences Jonathan Dove's 'The Enchanted Pig' at the Buxton Festival

Ensemble. A Long-lost Operatic Masterpiece? - Mike Wheeler is not so sure about Malcolm Arnold's 'The Dancing Master', as performed at the Buxton Festival

Ensemble. A Transgressive Butterfly - Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience in Rome

Classical music news - July 2021 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Classical music news - Female Grief, Sacrifice and Heroism - Announcing the release of 'iGIRL', a new electronic opera by Roger Doyle with libretto by Marina Carr

Ensemble. Star Wars - Giuseppe Pennisi recommends listening to but not watching Maggio Musicale Fiorentino's production of Verdi's 'La forza del destino'

CD Spotlight. Extremely Rare - 'Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle' by Spyridon Samaras, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Performances are excellent ...'

Ensemble. Black and White - Verdi's 'Il trovatore' from Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Challenging Music - Erwin Schulhoff's only opera, 'Flammen', reviewed by Gerald Fenech. 'The performance is exhilarating and the recording sumptuous.'

CD Spotlight. A Kiss from the Queen - Johann Strauss II's only opera, 'Ritter Pásmán', heard by Gerald Fenech. '... vibrantly performed by the Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra and finely conducted by Alfred Walter.'

Ensemble. Three Divas - Maria Nockin reviews a streamed recital from Versailles, given by Ailyn Pérez, Nadine Sierra, Isabel Leonard, Vlad Iftinca and Pablo Sáinz-Villegas

CD Spotlight. The Roaring Twenties - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to the first complete recording of Reynaldo Hahn's 'Ô mon bel inconnu'. '... a period-piece that, musically, can be very much enjoyed today ...'

Ensemble. A Quartet of Jubilation - Vocal music by Wagner and Richard Strauss, streamed from Germany and enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Conductor's Opera - Giuseppe Pennisi enjoys a streamed/televised production of Verdi's 'Luisa Miller' from Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Ensemble. Parsifal's Jail - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on Richard Wagner's 'Parsifal', streamed from Vienna State Opera

Ensemble. Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Re-opens - Giuseppe Pennisi was in a box for the opening night

Ensemble. Figaro via Laugh-in - Ron Bierman reviews San Diego Opera's parking-lot production of Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville'

Ensemble. The Right Touch - Gaetano Donizetti's 'The Elixir of Love', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Rollicking Comedy - Maria Nockin reports from San Diego Opera's drive-in performances of Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville'

Ensemble. Pelléas in the Waters - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences a new Italian production of Debussy's opera via TV

CD Spotlight. Exciting and Superbly Executed - Franz Schreker's opera 'Der ferne Klang', highly recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Sebastian Weigle conducts this stirring but difficult work with wonderful intuition, bringing out all the luscious orchestral beauty with disarming clarity.'

CD Spotlight. A Jewel Box of Opera Rarities - Giuseppe Pennisi explores a CD set marking the Orfeo International label's first forty years. '... at least two masterpieces emerge ...'

CD Spotlight. One of Rameau's Greatest Works - The opera 'Dardanus' impresses Gerald Fenech. 'György Vashegyi paces his forces with meticulous mastery, and his thorough knowledge of the score enables him to bring to the listener all the felicitous nuances of this imaginative music.'

Ensemble. In the Easter Egg - Giuseppe Pennisi takes a critical look at two April 2021 performances of Verdi's 'La Traviata'

Ensemble. Deadly Sins - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a Weill/Brecht double bill from La Scala Milan

Ensemble. Questionable Stage Direction - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Riccardo Muti's 'Così fan tutte' at Teatro Regio di Torino

CD Spotlight. Mascagni in a New Garb - Gerald Fenech recommends a new recording of Pietro Mascagni's 'Iris'. 'Krieger's exhilarating conducting draws from both his singers and players some truly sublime performances, full of unbridled enthusiasm.'

Ensemble. Half and Half - Giuseppe Pennisi is not entirely convinced by Teatro San Carlo di Napoli's new production of Gioacchino Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia'

Ensemble. A Half-Successful Experiment - Teatro Comunale di Bologna's new production of Cilea's 'Adriana Lecouvreur', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Revolutionary 'Ernani' in Palermo - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a production modified for TV and streaming

Ensemble. Lolita in Jerusalem - Elena Stikhina in Teatro alla Scala's new production of 'Salome' by Richard Strauss impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Mixed Feelings - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews the new Opéra de Paris production of 'Aida'

Ensemble. A Human Tragedy - HD streaming of the opening night at the new Staatsoper Unter den Linden production in Berlin of Janáček's 'Jenůfa' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. An Opera for Voices - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Vincenzo Bellini's rarely-staged 'Il Pirata'

Ensemble. Fit for Streaming? - Giuseppe Pennisi investigates various current and recent opera productions

Ensemble. Bohème dated 1896 - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Puccini, broadcast from Teatro Regio Torino in Italy

Ensemble. Twilight of Dreams - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences a pastiche for our times at the opening of Teatro Massimo di Palermo's 2021 season

Ensemble. Arduous and Contrasting Passion - Bellini's 'I Puritani' at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, recommended by Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news. Obituary - Elijah Moshinsky (1946-2021)

CD Spotlight. A Double Rescue - Meyerbeer's little-known opera 'Romilda e Costanza', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi. '... a rescue opera which is worth saving from oblivion.'

Ensemble. Exhilarating Final Moments - Opera North's live streaming of Beethoven's 'Fidelio' impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. The Greatest La Scala Extravaganza - An unusual opening to La Scala's season in Milan, reported by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Hundreds of Thousands in Line for a Barber - A new Rome production of Rossini's 'Barber of Seville' especially for TV, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Zubin's Otello - Giuseppe Pennisi watches a new Florence production of Verdi's 'Otello' on Italian TV

Classical music news - November 2020 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Ensemble. ROF is Back and in Good Spirits - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on 'Il barbiere di Siviglia' and the Rossini Opera Festival's current performances

Ensemble. Brecht and Weill's Final Collaboration - 'The Seven Deadly Sins' streamed live by Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. An Innovative Approach - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences three operas from the 2020 Donizetti Opera Festival

Ensemble. Great Emphasis on Detail - Giuseppe Pennisi enjoys streamed performances of a Carmen double bill in Rome

Ensemble. Horns and Headlights? - Ron Bierman reports on San Diego Opera's 'La bohème' from a parking lot in San Diego

CD Spotlight. Love, Jealousy and Madness - Music inspired by Ariosto's poem 'Orlando Furioso', heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Filippo Mineccia sings with an exceptional timbre that is sensual and luminous, mixing virtuosity with sensitivity, while Pablo Garcia and his ensemble give sympathetic support with their insightful playing.'

