| Opera Philadelphia - Philadelphia | 19 January 2021 |
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Written on Skin
Elizabeth Cree
Le nozze di Figaro
Tancredi
L'elisir d'amore
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Performance reviews
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SemeleOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
James Darrah’s Semele in Philadelphia: a revelatory blend of depth and brilliance |
 11 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard |
A musical treat |
| 29 Sep 19 / The Opera Critic |
Handel’s “Semele” excels with Amanda Forsythe, Daniela Mack and Alek Shrader |
| 28 Sep 19 / Opera Warhorses |
more reviews [+]
Amanda Forsythe a truly overwhelming Semele in Opera Philadelphia's Festival O |
| 25 Sep 19 / Bachtrack |
A festival adds to opera’s soaring body count |
| 24 Sep 19 / New York Times |
Fiery, full-throated Semele |
| 23 Sep 19 / Opera Today |
Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Semele’ is an embarrassment of richness in its vocal work, could use some decluttering stagewise |
| 21 Sep 19 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Denis & KatyaOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 9 | |
Star-crossed pairings in “Porgy and Bess” and “Denis & Katya" |
| 8 Oct 19 / The New Yorker |
The immortality code: death, transfiguration, and arias at opera Philadelphia’s O19 |
| 7 Oct 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Philip Venables’ compelling opera premieres at Festival O19 |
| 3 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
A unique insight into a real-life incident |
| 29 Sep 19 / The Opera Critic |
Total ellipse |
| 24 Sep 19 / parterre box |
Edgy, haunting Denis & Katya |
| 21 Sep 19 / Opera Today |
Philip Venables’s work uses slender resources to tell a troubling real-life story |
| 20 Sep 19 / Financial Times (via Google) |
O19 opens with game-changing world premiere of ‘Denis & Katya’ |
| 20 Sep 19 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
The world premiere of Denis & Katya at Opera Philadelphia |
| 20 Sep 19 / Broadway World |
Let Me DieOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
The immortality code: death, transfiguration, and arias at opera Philadelphia’s O19 |
| 7 Oct 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
A death a minute in Let Me Die at Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O19 |
| 2 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard |
The Love for Three OrangesOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Delightful, effervescent and so much fun |
| 5 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard |
Oranges--Opera Philadelphia's O19 shows us what the difference is |
| 30 Sep 19 / Broadway World |
Opera Philadelphia’s richly melodic, laugh-filled “Love for Three Oranges” |
| 28 Sep 19 / Opera Warhorses |
more reviews [+]
It is hard to imagine a more animated, engaging, and musically accomplished night |
| 25 Sep 19 / Opera Today |
Prokofiev's commedia dell’arte showpiece in Philadelphia |
| 25 Sep 19 / Bachtrack |
A Festival adds to opera’s soaring body count |
| 24 Sep 19 / New York Times |
Tales of the citrus |
| 24 Sep 19 / parterre box |
Riders to the SeaOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | 
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Curtis Opera Theatre presents powerful Vaughan Williams and Orth double bill |
| 13 May 19 / Seen and Heard |
Vaughan Williams and Orth picture death in the family |
| 10 May 19 / ConcertoNet (English) |
Riding on empty |
| 7 May 19 / parterre box |
more reviews [+]
Vaughn Williams’s music is wonderfully dirge-like and grim |
| 6 May 19 / Phindie |
Empty the HouseOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | 
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Curtis Opera Theatre presents powerful Vaughan Williams and Orth double bill |
| 13 May 19 / Seen and Heard |
Vaughan Williams and Orth picture death in the family |
| 10 May 19 / ConcertoNet (English) |
Riding on empty |
| 7 May 19 / parterre box |
more reviews [+]
A work with tragic overtones |
| 6 May 19 / Phindie |
La bohèmeOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Young lovers take flight and soar in Opera Philadelphia’s La bohème |
| 6 May 19 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Philadelphia decorates La bohème with Impressionist art |
| 30 Apr 19 / Bachtrack |
Pigment of the imagination |
| 29 Apr 19 / parterre box |
more reviews [+]
Art imitates life in La bohème at Opera Philadelphia |
| 29 Apr 19 / Broadway World |
In Opera Philadelphia’s new ‘La boheme,’ the Barnes and Art Museum have starring roles |
| 28 Apr 19 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Don GiovanniOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 1 | |
Contrasting approaches to Mozart |
| 1 Apr 19 / The Opera Critic |
A Midsummer Night's DreamOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Opera Philadelphia and Britten’s Dream: magical enough, if not inspired |
| 18 Feb 19 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Philadelphia’s “Midsummer” is dreamy |
| 17 Feb 19 / Out In Jersey |
A magical Midsummer Night's Dream |
| 17 Feb 19 / The Opera Critic |
more reviews [+]
From Mechanicals to leaping Puck, a dream Dream |
| 16 Feb 19 / Classical Voice North America |
Operatic ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ claims an orbit of its own |
| 10 Feb 19 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Fairy magic and flying beds |
