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 ›
Mark Trawka
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 ›
Review: Pittsburgh Opera Presents “Blue”
Riveting Social Justice Opera Packs a Wallop By George B. Parous Pittsburgh Opera is ending its 2021-’22 season with performances of Blue, and the work received its local premiere Saturday night, April 23, at the August Wilson African American… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s “Carmen” – Better Two Years Late Than Never
Colorful & Lively Production is Well Worth the Wait By George B. Parous Ever wonder why they call it “Grand Opera?” Never been, but waiting for one you’re guaranteed to enjoy? Try the twice delayed Carmen at Pittsburgh Opera. You’ve… Read More ›
REVIEW: Pittsburgh Opera’s The Magic Flute
Pittsburgh Opera’s The Magic Flute a Colorful, Magical Delight By George B. Parous Last night, a good-sized audience at the Benedum heard a classic example of why Mozart’s melodious The Magic Flute has enjoyed enduring popularity since 1791. The production… Read More ›
Pittsburgh Opera Launches New Season with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”
By George B. Parous For the first time in nearly two years, Pittsburgh Opera returns to the Benedum Center this Saturday evening, November 6, for the first of four performances of Mozart’s phantasmagorical The Magic Flute. The company did a marvelous job with… Read More ›
Alexandra Loutsion Launches Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s “Legends” Series
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 ›
Pittsburgh Opera’s “Alcina” – Brilliantly Sung, Well Staged Production of Handel Rarity a Bewitching Treat
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 “Don Giovanni” a Dazzling Opening Night Delight
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 ›