Ensemble. Italy's Last 'Traviata' (For a While) - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on Verdi's opera in Rieti

Ensemble. A Nuanced, Idiomatic Portrayal - San Diego Opera's first drive-in opera - 'La bohème', appreciated by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Don Giovanni's Ancestor - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to the seventeenth century 'L'Empio Punito' by Alessandro Melani. '... a real discovery for opera lovers who have not experienced a live performance.'

Ensemble. A Survival Strategy - Giuseppe Pennisi writes about the current music scene in Italy, touching on recent notable performances

Inventiveness and Determination - Mike Wheeler recommends full support for Opera North's autumn 2020 schedule

CD Spotlight. Ready for a Revival - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to 'Phèdre' - a rare opera by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne. 'The distinct feature of Lemoyne's opera is the weight and importance given to the protagonist. The role is sung by the Dutch soprano Judith van Wanroij: it fits her perfectly as can be felt in her initial major arias, with chorus as well as with other members of the cast.'

Classical music news - October 2020 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

CD Spotlight. Graceful and Charming - Gerald Fenech enjoys orchestral operatic music by Auber, recorded in the Czech Republic. 'An excellent compilation ... of some really bouncy music in good sound and annotations.'

CD Spotlight. Between Centuries and Cultures - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Johann Simon Mayr's 1814 opera 'Le due duchesse'. 'The richness is clear from the Sinfonia.'

CD Spotlight. A Multifaceted Intellectual - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Saint-Saëns' opéra fantastique 'Le timbre d'argent'. 'From the very start of the overture, the listener feels that this is a brisk and expert ensemble.'

Ensemble. It Pays to be Brave - George Frideric Handel's 'Rinaldo' in Florence, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news - Leonard Bernstein at 102 - The Knights Orchestra celebrate with a streamed production of Bernstein's opera 'Candide'

Ensemble. Music through Breath - Adrian Kelly talks to Christian Curnyn about Handel's 'Acis and Galatea' as part of the Buxton International Festival Digital 2020 Season, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Promised in Marriage - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro

Ensemble. Where to now for the Arts in the UK? - Annie Lydford, Julian Glover and Emily Gottlieb in conversation with Michael Williams as part of the Buxton International Festival Digital 2020 Season, reported by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Perspectives: Words and Music - Mike Wheeler watches Buxton Festival's film 'Kate Whitley and Laura Attridge in conversation with Michael Williams', discussing the creation of the opera/oratorio 'Our Future, In Your Hands'

Ensemble. Once Upon a Time in Mantua - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the re-opening of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma for Verdi's 'Rigoletto'

CD Spotlight. A Powder-keg of Uncontrolled Passions - Gerald Fenech is impressed with this new recording of Korngold's 'Violanta'. '... Pinchas Steinberg's insightful reading draws some hot-blooded singing and playing.'

After the Pandemic - Giuseppe Pennisi describes what looks like being a busy musical summer in Rome

CD Spotlight. Out of the Ordinary - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to a new recording of Verdi's 'Otello'. '... a new and beautiful reading ...'

Drastically Revised - Giuseppe Pennisi looks at the detail of the replanned 2020 Salzburg Festival

CD Spotlight. Engrossing Memories - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to music by Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein. 'The Wolf Trap Opera National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, conducted by James Judd, offers very professional, but not startling, performances.'

CD Spotlight. An Impressive Undertaking - Simon Rattle conducts Wagner's 'Die Walküre', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi. 'The singing and the orchestra raise this performance above the ordinary.'

Classical music news. Obituary - Mady Mesplé (1931-2020)

Classical music news - Alienati - Coccia Theatre, Novara, Italy presents the first Smart Working Opera

CD Spotlight. Magical Repertoire - Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Kashchei the Immortal', enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. 'Do not be taken aback; the sound quality is miraculous and I enjoyed listening to this historic venture with immense pleasure.'

Summer Festivals in Europe - Giuseppe Pennisi investigates the fast-evolving festival scene

With Great Caution - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on the gradual reopening of Italian Summer Festivals

Music and the Pandemic - Giuseppe Pennisi puts the case for Italy

Beethoven 250 - In this year of celebration, Giuseppe Pennisi muses on Ludwig van Beethoven's modernity

CD Spotlight. An Absolute Soprano - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to a recording by Marina Rebeka. '... perfect emission ... consummate technical skills ...'

A Double Career - Giuseppe Pennisi describes his life as an economist in the world of music

Classical music news - March 2020 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world lost last month

Salzburg and the Pandemic - Giuseppe Pennisi wonders whether the 2020 Salzburg Summer Festival will take place

CD Spotlight. The Charm of 'La Nuova Commedia Dell'arte' - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Busoni's 'Turandot' and 'Arlecchino'. '... this is a book and two CDs to enjoy and to make an elegant gift.'

CD Spotlight. A Precious Recording - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Offenbach's 'Maître Péronilla'. '... this is a book and two CDs to enjoy and to make an elegant gift.'

