Long Beach Opera - Long Beach | 4 May 2024 |
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Performance reviews
Key | Photo gallery | Production details | Video link |
IsolaLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 1 |
Isola is a monodrama for our self-conscious age |
9 Feb 24 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
The Romance of the RoseLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
Long Beach Opera’s endearingly messy, profound ‘Romance of the Rose’ is an operatic triumph |
23 Feb 23 / Los Angeles Times |
A new opera puts real emotions in a fantasy garden |
21 Feb 23 / New York Times |
The Central Park FiveLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
How well does opera represent reality? LBO and L.A. Opera take differing approaches |
23 Jun 22 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera reprises The Central Park Five, minimally staged |
22 Jun 22 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
GiustinoLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
Rock ‘N’ Wry Handel: ‘Giustino’ in the Mojave, sparked by a trap drum |
28 May 22 / Classical Voice North America |
Handel in the desert |
25 May 22 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Voices from the Killing JarLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
Long Beach Opera’s midsummer nightmare double bill |
18 Aug 21 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
An astounding singer lifts Long Beach Opera’s ‘Killing Jar’ at the Ford |
17 Aug 21 / Los Angeles Times |
Pierrot LunaireLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
Long Beach Opera’s midsummer nightmare double bill |
18 Aug 21 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
An astounding singer lifts Long Beach Opera’s ‘Killing Jar’ at the Ford |
17 Aug 21 / Los Angeles Times |
Les enfants terriblesLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
Up on the roof: a Glass opera in parking garage |
5 Jun 21 / Classical Voice North America |
Long Beach Opera breaks its pandemic silence with a drive-in opera |
2 Jun 21 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
King ArthurLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 8 |
Pow! Zap! Zowie! Wowie! -or- Arthur, King of Long Beach |
20 Jan 20 / Opera Today |
Presto change-o: he’s King Arthur in his own head |
18 Jan 20 / Classical Voice North America |
Hang onto your crowns! |
16 Jan 20 / Signal Tribune |
more reviews [+]
King Arthur meets Trump and Superman in Long Beach |
15 Jan 20 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera pairs Purcell with agitprop |
15 Jan 20 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Long Beach Opera reimagines legend of King Arthur |
14 Jan 20 / The Grunion |
Long Beach Opera’s cartoon treatment of Purcell’s ‘King Arthur’ is an ill fit |
14 Jan 20 / Press-Telegram |
The twenty-twenty season is off to a rollicking start |
14 Jan 20 / Broadway World |
The Central Park FiveLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
Central Park Five as opera pulls no punches |
26 Jun 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
‘The Central Park Five,’ now an astounding world premiere opera |
25 Jun 19 / People's World |
In the Penal ColonyLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 1 |
Long Beach Opera gets political with in the Penal Colony |
30 Apr 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
The Black CatLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 3 |
Government shutdown hits the Long Beach Opera stage, but ‘The Black Cat’ goes on |
23 Jan 19 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera’s ‘Black Cat’ overcomes government shutdown to prowl on stage |
22 Jan 19 / Press-Telegram |
It was the Baroque instrumentalists who stole the most honors |
21 Jan 19 / Broadway World |
Le vin herbéLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 5 |