| 10 Feb 19 / Phindie |
Ne Quittez PasOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | |
A reimagined La voix humaine |
| 8 Oct 18 / The Opera Critic |
What a complicated evening |
| 2 Oct 18 / Phindie |
Reimagining Poulenc’s La voix humaine |
| 28 Sep 18 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
In Opera Philadelphia’s re-imagined La voix humaine, diva Patricia Racette had a tough “act” to follow |
| 26 Sep 18 / Opera Today |
Glass HandelOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Costanzo blasts off with Glass/Handel |
| 3 Oct 18 / ConcertoNet (English) |
An extravagant evening of sensory sensations |
| 1 Oct 18 / The Opera Critic |
Anthony Roth Costanzo moves us — literally |
| 25 Sep 18 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
more reviews [+]
‘Lucia’ unvarnished, Handel unbound: Opera Philadelphia festival strikes again |
| 25 Sep 18 / Washington Post |
Anthony Roth Costanzo provided both accomplished vocal muscle and aesthetic savvy as a producer |
| 25 Sep 18 / Opera News |
Lucia di LammermoorOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Musical excellence is marred by a flawed production |
| 1 Oct 18 / The Opera Critic |
Mad about Lucia |
| 26 Sep 18 / Opera Today |
Brenda Rae is a stunning Lucia for Opera Philadelphia |
| 25 Sep 18 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
‘Lucia’ unvarnished, Handel unbound: Opera Philadelphia festival strikes again |
| 25 Sep 18 / Washington Post |
Opera Philadelphia disappoints with an uninspiring rendition of Lucia di Lammermoor |
| 23 Sep 18 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Sky on SwingsOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Love in the time of Alzheimer’s |
| 26 Sep 18 / Seen and Heard |
Sky on Swings: a heart-wrenching world première at Opera Philadelphia |
| 25 Sep 18 / Bachtrack |
Unsettling, riveting Sky on Swings |
| 24 Sep 18 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
A compelling vision of two women with Alzheimer’s |
| 23 Sep 18 / The Opera Critic |
‘Sky on Swings,’ the Alzheimer’s opera, opens O18 festival with a winner |
| 23 Sep 18 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Alzheimer's opera 'Sky on Swings' opens in Philadelphia |
| 22 Sep 18 / Associated Press |
CarmenOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Daniela Mack sizzles as Carmen for Opera Philadelphia |
| 8 May 18 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Philadelphia closes season with triumphant 'Carmen' |
| 6 May 18 / The Philadelphia Tribune |
A new Carmen, colorful but tame |
| 3 May 18 / The Opera Critic |
more reviews [+]
Billboards, red dresses and a green balloon |
| 1 May 18 / Bachtrack |
A visually provocative, well-cast production |
| 29 Apr 18 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
A Quiet PlaceOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
Making the case for Bernstein’s A Quiet Place |
| 19 Mar 18 / Seen and Heard |
This chamber version of A Quiet Place still packs an emotional punch |
| 14 Mar 18 / The Opera Critic |
Written on SkinOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Benjamin’s contemporary opera of uncertain aim and reach |
| 23 Feb 18 / Seen and Heard |
A superb production of George Benjamin’s Written on Skin |
| 21 Feb 18 / Seen and Heard |
Sex, angels and cannibalism |
| 20 Feb 18 / Bachtrack |
more reviews [+]
Written indelibly on skin |
| 19 Feb 18 / The Opera Critic |
No heart on the sleeve of Written on Skin at Opera Philadelphia |
| 14 Feb 18 / Broadway World |
A dilettante at large |
| 13 Feb 18 / Phindie |
‘Written on Skin,’ an opera of love, betrayal and a little cannibalism |
| 12 Feb 18 / New York Times |
Opera Philadelphia's 'Written on Skin' a new take on a not-so-old opera |
| 11 Feb 18 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
We Shall Not Be MovedOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Standing their ground |
| 1 Oct 17 / TheaterJones |
The opera's message is delivered with stirring music, impressive direction and excellent performances |
| 26 Sep 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
Moved takes on Philadelphia headlines |
| 22 Sep 17 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
Roumain and Joseph's opera succeeds on the level of art and not just polemic |
| 21 Sep 17 / Opera News |
Our engagement and catharsis come from the moving music and images |
| 20 Sep 17 / Phindie |
Squatters’ rites, sacred sites in We Shall Not Be Moved |
| 19 Sep 17 / Bachtrack |
Has anything changed? Opera Philadelphia uses MOVE as a lens |
| 18 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
I Have No Stories to Tell YouOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | |
Opera Philadelphia mixes old and new with two one-act operas |
| 1 Oct 17 / TheaterJones |
A clever pairing of two music dramas dealing with battles |
| 26 Sep 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
At war with Philadelphia |
| 22 Sep 17 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
Opera, war, PTSD, and bright ideas that don't quite gel |
| 18 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Il combattimento di Tancredi e ClorindaOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | 
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Opera Philadelphia mixes old and new with two one-act operas |
| 1 Oct 17 / TheaterJones |
A clever pairing of two music dramas dealing with battles |
| 26 Sep 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