Ensemble. Traditional and Modern - Tchaikovsky's 'Eugene Onegin' returns to Rome, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Romantic Ideals - Patrick Maxwell visits Vienna for Puccini's 'Tosca'

Classical music news. Obituary - Nello Santi (1931-2020)

Ensemble. Opium and Eros - Richard Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' in Bologna pleases Giuseppe Pennisi

Classical music news - January Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world lost last month

Ensemble. Wagner's Revenge - Giuseppe Pennisi is puzzled by a political and contemporary reading of 'Parsifal'

Ensemble. Bel Canto Marvels - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences Bellini's rare opera 'I Capuleti e i Montecchi'

Ensemble. Gruesome and Engrossing - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences Franco Alfano's rarely performed opera 'Risurrezione' in Florence

CD Spotlight. Absolutely Riveting - Kent Nagano's recording of the 1869 version of Mussorgsky's 'Boris Godunov', reviewed by Gerald Fenech. 'Nagano's formidable insight is able to take the listener on a musical journey into the dark depths of the human soul. Painful, yes, but unmissable.'

Ensemble. Memorable and Entertaining - Australia's first production of 'Il viaggio a Reims', reviewed by David Mitchell

CD Spotlight. Music of the Utmost Beauty - Gerald Fenech listens to Weber's 'Euryanthe'. '... highly charged emotional singing, felicitous and lush playing, and the ensemble and choral pieces are brought off with panache and precision.'

CD Spotlight. The French Romantic Experience - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to a CD box set from Palazzetto Bru Zane in Venice. '... almost a mini course in French Romantic music, and well worth a try.'

Ensemble. The Dame Wears Black - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on Tchaikovsky's 'Pique Dame' in Naples

Ensemble. Bold and Engrossing - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Verdi's 'Les Vêpres Siciliennes' at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Ensemble. Pearls on the Thread of Recitative - David Mitchell reviews Pinchgut Opera's production of Vivaldi's 'Farnace'

CD Spotlight. Gounod's First Faust of 1859 - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Christophe Rousset's new recording from Bru Zane. 'Everything is lighter, softer, more sensual.'

Ensemble. A Real Triumph - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences Puccini's 'Tosca', live in HD at the inauguration of La Scala's 2019-20 opera and ballet season

Ensemble. Utterly Stylish - Mike Wheeler listens to Opera North's 'Giulio Cesare'

Classical music news. Obituary - Colin Mawby (1936-2019)

Ensemble. Contemporary Premieres - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences three new operas in Rome

Ensemble. Economical but Effective - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews the new production of Puccini's 'Trittico' in Florence

Ensemble. Affectionate Complicity and Tensions - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews Mozart's 'Idomeneo' in Rome

Ensemble. Magisterial Performance - Nina Stemme returns to Australia to sing Wagner, heard by David Mitchell

Ensemble. An Autumn Trilogy - 'Norma', 'Aida' and 'Carmen' in Ravenna, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Handel and the Roman Baroque School - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Lorenzo Tozzi's Romabarocca Ensemble. '... a precious CD from which to learn little known aspects of baroque music ...'

Ensemble. Promised in Marriage - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from Rome on Rossini's first staged opera, asking who pays 'The Promissory Change'?

Profile. Collecting Gems - Ron Bierman talks to the American tenor Carl Tanner

Classical music news. Obituary - Hans Zender (1936-2019)

Classical music news. Obituary - Raymond Leppard (1927-2019)

Profile. Tragic Expression - George Colerick discusses Georges Bizet, as the most vital French opera composer since Berlioz

Profile. A Silver Age - George Colerick writes about Franz Lehár, probably the greatest twentieth century composer of operettas

Classical music news. Obituary - Hossein Dehlavi (1927-2019)

CD Spotlight. To Be or Not To Be - Franco Faccio's opera 'Amleto', heard by Gerald Fenech. 'A must for all opera lovers, particularly those interested in nineteenth century Italian repertoire.'

Profile. Spectacular Productions - George Colerick explores the rise and decline of French composer Charles Gounod

Ensemble. 'New Music' in Palermo - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Ludovico Einaudi's opera 'Winter Journey'

Classical music news. Obituary - Marcello Giordani (1963-2019)

Ensemble. Don Giovanni's Forefather - Giuseppe Pennisi writes about a performance of 'L'empio punito' by Alessandro Melani

Ensemble. Take A Sabbatical - Giuseppe Pennisi has some advice for Graham Vick, based on the latter's latest production of 'Don Giovanni'

CD Spotlight. Vintage Rossini - A Munich recording of the early opera 'Sigismondo', heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Keri Lynn Wilson paces the work with an uncanny tempo that strikes an ideal balance between the psychological and musical aspects of the opera, and her conducting is consistently sensitive to the nuanced phrasing and textures of the score.'

Classical music news. Obituary - Jessye Norman (1945-2019)

Profile. An Innate Songster - On George Gershwin's birthday, George Colerick takes a critical look at the composer of 'Rhapsody in Blue'

Classical music news. The Prometheus Revolution - Composer Keith Burstein showcases his subversive opera about revolution alongside the UK Labour Party's annual conference

Ensemble. A Star is Born - Giuseppe Pennisi is impressed by Enkeleda Kamani as Gilda in Verdi's 'Rigoletto' at La Scala, Milan

Ensemble. Orpheus in Limbo - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on Offenbach's 'Orpheus in the Underworld' at the Salzburg Festival

Ensemble. An Engrossing 'Simon' - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on one of Verdi's 'cursed' operas at the Salzburg Festival

Ensemble. Myths and Modernity - Giuseppe Pennisi sends his first report from the 2019 Salzburg Festival

CD Spotlight. Imaginative Touches - Rossini's 'Eduardo e Cristina', recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... sensitively dramatic singing, invigorating playing and some glowing conducting from Gianluigi Gelmetti ...'

Ensemble. Young Rossini's 'Comedy for Adults' - Giuseppe Pennisi sends his final report from Pesaro

Ensemble. Rossini's Adolescent Opera - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from Pesaro on 'Demetrio e Polibio'

Classical music news. Plácido Domingo - The Spanish tenor has been accused of multiple sexual harrassment

Ensemble. Sex and Power in Pesaro - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a new production of 'Semiramide' at the Rossini Opera Festival

Ensemble. In Many Respects a Success - Longborough Festival Opera's wacky production of Cavalli's 'La Calisto', reviewed by Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight. Full of Surprises - Michael Hofstetter's recording of Weber's 'Oberon', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Recommended ... if only for the magical sound world created by Hofstetter.'

