Singers, Orchestra, Chorus and Staging as Good as It Gets By GEORGE B. PAROUS It was a grand and large audience that heard and saw a spectacular performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata last evening at the Benedum. The time-worn… Read More ›
Brandon Bell
Review: Pittsburgh Opera Adds ‘Proving Up’ to its List of Season’s Successes
By GEORGE B. PAROUS Last evening Pittsburgh Opera continued their season with the first night of Missy Mazzoli’s chamber opera, Proving Up. With a libretto by Royce Vavrek, adapted from a short story by Karen Russell, the 2018 opera has… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s Fran Daniel Laucerica on ‘Proving Up’
Resident Artist Tenor Speaks of Upcoming Production Next Saturday, February 17, 2024, marks the first production by Pittsburgh Opera of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Proving Up, a work which has been called “Harrowing…powerful… a true opera of our time”… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s Production of ‘Iphigénie en Tauride’ Continues its Run
Two More Performances of Classic Rarity Remain to Be Given at the CAPA By GEORGE B. PAROUS Pittsburgh Opera is currently giving its production of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride, a work first heard at the Paris Opéra on… Read More ›
‘The Barber of Seville’ a Bright 85th Season Opener
Pittsburgh Opera Offers a Vivacious Production of Old Classic By GEORGE B. PAROUS Despite miserable weather and having a star baritone on the sick list, Pittsburgh Opera attracted a good-sized audience to a brilliant performance of The Barber of Seville… Read More ›
‘Denis & Katya’ Opens at Pittsburgh Opera’s Bitz Opera Factory
Stark Subject, a Disturbing Look at Internet Voyeurism in Our Digital Society By George B. Parous Denis & Katya is a chamber opera with a cast of two singers and two titular characters – but this one-act drama is by… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera Winding Up Season with First of Two Contemporary Works in May
Philip Venables and Ted Huffman’s ‘Denis & Katya’ Opens with Brandon Bell and Jazmine Olwalia Saturday, May 6th Pittsburgh Opera is ending its 2022-23 season with two back-to-back contemporary operas in May, with Denis & Katya being the first up… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Rusalka’ Opens 84th Season in Grand Style
Antony Walker and Sara Gartland the Brightest Stars in a Brilliant Cast By George B. Parous Pittsburgh Opera opened its 84th season Saturday evening, with a truly grand performance of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka. The libretto, by Jaroslav Kvapil, is said… Read More ›
Company Premiere of Dvořák’s ‘Rusalka’ Will Open Pittsburgh Opera’s 84th Season
Four New Resident Artists Will Debut in the Production, Opening Saturday, Sept. 17 By George B. Parous Beginning Saturday night, September 17, at the Benedum, and running the usual four performances, Pittsburgh Opera will provide the rare opportunity of hearing… Read More ›