Love a potion for success at LBO |
19 May 18 / The Grunion |
'The Love Potion': Tristan and Isolde, the Long Beach Opera way |
17 May 18 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera intoxicates with The Love Potion |
17 May 18 / LA Weekly |
more reviews [+]
Romance and tragedy mix in The Love Potion |
16 May 18 / Long Beach Post |
Bernard Holcomb and Jamie Chamberlin were romantic lovers who held onlookers’ interest |
16 May 18 / OperaWire |
The Invention of MorelLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 5 |
A new operatic sci-fi take on eternal life |
25 Mar 18 / People's World |
Moody, mysterious Morel |
23 Mar 18 / Opera Today |
Long Beach Opera’s ‘Invention of Morel’ offers a fascinating journey |
21 Mar 18 / Press-Telegram |
more reviews [+]
Mysterious Invention of Morel haunts Long Beach Opera |
21 Mar 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Long Beach Opera raises life's questions, loudly, in Stewart Copeland's 'Invention of Morel' |
20 Mar 18 / Los Angeles Times |
The ConsulLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 4 |
Patricia Racette made her role debut here as Magda Sorel |
31 Oct 17 / Opera News |
Long Beach Opera makes statement with "Consul" |
21 Oct 17 / The Grunion |
Bureaucratic nightmare; operatic dream |
20 Oct 17 / Stage and Cinema |
more reviews [+]
1950 opera still a powerful affirmation of humanity |
19 Oct 17 / People's World |
FridaLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 12 |
A worthy night out at the opera |
6 Jul 17 / Signal Tribune |
Rodriguez’s score is eclectic, sprinkled with plenty of Latin-based rhythms and styles |
6 Jul 17 / Showmag |
Small cast, big performances and beautiful pictures make LBO’s ‘Frida’ a can’t-miss treat |
6 Jul 17 / Singerpreneur |
more reviews [+]
Long Beach Opera's presentation of Robert Xavier Rodríguez's bio-opera about Frida Kahlo is often delightful |
6 Jul 17 / LA Weekly |
The acting and singing was consistently excellent from the small cast |
6 Jul 17 / Culture Spot LA |
‘Frida’ se despidió, pero no será fácilmente olvidada |
6 Jul 17 / Hoy Los Angeles |
A real life opera |
6 Jul 17 / The Grunion |
Bio-op brings revolutionary artists alive |
6 Jul 17 / Hollywood Progressive |
Sensuality and sorrow |
6 Jul 17 / Easy Reader News |
The life of Frida Kahlo, an opera waiting to happen |
23 Jun 17 / People's World |
Mexico’s Wonder Woman: Long Beach Opera tells the tale of Frida Kahlo |
23 Jun 17 / Press-Telegram |
Death haunts Frida Kahlo's long and clumsily winding road to the lyric stage |
19 Jun 17 / Los Angeles Times |
As OneLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 7 |
"As One" harmonizes |
26 May 17 / The Grunion |
Transgender opera “As One” gets transcendent Southern California premiere |
26 May 17 / People's World |
Long Beach Opera’s thoughtful “As One” |
19 May 17 / Easy Reader News |
more reviews [+]
As One strips away the showy conventions of classic opera |
18 May 17 / Signal Tribune |
Long Beach Opera’s ‘As One’ takes on the issue of transgender metamorphosis |
17 May 17 / Press-Telegram |
'As One,' the every(wo)man transgender opera |
17 May 17 / Los Angeles Times |
As One is not what you generally get at a night at the opera |
15 May 17 / Random Lengths News |
The Perfect AmericanLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 4 |
Long Beach Opera premieres Glass opera |
18 Mar 17 / The Grunion |
An opera about Walt Disney, in commuting distance of Disneyland |
15 Mar 17 / Los Angeles Times |
The mouse that roared: Philip Glass takes on Walt Disney |
15 Mar 17 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
more reviews [+]
Long Beach Opera’s ‘Perfect American’ examines the life of Walt Disney |
15 Mar 17 / Press-Telegram |
The Fairy QueenLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 1 |
A gamble pays off: Long Beach Opera transports 1692 'Fairy Queen' to modern-day Vegas |