Lost Music for Lost Souls - Richard Meszto tells the story of the re-discovery of Allan Rae's music for 'Charles Manson AKA Jesus Christ', a play by Fabian Jennings

Classical music news. ROF at Forty - Giuseppe Pennisi looks forward to the Rossini Opera Festival, 11-23 August 2019, and explains why investing in Rossini can be profitable

Ensemble. An Irresistible Challenge - Mike Wheeler listens to an operatic rarity - 'Lucio Papirio Dittatore' by Antonio Caldara

Ensemble. Mastery and Versatility - Giuseppe Pennisi attends three Tokyo Ballet performances in Rome

Ensemble. Ballet of Sheep - Opera Della Luna's 'Orpheus in the Underworld' at the Buxton Festival, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Local Heroine/Antiheroine - Mike Wheeler experiences the pasticcio 'Georgiana' at the Buxton Festival

Ensemble. Vintage Buxton - Mike Wheeler reports on the current production of 'Eugene Onegin'

Ensemble. In a Pleasure Garden - Music by Michele Dall'Ongaro and Verdi in a chamber music format, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Out of Nature - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening concert of the 2019 Chigiana International Festival

Ensemble. A Different 'Aida' - Denis Krief's new production in Rome, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. 'Proserpine' in Spoleto - An opera by Italian composer Silvia Colasanti, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Profile. Crafting a Musical Life - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to Austrian composer Eva Reiter

Ensemble. San Francisco's Starry Rusalka - James Sohre sends the last of three reports from San Francisco Opera

Ensemble. Italian Operas in Miskolc - Anett Fodor sends her final report from the 2019 Bartók Plus Opera Festival

Ensemble. 'Orlando' Fights World War II In San Francisco - James Sohre describes an evening of considerable Handelian beauty

Ensemble. Lack of Originality - Anett Fodor has some reservations about Albin Fries' new opera 'Nora', which was given its first performance recently at the Bartók Plus Opera Festival

Ensemble. A Repertory 'Tosca' - Giuseppe Pennisi considers Puccini's opera as a real orchestral masterpiece

Ensemble. 'Carmen' Redeemed - James Sohre reports from San Francisco

Classical music news. Obituary - Franco Zeffirelli (1923-2019)

Ensemble. Three Operas in Three Different Styles - Anett Fodor reports from Miskolc on La bohème, The Golden Dragon, Duke Bluebeard's Castle and a symphonic work by Scriabin

Ensemble. 'Music Makes a Town' - Anett Fodor reports from the opening gala of the 2019 Bartók Plus Opera Festival

Ensemble. A Mechanical Toy Box - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences the revival in Rome of Rossini's 'La Cenerentola'

Classical music news. Bartók Plus - A short preview of the Bartók Plus Opera Festival in Miskolc, Hungary

Ensemble. Nothing but Praise - Opera North's concert-staged 'Aida', reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Profile. In Search of Musical Text - Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talks to Austrian-Czech composer Šimon Voseček

Ensemble. A Supernatural Glow - Giuseppe Pennisi describes the Fiery Angel that hangs over Rome

Ensemble. In Full Swing - Bellini's 'La Straniera' at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Tradition and Passion - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews a revival of Wagner's 'Die Walküre' in Naples

Ensemble. Heavenly Sex - Giuseppe Pennisi is impressed by Handel's 'Semele' from John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi ensembles

Ensemble. A Triumph - Alice McVeigh was at Covent Garden for the last performance of Gounod's 'Faust'

Ensemble. A Superb Mix of Music and Visuals - 'Snow White' danced to music by Gustav Mahler, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Rather Peculiar Opera - The new production of 'Ariadne auf Naxos' at La Scala Milan, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Not so Merry Widow - Damiano Michieletto's joint venture with La Fenice is not a success in Rome, as described by Giuseppe Pennisi

Book review. A Multi-art Extravaganza - Ron Bierman reads Gillian Moore's 'The Rite of Spring, the Music of Modernity'

Ensemble. A Timeless Composition - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to interweaved movements from Beethoven and Ligeti, played by Herbert Schuch

Ensemble. Petrenko's Highly Dramatic 'Ninth' - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a special concert in Rome

Ensemble. Perfect for the Role - Ginger Costa-Jackson in Bizet's 'Carmen' at San Diego Opera, reviewed by Ron Bierman

Ensemble. Aptly Hallucinatory - Janáček's 'Katya Kabanová' from Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. An Ambitious Conceit - Mike Wheeler is impressed by James Brining's production of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'

Classical music news. Obituary - Michael Gielen (1927-2019)

Ensemble. A Contemporary 'Stabat Mater' - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to a new work by Nicola Piovani

Ensemble. Sir John and Romantic Music - Giuseppe Pennisi describes an English conductor's visit to Rome

Ensemble. A Noble Simplicity - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the Roman debut of Gluck's 'Orfeo'

Ensemble. A Popular Music Drama - Giuseppe Pennisi is impressed by Musorgsky's 'Khovanshchina' at La Scala Milan

Ensemble. A Special Feature - Giuseppe Pennisi describes how Cagliari awakens Antônio Carlos Gomes' 'Lo Schiavo' after a long sleep

Ensemble. A Coloratura Contest - Giuseppe Pennisi witnesses a true triumph with Donizetti's 'Anna Bolena' in Rome

Ensemble. High Jinks - Roderic Dunnett enjoys Opera Warwick's production of Offenbach's 'La vie Parisienne'

Ensemble. An Anthem to Innocence - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences the Italian version of Benjamin Britten's 'The Little Sweep'

Ensemble. A Brand New 'Carmen' Ballet - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from the opening night at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Of Major International Interest - Giuseppe Pennisi looks forward to a summer of opera in Italy

Ensemble. Extreme Staging - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from Palermo on the opening of Teatro Massimo's 2019 opera season

Ensemble. For Students to Complete? - Accademia Bizantina's 'The Art of Fugue' enthralls Rome and Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. The Tragedy of Not Dying - A new Florence production of Wagner's 'The Flying Dutchman' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Simply Glorious - Verdi's 'La Traviata', live in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, heard by Maria Nockin

Midnight Ice Cream - Maria Nockin tells the story of a bus driver who lands a job working for an opera company

Authentic Portrayals - 'Aloha, Mozart' by Waimea Williams, read by Kelly Ferjutz

Convincing Opera? - Gregory Moomjy discusses what works on stage

Ensemble. A Great Evening - Beethoven and Dallapiccola from Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra, heard by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Delectable Music - Neglected scores by Saint-Saëns, recommended by Howard Smith. 'Not to be missed.'

