| Opera Philadelphia - Philadelphia | 17 October 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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ToscaOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
Opera Philadelphia takes the leap into live opera with The Drama of Tosca |
 8 May 21 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Philadelphia’s abbreviated ‘Tosca’ at the Mann seems like old times |
| 7 May 21 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Soldier SongsOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Seeking humanity amid operas that wax humanitarian |
| 13 Feb 21 / Classical Voice North America |
David T. Little's chilling opera Soldier Songs is reinvented for Opera Philadelphia film |
| 25 Jan 21 / Broadway World |
The fearless ‘Soldier Songs’ is a standout achievement among COVID-19-era shows |
| 25 Jan 21 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
more reviews [+]
One little soldier |
| 25 Jan 21 / parterre box |
With Soldier Songs, Opera Philadelphia explores the lingering trauma of war |
| 23 Jan 21 / Bachtrack |
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 |
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Performance schedule
News & Articles
| Opera Philadelphia announces program celebrating Ruth Bader Ginsburg |
The program features performances by Joshua Blue (tenor), Norman Garrett (baritone), Michelle Rice (soprano), and Ashley Marie Robillard (soprano). |
| 20 Feb 2021 / Broadway World |
| 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 |
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