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 ›
James Lesniak
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
‘We Shall Not Be Moved,’ Pittsburgh Opera’s Season Finale, A Decided Winner
Entire Cast & Bulk of Production Crew in Pittsburgh Opera Debuts, Deliver Powerful Drama Set to Riveting Music By George B. Parous First things first – try to get tickets to Pittsburgh Opera’s We Shall Not Be Moved while they’re… 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 Opens a Brilliant ‘Ariodante’ at the CAPA
Soprano Emily Richter All But Steals the Show From a Stage Bursting With Talent By George B. Parous Pittsburgh Opera continued the roll it’s been on this season with the company’s premiere of George Frideric Handel’s classic Ariodante last evening…. 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 ›