Ensemble. Severity and Comedy - Offenbach's 'Tales of Hoffmann', commended by Gregory Moomjy

Ensemble. An Invaluable Experience - 'Ariadne auf Naxos' in New York, appreciated by Gregory Moomjy

Ensemble. A Real Triumph - The 2011 Sferisterio Festival, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Santa Fe, The City Different - Maria Nockin enjoys the summer opera fare in North America's oldest capital city

DVD Spotlight. A Modern Orfeo - Music by Elodie Lauten, reviewed by Malcolm Tattersall. '... a pleasing half-hour chamber opera ...'

DVD Spotlight. Dramatic Truth - Giuseppe Verdi's 'Don Carlo', reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... a strong candidate for the library shelves.'

CD Spotlight. Charming and Lively - Piano music by Ricky Ian Gordon, recommended by Robert Hugill. 'Nauman plays ... consummately ...'

Ensemble. Emotional Awakening - More from the Buxton Festival, with Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. The Passing of Time - Donizetti's 'Maria di Rohan' at the Buxton Festival impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Achingly Beautiful - Vivaldi's 'La verità in cimento' at Garsington Opera, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. A Conductor's Opera - A new production of Puccini's 'La bohème' at Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Vocal Passion - Maria Nockin makes a virtual visit to Covent Garden for Verdi's 'Macbeth'

Ensemble. Dramatically Potent - Robert Hugill was at Chelsea Opera Group's performance of Puccini's 'Manon Lescaut'

Ensemble. A Deep Impression - Rory Macdonald conducts the Hallé Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. When Verdi Slept - 'La Battaglia di Legnano', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Profile. Humanizing Emotions - American conductor James Conlon talks to Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Vitally Sung - Heritage Opera's 'Così fan tutte' impresses Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. Uncurbed Impulses - Bizet's 'Carmen' at San Diego Opera, appreciated by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. In Fine Style - George Frideric Handel's 'L'Allegro, Il Penseroso ed Il Moderato', reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Intense Confrontation - Verdi's 'Ernani' - more revolutionary than patriotic, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Dramatic Beauty - Works by Eötvös and Bartók, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Truly Beautiful - Gounod's 'Faust' at San Diego Opera delights Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Christ Re-Crucified - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the Italian première of Bohuslav Martinu's Greek Passion

Ensemble. Rapturous Beauty - Richard Strauss's 'Capriccio', reviewed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. A Sympathetic Hand - Jane Glover accompanies Felicity Lott's Mozart, heard by Robert Anderson. '... joyous music-making.'

Ensemble. Orchestral Nuances - Thanks to a sparkling 'Barber of Seville', Giuseppe Pennisi rediscovers the beauty of Rossini's orchestration

Ensemble. Rewarding Performances - Arizona Opera's 'The Abduction from the Seraglio', reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Great Occasion - The Derby Roundhouse debut as a concert hall, described by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. To Suit the Voice - Gregory Moomjy takes a sneak peek at the divas and divos of tomorrow, as heard at New York Metropolitan Opera's National Council auditions

Ensemble. A Wonderful Rendition - Donizetti's 'Lucia di Lammermoor', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Tad More Sensual - Simon Keenlyside sings Don Giovanni with the Cleveland Orchestra, appreciated by Kelly Ferjutz

Ensemble. Surprisingly Believable - Britten's 'The Turn of the Screw' impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. An Irresistible First - Handel's 'Xerxes' in Wellington, New Zealand, enjoyed by Howard Smith

Sex and Absolute Power - Handel's 'Giulio Cesare in Egitto', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Riveting Characterization - Verdi's 'Otello' at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Different Couples - English Touring Opera's 'La Clemenza di Tito', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A Real Triumph - The first Milan performance of Britten's 'Death in Venice' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Happy Melodies - Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia' delights Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Riotous Production - Mark Anthony Turnage's 'Anna Nicole', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Emphasis on Personalities - John Adams' 'Nixon in China', reviewed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Delicate Mastery - Orchestral music by Glazunov, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... dashingly done ...'

Ensemble. Great Sensitivity - The Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Stunning Musical Performance - Donizetti's 'Lucrezia Borgia', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A Smooth Delivery - Maria Nockin was at San Diego for Puccini's 'Turandot'

Ensemble. For King, Country and Sex - Marco Tutino's 'Senso', experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Unjustly Neglected - Orchestral tone poems by Boughton and Bainton impress Robert Anderson. '... performed with conviction and sensitivity ...'

Ensemble. Unmistakably American - William Bolcom's 'A View from the Bridge', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Wonderful Rendition - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West' at the movies impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Eros versus Thanatos - 'Ariadne auf Naxos' in Paris, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Mediterranean Splendour - Dancing to Bizet's 'L'Arlésienne' and 'Carmen', by Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. The Heart of Opera - Giuseppe Verdi's 'La forza del destino', reviewed by Maria Nockin. '... a rhythmically alert, exciting performance ...'

Ensemble. Stunning Artistry - New York Metropolitan Opera's Verdi's 'Don Carlo' transmission, seen and heard by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Murder Accomplished - Rutland Boughton's 'The Queen of Cornwall' impresses Robert Anderson. '... a brave attempt ...'