At war with Philadelphia |
| 22 Sep 17 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
Opera, war, PTSD, and bright ideas that don't quite gel |
| 18 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Die ZauberflöteOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
This production was a fascinating lens to look through |
| 30 Sep 17 / Phindie |
Of fairy tales and trials at Opera Philadelphia's Wake World and Magic Flute |
| 29 Sep 17 / Broadway World |
A dazzling reinvented Mozart at the O17 Festival |
| 23 Sep 17 / Phindie |
more reviews [+]
Strange magic |
| 21 Sep 17 / TheaterJones |
Magicking Flutes – and pink elephants – in the Roaring Twenties in Philadelphia |
| 19 Sep 17 / Bachtrack |
Mozart by way of Monty Python and Edward Gorey |
| 17 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
The Wake WorldOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | |
Of fairy tales and trials at Opera Philadelphia's Wake World and Magic Flute |
| 29 Sep 17 / Broadway World |
An immersive experience which transports the audience into an other-worldly existence |
| 24 Sep 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
Opera Philadelphia had premiered a third striking new work within five days |
| 23 Sep 17 / Opera News |
more reviews [+]
O17 hits the Barnes with a hallucinatory fairy tale |
| 20 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Elizabeth CreeOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Murder, she sang |
| 20 Sep 17 / TheaterJones |
Putting on great opera can be murder |
| 20 Sep 17 / Opera Today |
Elizabeth Cree is worth repeated viewings for its vivid characters, ingenious development and gripping music |
| 17 Sep 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
more reviews [+]
Murder she wrote: Elizabeth Cree launch Opera Philadelphia's Fall Festival |
| 16 Sep 17 / Bachtrack |
Three brilliant performances anchored the opera |
| 16 Sep 17 / Opera News |
'Elizabeth Cree' opens O17 festival with bloody good opera |
| 16 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Le nozze di FigaroOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Undimmed hilarity – and profundity – in a supreme operatic masterpiece |
| 12 May 17 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Phila’s lusty Figaro |
| 11 May 17 / The Huffington Post |
The power structure crumbles in this new Figaro |
| 8 May 17 / The Opera Critic |
more reviews [+]
The cast was filled with superb singers and actors |
| 3 May 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
The staging of the slapstick hilarity worked extremely well |
| 2 May 17 / Phindie |
Opera Philadelphia delivers Mozart with doors, beds, and heaps of fun |
| 2 May 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
TancrediOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Two singers compensate brilliantly for a dramatically flawed Tancredi |
| 22 Feb 17 / Seen and Heard |
OperaPhiladelphia tackles early Rossini |
| 19 Feb 17 / The Huffington Post |
Stephanie Blythe is a powerful Tancredi |
| 15 Feb 17 / The Opera Critic |
more reviews [+]
Opera Philadelphia speaks softly with fortissimo effect in Tancredi |
| 14 Feb 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Death becomes him |
| 14 Feb 17 / parterre box |
Tancredi is at once grand and intimate, florid and quiet, updated but timeless |
| 13 Feb 17 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
TurandotOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
A stunning presentation of a not very human opera |
| 5 Oct 16 / Seen and Heard |
Goerke sang unstintingly in the fearsome title role |
| 3 Oct 16 / Phindie |
associated articles [+]
Opera company revising 'Turandot' over Asian depictions
Opera Philadelphia is agreeing to make changes in its marketing and production of Puccini's "Turandot" because of complaints it perpetuates stereotypes about Asians.
Opera Philadelphia is agreeing to make changes in its marketing and production of Puccini's "Turandot" because of complaints it perpetuates stereotypes about Asians.
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Performance schedule
News & Articles
| Opera Philadelphia’s Channel launched |
Lisette Oropesa’s ‘Traviata’ is a highlight of Opera Philadelphia’s new channel. |
| 15 Nov 2020 / New York Observer |
| Opera Philadelphia cancels O20 Festival |
In addition the company will postpone or move online all but one of the live productions it originally planned for the 2020-21 season. |
| 29 Jul 2020 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
| Opera Philadelphia to present digital festival |
Opera Philadelphia has announced that it will stream five of its productions—including four recent world premieres—as part of a digital festival that it will present after its 2019-20 season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. |
| 29 Apr 2020 / Opera News |
| Opera Philadelphia wins international prize |
Denis & Katya, slated to be unveiled as part of Opera Philadelphia’s O19 festival, drew the top honor from Fedora, a Paris-based program. |
| 29 Jun 2019 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
| Opera Philadelphia’s O19 is down to ‘only’ four productions |
In a slightly scaled-back continuation of its festival format, Opera Philadelphia next season will mount two world premieres, Handel's Semele and Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges. |
| 8 Feb 2019 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
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