Author Archives

• Alexandra Loutsion Launches Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s “Legends” Series

  By George B. Parous on August 4, 2021

    A gifted soprano, quite pleased to be facing a live audience for the first time in well over a year, and an audience just as pleased to be there, made for an auspicious opening of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera… Read More ›

• “Semele” at Pittsburgh Opera a Colorful Close to Company’s Commendable Season

  By George B. Parous on May 13, 2021

  Pittsburgh Opera is wrapping its season with an innovative spin on Handel’s Semele, a company first in more ways than one. The work, variously described as a musical drama, “after the manner of an oratorio,” and eventually an opera, was… Read More ›

• “Charlie Parker’s Yardbird” Flies on the Wings of Song at Pittsburgh Opera

  By George B. Parous on April 15, 2021

  Pittsburgh Opera gave the second of six sold-out performances of Daniel Schnyder’s Charlie Parker’s Yardbird  last night, as the company continues to bring a live theater experience to as many people as possible in these seemingly endless pandemic days. Safety… Read More ›

• Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” a Season Opener for Pittsburgh Opera – and the History Kindles

  By George B. Parous on November 2, 2020

  Since October 17, Pittsburgh Opera has managed to give six live performances of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, in a condensed version “updated” to the period of the last global pandemic of 1918-19. The production couldn’t be on the scale of… Read More ›

• Pittsburgh Opera – “The Last American Hammer”

  By George B. Parous on February 24, 2020

    The Last American Hammer (with music by Peter Hilliard and libretto by Matt Boresi) entertained a crowd about as large as the George R. White Opera Studio could accommodate last night, and the one-act mix of drama and satire… Read More ›

• Pittsburgh Opera’s “Alcina” – Brilliantly Sung, Well Staged Production of Handel Rarity a Bewitching Treat

  By George B. Parous on January 27, 2020

  Pittsburgh Opera presented Handel’s Alcina for the first time in its history Saturday night, with a strong cast and Antony Walker conducting the orchestra – an excellent group of musicians exquisitely augmented by period instruments in the highly skilled hands… Read More ›

• Pittsburgh Opera’s “Florencia en el Amazonas” Premiere a Full-Steam-Ahead Success

  By George B. Parous on November 11, 2019

  Florencia en el Amazonas was performed Saturday night for the first time by Pittsburgh Opera, and the audience on hand at the Benedum was treated to a production that was brilliant to the ear and eye alike. The opera is… Read More ›

• Pittsburgh Opera’s “Don Giovanni” a Dazzling Opening Night Delight

  By George B. Parous on October 14, 2019

      A large crowd at the Benedum last night got an equally large bang for its buck in a highly entertaining performance of Mozart’s perennial Don Giovanni – this time dressed in Krystine McIntyre’s snappy “film noir” production that… Read More ›

• Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s “Scandals and Schicchi” a Fun Night of Song and Comedy

  By George B. Parous on July 28, 2019

  Pittsburgh Festival Opera is wrapping its summer season with Scandals and Schicchi, and its premiere last evening was received enthusiastically by a pleased and cheering crowd. It’s important to first note that only a single repetition will be given, Sunday… Read More ›

• Pittsburgh Festival Opera Presents Richard Wagner’s “The Valkyrie”

  By George B. Parous on July 21, 2019

    The first performance of Wagner’s epic The Valkyrie was given last night by Pittsburgh Festival Opera in the Falk Auditorium at Winchester Thurston – an abbreviated, spliced version that stirred a great deal of animated conversation during the intermission…. Read More ›