Ensemble. Beautifully Wrought - Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at Covent Garden, by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Lively and Fluent - 'Orpheus in the Underworld' at London's Royal College of Music, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. True Ear Candy - Wagner's 'Lohengrin' at L A Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Profoundly Satisfying - Cherubini's 'Medée', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Comedic Talents - Metropolitan Opera's 'Don Pasquale', live and in HD at the movies, by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Brisk and Powerful - 'Carmen' in Tucson, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Great Vitality - Verdi's 'Don Carlo', heard by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A Real Surprise - Celso Albelo hits Venice as Nemorino in Donizetti's 'L'Elisir d'Amore', by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Growing Up - Hans Werner Henze's 'Pollicino' thrills children and adults in Florence, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Exquisite Performance - Metropolitan Opera's live HD transmission of 'Boris Godunov', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Beautifully Phrased - Los Angeles Opera's 'The Marriage of Figaro', welcomed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Vocal Colour - Simon Keenlyside sings Schubert, Wolf, Fauré and Ravel, heard by Robert Anderson. '... a wondrous variety ...'

Ensemble. Very Welcome - Robert Hugill experiences Stephen Oliver's 'Euridice'

Ensemble. A Magnificent Piece - Daniel Catán's 'Il Postino' impresses Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Wonderfully Melodious - Richard Strauss operatic scenes, heard by Maria Nockin. '... an iridescent wave of vocal color.'

CD Spotlight. Praise and Attention - Romabarocca Ensemble plays Carlo Rainaldi, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi. '... they will go far in the rediscovery of Baroque music.'

Ensemble. Convincing and Engrossing - Robert Hugill visits the Gut Immling Festival for a performance of Wagner's 'The Flying Dutchman'

Ensemble. Eminently Believable - Undercroft Opera's 'La Traviata', reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz

Ensemble. Spirited Performances - Santa Fe Opera's 'The Magic Flute' impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Painfully Accurate - For Sciarrino, a modern mad scene: non-Kafka lovers, attend at your own risk, by Gregory Moomjy

Ensemble. Truly Fascinating - A Santa Fe Opera digest, including the recent Kaye Edition of 'The Tales of Hoffmann', by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. An Impressive Performance - Michael Ludwig plays music by John Corigliano, heard by Patric Standford. '... should not fail to entertain ...'

Ensemble. A Total Delight - The Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, heard by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. Real Poise - Sinfonia Viva at the Buxton Festival, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Eyes Tight Shut - 'La Fanciulla del West' at the Puccini Festival, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Family Life - A Bernstein double bill at Buxton, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. 'Alceste' in the Madhouse - Giuseppe Pennisi files his last report from the 2010 Aix-en-Provence Festival

Ensemble. A Small Masterpiece - Richard Rodney Bennett's 'All the King's Men' impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Rather Quirky - Massenet's 'Manon' at Covent Garden, reviewed by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Playing Rameau - Interpretations by Stephen Gutman, recommended by George Balcombe. '... not a million miles away from jazz.'

Ensemble. Splendid Ideas - Stravinsky's 'Le Rossignol' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Nearly a Male Lulu - 'Don Giovanni' in Aix-en-Provence, a black comedy of sex and loneliness, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Pure Magic - Opera North's 'Rusalka', reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Strongly Stated and Idiosyncratic - 'Composing in Words: William Alwyn on his Art', read by Patric Standford

Ensemble. Special Praise - Bizet's 'Carmen' at Kentish Opera, enjoyed by Pippa Hare

Ensemble. Sisters Under the Skin - Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda' at Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Puzzling and Frustrating - Mozart's 'Idomeneo' at English National Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Contemporary Resonance - Grange Park Opera's 'Capriccio', enjoyed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Bewildering Variety - 'The Love of Three Oranges' at Grange Park Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Young Eroticism in the Third French Republic - Massenet's 'Manon' returns to Rome, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Major Success - Ricky Ian Gordon's 'Orpheus & Euridice', experienced by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Almost Cinematic - Shchedrin's 'Anna Karenina' and other premières at The Stars of the White Nights Festival, by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Grandest Lines - Donald Tovey's cello concerto, heard by Robert Anderson. '... satisfyingly masterful.'

Profile. Important Skills - Maria Nockin talks to American mezzo Dolora Zajick

Ensemble. An Excellent Staging - 'Madama Butterfly' at Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, appreciated by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. High Expectations - Barenboim's 'Das Rheingold' at La Scala, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. A Symbol of Gratitude? - Mozart Symphonies 39 and 40, heard by Robert Anderson. '... vitality and alertness ...'

DVD Spotlight. A Little Wizardry - Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... the playing is stylish and alert throughout.'

Ensemble. Under the Tuscan Sun - Giuseppe Pennisi attends the beginning of the Tiroler Festspiele 2010

Ensemble. Difficult to Forget - Richard Strauss' 'Die Frau ohne Schatten', enjoyed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Hilariously Funny - Arizona Opera's 'The Barber of Seville', appreciated by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Atmosphere is Everything - Weber's 'Der Freischütz', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Delightful Contributions - Nicholas Kok conducts Sinfonia Viva, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Masterly Performance - Massenet's 'Werther' on the psychotherapist's couch, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Seething with Evil - Franz Schreker's 'Die Gezeichneten', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Thoroughly Impressed - Maria Nockin talks to baritone Alan Opie, who is about to sing Germont for San Diego Opera

Ensemble. Seldom Performed - 'Lulu' lands at La Scala, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Successful Production - Sixty Leitmotives for 'Tosca', by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Consummate Skill - 'Hamlet' by Ambroise Thomas, heard by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A New Path - Music by Oliver Rudland, heard by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Power and Expressiveness - Janácek's 'Katya Kabanova', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Very Welcome - The bicentennial 'Simon Boccanegra' in Parma, appreciated by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. An Excellent Performance - Gounod's 'Romeo and Juliet' at San Diego Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. The Devil and the Bourgeoisie - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Arrigo Boito's 'Mefistofele'

Ensemble. Truly Memorable - A concert of arias at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Strong Performances - Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Human Nature - A staged 'Così fan tutte' at Severance Hall in Cleveland, enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz

Ensemble. White Hot Intensity - Renée Fleming and the Russian National Orchestra at the Festival of the Arts Boca 2010, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. A Fine Performance - Verdi's 'Nabucco' from San Diego Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Perfect Falstaff - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the Vienna State Opera

Ensemble. Black Comedy - Prokofiev's 'The Gambler' impresses Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A Hyperrealistic Setting - Robert Hugill has some reservations about Jonathan Miller's 'L'elisir d'amore'

Ensemble. Close to Perfection - Verdi's 'Simon Boccanegra' broadcast from New York Metropolitan Opera, by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A True Dynamo - Lawrence Budmen listens to French conductor Ludovic Morlot, in concert with Jennifer Koh and the New World Symphony

Ensemble. A Bouquet of Bohèmes - Maria Nockin reviews one opera at two different venues

Ensemble. In Full Voice - Britten's 'St Nicolas' at Canterbury Cathedral, enjoyed by Pippa Hare

DVD Spotlight. A New Light - La Scala gives 'Maria Stuarda' the royal treatment, by Gregory Moomjy. '... the cast was in fine voice ...'