25 Jan 17 / Los Angeles Times |
The NewsLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 2 |
There’s no getting around the fact that The News is a one-trick pony |
21 Jun 16 / Random Lengths News |
Is it news or entertainment? |
21 Jun 16 / Los Angeles Times |
La voix humaineLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 5 |
Hanging on the telephone (literally) |
22 Apr 16 / Long Beach Post |
Definitely not your run-of-the-mill night at the opera |
13 Apr 16 / Random Lengths News |
Soprano Suzan Hanson dials up a masterful performance in Long Beach Opera’s ‘La Voix Humaine’ |
12 Apr 16 / Press-Telegram |
more reviews [+]
Simple enough and simply, effectively delivered |
11 Apr 16 / Orange County Register |
Suzan Hanson brings immediacy, authenticity to Long Beach Opera's 'La Voix Humaine' |
11 Apr 16 / Los Angeles Times |
FallujahLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 8 |
Blood, sand and tears: A foreign correspondent's view of the opera 'Fallujah' |
19 Mar 16 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera goes to war |
19 Mar 16 / Easy Reader News |
Long Beach Opera's 'Fallujah' tackles the Iraq war with authentic anguish |
16 Mar 16 / Los Angeles Times |
more reviews [+]
Fallujah the opera viscerally exposes the casualties of war |
16 Mar 16 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Long Beach Opera’s ‘Fallujah’ is a powerful return to the battlefield |
16 Mar 16 / Press-Telegram |
On the emotional front, Fallujah is effective enough |
16 Mar 16 / Random Lengths News |
An Iraq war vet with PTSD turned turmoil into art |
16 Mar 16 / LA Weekly |
Long Beach Opera gives premiere of Iraq War opera 'Fallujah' |
15 Mar 16 / Orange County Register |
associated articles [+]
Long Beach Opera premieres 'Fallujah'
World premiere of opera 'Fallujah' in Long Beach may be among former Marine's most difficult missions.
World premiere of opera 'Fallujah' in Long Beach may be among former Marine's most difficult missions.
CandideLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 9 |
Forgive LBO any errors, because mostly it's on target |
8 Feb 16 / LA Observed |
Spirited and sloppy |
6 Feb 16 / Long Beach Post |
Long Beach Opera delivers a brisk, stylish 'Candide' |
1 Feb 16 / Orange County Register |
more reviews [+]
Long Beach Opera's "Candide" solves notorious problem |
30 Jan 16 / The Grunion |
Tragedy with a smile at Long Beach Opera |
30 Jan 16 / Easy Reader News |
Long Beach Opera’s clever new ‘Candide’ |
27 Jan 16 / Press-Telegram |
LBO’s Candide lives or dies almost entirely on its performances |
27 Jan 16 / Random Lengths News |
'Candide' is revisited in a playfully imaginative staging by Long Beach Opera |
26 Jan 16 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera opens with a hit |
26 Jan 16 / City Watch LA |
Hydrogen JukeboxLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 8 |
LBO once again demonstrates its resourcefulness and originality |
17 Jun 15 / Stage Raw |
The simple beauty of the final unaccompanied chorale is the musical heart of the work |
17 Jun 15 / Showmag |
LBO’s modern song cycle brings ’60s back to life |
17 Jun 15 / The Grunion |
more reviews [+]
What happens when Allen Ginsberg and Philip Glass create an opera about America? |
17 Jun 15 / LA Weekly |
Long Beach Opera produces an unsettling dark journey into a neon American apocalypse |
17 Jun 15 / Random Lengths News |
In Hydrogen Jukebox, the most stunning moments feature either vocalise or spoken text |
17 Jun 15 / auscultations |
A timely illumination of the American experience |
1 Jun 15 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera makes warehouse sing with Philip Glass' 'Hydrogen Jukebox' |
1 Jun 15 / Orange County Register |
associated articles [+]
A man of many voices
Roberto Perlas Gomez in “Hydrogen Jukebox”.
Roberto Perlas Gomez in “Hydrogen Jukebox”.
