Huge Crowd on Hand for First Night of “Virtual Reality” Take on Puccini Classic By George B. Parous Whether it was a love of Puccini’s music, curiosity about the new production, or both, something drew the biggest opening night audience… Read More ›
Cindy Knight
Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Cav/Pag’ Revival a Mixed Bag of Delights
Grand Performances by Singers, Orchestra, Chorus, Acrobats and More By GEORGE B PAROUS A good-sized crowd was on hand at the Benedum last night, when Pittsburgh Opera gave the first performance of their Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci double-header production. Both… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera Launches 2024-25 Season With a Production of ‘Tosca’
Outstanding Performance of Tried and True Standard by Giacomo Puccini Shows the Composer and Company at Their Best By GEORGE B. PAROUS Pittsburgh Opera opened their new season last night at the Benedum, with a performance of Puccini’s Tosca that… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s “The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson”
Dramady with Operatic Interludes Opens at the Byham By George B. Parous The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, as is widely known by now, is a play rather than an opera. There certainly is piano-accompanied singing, but about two thirds… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘La Traviata’ Another Win For the Company
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 ›
Rare Taste of Wagner’s Early Success Staged by Pittsburgh Opera in Brilliant Performance
The Briney Sea Tale of ‘The Flying Dutchman’ Appears to Be All That Pittsburgh Audiences Will Hear of Richard Wagner; the Gloom of the ‘Dutchman’ For the First Time in Two Decades By George B. Parous Last evening, Pittsburgh Opera… 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 ›
Review: Pittsburgh Opera Brings Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore’ Back to Life
Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Il Trovatore, music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, continues at the Benedum Center March 28, 31 and April 2. (Images: David Bachman Photography for Pittsburgh Opera) Melodious Old Standard Wows Big Audience for the… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera Breathes New Life Into Mozart’s ‘Marriage of Figaro’
Outstanding Cast of Vocalists Gives Old Standard New Appeal Reviewed by George B. Parous First things first. If you’ve seen The Marriage of Figaro once, or a dozen times, there’s a chance you might not have heard Mozart’s music sung by… 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 ›