Ensemble. The Quality of the Cooks - Verdi comic operas on stage, tasted by Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. Tragic Power - Handel's 'Tamerlano', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The simplicity of the production is welcome ...'

Ensemble. A Bombshell - Carmen at the movies, by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Meticulously Explored - Bellini's 'La Somnambula' provides a long-awaited answer to an age-old question, as experienced by Gregory Moomjy

Ensemble. A Double Farewell - Henze and Mahler in Rome, reported by Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. A Rarity - Jonathan Dove's 'The Adventures of Pinocchio', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... considerable merits on display ...'

DVD Spotlight. Malignant Fate - Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... wonderfully alert ...'

Ensemble. Compelling Vocal Drama - Lawrence Budmen listens to Measha Brueggergosman and the New World Symphony

CD Spotlight. Beauty of Timbre - Vivica Genaux sings Vivaldi, heard by Maria Nockin. 'Genaux's diction is excellent ...'

Ensemble. A New Dimension - Giuseppe Pennisi reports that chamber opera is alive and well

Ensemble. Warmth and Richness - Massenet's 'Werther', heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Style and Drama - Gluck's 'Alceste', heard by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Quirky Opera - Mike Wheeler experiences Janácek's 'The excursions of Mr Broucek'

Ensemble. Much Praise - 'Orpheus in the Underworld' from Kentish Opera, reviewed by Pippa Hare

Ensemble. Magnificent Performances - 'Salome' from Arizona, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Bold Piece - Jonathan Dove's 'Swanhunter', reviewed by Patric Standford

Ensemble. A Sizzling Rendition - 'Carmen' from Phoenix Opera impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Vivid and Enlivening - Donizetti's 'Maria di Rohan', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Robust Voices - Susan Hampton visits Boston for Puccini's 'La bohème'

Ensemble. Strong Performances - Handel's 'Susanna' from Les Arts Florissants, assessed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A Virtue of Necessity - Robert Hugill was at English Touring Opera's 'Alcina'

Ensemble. A Fine Rendition - 'Così fan tutte' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Dark and Serious - Robert Hugill was at English Touring Opera's 'Tolomeo'

CD Spotlight. Brilliantly Portrayed - Friedrich Klose's 'Ilsebill', praised by Gerald Fenech. '... a risky yet rewarding adventure ...'

Ensemble. An Enthralling Performance - Robert Hugill reviews Handel's 'Flavio'

Ensemble. A Different Rendition - Puccini's 'Tosca' on the big screen, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Profoundly Beautiful - William Christie's 'Dido and Aeneas' impresses Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Jaw-Dropping Technique - Sharon Bezaly plays Gubaidulina, Beamish and Takano, recommended by Ron Bierman. '... a beautiful tone at any volume in any octave ...'

Ensemble. Authority and Charisma - Wagner's 'Siegfried', reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Deeply Felt - Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Covent Garden, reviewed by Robert Hugill

DVD Spotlight. Convincing Forcefulness - A documentary on Puccini's 'Madame Butterfly', seen by Gerald Fenech. '... riveting stuff ...'

CD Spotlight. Exquisitely Nuanced - Steve Davislim sings Vierne and Chausson, recommended by Howard Smith. 'I cannot think of higher praise.'

Ensemble. A Gala Atmosphere - Maria Nockin reports from Los Angeles Opera's opening night 'L'Elisir d'amore'

Ensemble. Brilliant Opportunities - A Rossini double bill, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Highly Articulate - American dramatic soprano Christine Brewer talks to Robert Hugill

A Real Find - Robert Davies made a remarkable impact when he stood in as Papageno late in the run of English Touring Opera's 'The Magic Flute'; Roderic Dunnett profiles him and celebrates the progress of other ETO cast members

Ensemble. A Magisterial Presence - William Christie conducts Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Making a Real Fuss - Robert Hugill looks forward to English Touring Opera's HandelFest this autumn

Ensemble. A Slow-burn Approach - 'The Lighthouse' by Peter Maxwell Davies, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

A Useful Survey - Thomas May's 'The John Adams Reader', reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Dramatic Essentials - 'Carmen' from Paris, enjoyed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Actually Sung - Weill and Brecht's 'Threepenny Opera', reviewed by Robert Hugill

DVD Spotlight. Gripping Throughout - Donizetti's 'Lucrezia Borgia', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Dimitra Theodossiou's Lucrezia rivals that of many of her illustrious predecessors ...'

Ensemble. Student Life and Love - Puccini's 'La bohème' from Kentish Opera, enjoyed by Pippa Hare

Ensemble. A Musical Gem - Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

DVD Spotlight. Love Problems - Donizetti's 'l'Elisir d'amore', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... beguiling candour.'

CD Spotlight. Stylistic Eloquence - Italian arias and madrigals, recommended by Maria Nockin. '... performed with accuracy and grace.'