Marilyn ForeverLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 6 |
Fifty-three years following her death, Marilyn continues to fascinate us |
31 Mar 15 / Signal Tribune |
Why is this Marilyn Monroe opera so un-sexy? |
26 Mar 15 / LA Weekly |
Starlets and bible black |
26 Mar 15 / a fool in the forest |
more reviews [+]
Long Beach Opera unveils intriguing, passionate ‘Marilyn Forever’ |
24 Mar 15 / Press-Telegram |
In 'Marilyn Forever,' Monroe yearns to be merely herself |
24 Mar 15 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera offers a brooding 'Marilyn Forever' |
23 Mar 15 / Orange County Register |
Thérèse RaquinLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 9 |
Oui, elle regrette tout |
3 Feb 15 / a fool in the forest |
A mostly smashing evening of musical theater, intelligent and involving |
3 Feb 15 / Stage Raw |
Nasty people make great opera for LBO |
3 Feb 15 / The Grunion |
more reviews [+]
Thérèse Raquin lives again at Long Beach Opera |
3 Feb 15 / Singerpreneur |
This is an opera that is a feast for the ears |
31 Jan 15 / Signal Tribune |
Long Beach Opera delivers a bloodless Thérèse Raquin |
28 Jan 15 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Carnal crisis at Long Beach Opera |
28 Jan 15 / Easy Reader News |
Long Beach Opera revives 'Thérèse Raquin' |
26 Jan 15 / Orange County Register |
Long Beach Opera puts its own spin on 'Thérèse Raquin' |
26 Jan 15 / Los Angeles Times |
The Difficulty of Crossing a FieldLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 5 |
Where what is, is not |
28 Jun 14 / Long Beach Post |
Long Beach Opera revives David Lang’s ‘The Difficulty of Crossing a Field’ |
25 Jun 14 / Opera West |
Superior recent opera, suffused with imponderable mystery, receives an extraordinary production |
25 Jun 14 / The Hollywood Reporter |
more reviews [+]
Nothing is as it disappears |
25 Jun 14 / a fool in the forest |
Long Beach Opera finds no difficulty with ‘Crossing a Field’ |
24 Jun 14 / Press-Telegram |
A Fiddler's TaleLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 5 |
Long Beach Opera shines in double bill |
13 May 14 / Los Angeles Register |
Long Beach Opera’s inspired take on ‘A Solider’s Tale’ may not be everyone’s taste |
13 May 14 / Press-Telegram |
Long Beach Opera offers a provocative Stravinsky/Wynton Marsalis pairing |
13 May 14 / Opera West |
more reviews [+]
A prismatic reinvention of the original as contemporary theater |
8 May 14 / The Hollywood Reporter |
Long Beach Opera stretches Stravinsky with two makeovers |
8 May 14 / Los Angeles Times |
An American Soldier's TaleLong Beach OperaNo. of reviews: 5 |
Long Beach Opera shines in double bill |
13 May 14 / Los Angeles Register |
Long Beach Opera’s inspired take on ‘A Solider’s Tale’ may not be everyone’s taste |
13 May 14 / Press-Telegram |
Long Beach Opera offers a provocative Stravinsky/Wynton Marsalis pairing |
13 May 14 / Opera West |
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Performance schedule
News & Articles
Long Beach Opera unveils 2023 season |
The season will open in February 2023 with the world premiere of “The Romance of the Rose” by Kate Soper. |
15 Oct 2022 / OperaWire |
Long Beach Opera cancels ‘Stimmung,’ director resigns |
Long Beach Opera has announced the cancellation of “Stimmung,” its first show of the 2022 season, amid investigation into issues of equity, diversity. |
15 Mar 2022 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera announces 2022 season |
Long Beach Opera has announced an audacious 2022 season that seeks to usher in a new era for the company. |
13 Aug 2021 / Broadway World |
Long Beach Opera names next leader |
Long Beach Opera names pandemic go-to director James Darrah as its next leader. |
23 Feb 2021 / Los Angeles Times |
Long Beach Opera announces fall 2020 programming |
Long Beach Opera has announced three programs for its fall 2020 season. All performances and events will be presented virtually. |
19 Sep 2020 / OperaWire |