Changing Tastes - Ciaran McAuley on the rejuvenation of opera

An Admirable Book - Alan Riding and Leslie Dunton-Downer's companion to opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. New Meanings? - An evening of subtle brutality, by Karen Haid

Ensemble. Wonderful music - Chabrier's 'Le Roi malgré lui' at Lyons Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - Operatunity

What is the English National Opera for? - Robert Hugill asks the question and, whilst previewing the forthcoming season, suggests three possible answers

Ensemble. Holocaust opera - A powerful, deeply moving performance of Viktor Ullmann's 'The Emperor of Atlantis', reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Writing new opera - A composer's perspective, by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A surefire hit - Bizet's 'Carmen' at Stowe Opera, appreciated by Roderic Dunnett

Opium of the elite - Roderic Dunnett previews this autumn's touring operas in the UK

Ensemble. The big birdcage - Of pigeons and other strange birds at the 2004 Munich Opera Festival, by Sissy von Kotzebue

Triumphs and failures - The first week of the Munich Opera Festival 2004, reviewed by Tess Crebbin and Sissy Kotzebue

Ensemble. A classic - 'Wonderful Town' at Grange Park Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Life and death - Tess Crebbin writes about 'Shadowtime', Brian Ferneyhough's first opera

Shopping for opera ... - Tess Crebbin investigates the largest classical CD store in continental Europe

Listening with baroque ears - Robert Hugill investigates the world of collaborative opera

Handel's singers - Robert Hugill investigates the fascinating world of opera in eighteenth century London

The Monteverdi allure - On the 360th anniversary of the death of Claudio Monteverdi, Rajgopal Nidamboor pays tribute to the first great composer of opera

CD Spotlight. River spirits - The opera 'Florencia en el Amazonas' as recorded by Albany, appreciated by Maria Nockin. '... shimmering iridescent music ...'

Profile. Luciano Chailly - The career of one of Italy's most striking musical personalities, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett, who met and interviewed him

Ensemble. Apotheosis of the madrigal - Roderic Dunnett enjoys 'L'incoronazione di Poppea' at London's Royal Academy of Music

Ensemble. Verging on London standards - Roderic Dunnett visits Dorset and Stowe Opera for productions of 'Norma' and 'Don Carlo'

CD Spotlight. Arias for Farinelli - The voice of mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux, appreciated by Maria Nockin. '... played, sung and recorded with exquisite artistry.'

Profile. Life in the old tiger - In the second of two articles about the Chisinau National Opera, Moldovan tenor Mihai Muntean talks to Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight. Breach of conventions? - Handel's opera 'Tamerlano' in a new recording investigated by Peter Dale. '... absolutely convincing ...'

Ensemble. Waiting for Figaro - Bampton Classical Opera at London's St John's Smith Square, enjoyed by David Thompson

Ensemble. Youthful comedies - David Wilkins visits the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy

Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - operatic folly

A Moment of Madness - Following the controversial acceptance (or infliction) by the English National Opera board of Nicholas Payne's resignation, Pamela Rosenberg, General Director of the San Francisco Opera, talks to Roderic Dunnett about the impact of the decision, and about the esteem in which Payne's leadership is held in Europe and the USA alike

Ensemble. A much loved conductor - Bernard Haitink's Farewell Concert at London's Royal Opera, as experienced by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Unalloyed genius - Glyndebourne's recent 'Euryanthe' is fêted by Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. Full circle - Roderic Dunnett enjoys Verdi's 'Macbeth' at Covent Garden

Payne resigns - a slyly overcautious management board generates turmoil at English National Opera, by Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight. French Arias - The singing of Marcelo Álvarez, assessed by John Bell Young. '... in the refined and complex world of art music, intuition is hardly enough ...'

Ensemble. Verismo al fresco - Malcolm Miller enjoys Opera Holland Park's double bill of 'Suor Angelica' and 'I Pagliacci'

Beautifully together - Roderic Dunnett enjoys the Ukrainian State Opera Company of Odessa's 'La Traviata'

Hans Hotter in Munich - an occasional addendum to last year's 'Captivating moments', with Juliet Averay

Ensemble - Naughty but nice. David Thompson enjoys English National Opera's 'Lulu' at the London Coliseum

Second Sight - Music with Wilfrid Mellers - 15. Magic and Innocence. A double bill at Opera North. 'This production, given its musical values, must on no account be missed.'

Ensemble - Profoundly life-enhancing. Rex Harley experiences Janácek's 'The Cunning Little Vixen' in the current Welsh National Opera revival, on 24 May 2002 at Cardiff New Theatre, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

Ensemble - A Japanese 'Riverdance'? Keith Bramich (with simultaneous translation by Yuri Izawa) experiences the four thousand strong spectacle of 'Sleeping King - the promise of love with a true heart'

Ensemble - Judge on the menu. Patric Standford attends the first night of Opera North's revival production of Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd'

Ensemble - a glorious dip in the grotesque. Roderic Dunnett at Welsh National Opera's revival of 'Salome'

Ensemble - imperial grandeur. Roderic Dunnett is impressed with a new production of 'The Queen of Spades'

Ensemble - Plea for peace. David Wilkins reports from the Athens Megaron on the first performance of the new opera 'Lysistrata' by Mikis Theodorakis

Ensemble - Prisoner of Mab. Roderic Dunnett reports from Austria on a new chamber opera by Eduard Demetz

Ensemble - The role of the artist. Roderic Dunnett visits Caen for a performance of Wolfgang Rihm's opera 'Jakob Lenz'

Ensemble - A friend in need. The Opera Omnibus production of Mascagni's 'L'Amico Fritz', enjoyed by Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight - Definitely among the greats. '... Podvalová's Sárka is a celebrated interpretation.' A Marie Podvalová operatic recital, with Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight - Beautiful vision. 'This is a spectacularly interesting recital ...' The Golden Voice of the Prague National Theatre, with Roderic Dunnett

Unusual chemistry - Roderic Dunnett was at the Chisinau National Opera's 'La Bohème'

Summer Opera Reviews - Roderic Dunnett looks back at a thumping good summer for opera festivals in Britain and Ireland. Part 2 - Longborough, Buxton and Garsington

Beyond Brussels - Roderic Dunnett journeys to Antwerp and Gent and finds good things on offer at de Vlaamse Opera

Getting the bird - Roderic Dunnett looks back with delight at Longborough Festival Opera's new production of Wagner's Siegfried

Site Seeing - Opera on the web

CD Review - David Arditti reviews a disc of music by Sullivan