| Opera Philadelphia - Philadelphia | 19 March 2019 |
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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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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 |
Turandot is worth losing sleep over |
| 2 Oct 16 / The Opera Critic |
more reviews [+]
Danger and darkness lurk around every corner of Opera Philadelphia’s stunning new production of Turandot |
| 27 Sep 16 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
The main draw was Christine Goerke’s ferocious Turandot |
| 27 Sep 16 / Wall Street Journal (via Google) |
A 'Turandot' both silly and serious |
| 26 Sep 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
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.
Breaking the WavesOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
A Lars von Trier opera makes a splash |
| 2 Oct 16 / Phindie |
Missy Mazzoli’s new opera: luminous beauty and moving human insight |
| 1 Oct 16 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Philadelphia triumphs with Breaking the Waves |
| 29 Sep 16 / Broadway World |
more reviews [+]
Adultery in the name of love |
| 27 Sep 16 / Wall Street Journal (via Google) |
Flawed masterpiece: Missy Mazzoli's Breaking the Waves opens in Philadelphia |
| 27 Sep 16 / Bachtrack |
'Breaking the Waves' lends musical heft to a von Trier tale |
| 26 Sep 16 / New York Times |
A troubling and engrossing world premiere |
| 25 Sep 16 / The Opera Critic |
A great operatic package if you can take it |
| 24 Sep 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
associated articles [+]
Lars von Trier's 'true love story' becomes an opera
With Breaking the Waves, composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek have adapted von Trier’s bleak 1996 fable set in an insular Calvinist community on the coast of Scotland.
With Breaking the Waves, composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek have adapted von Trier’s bleak 1996 fable set in an insular Calvinist community on the coast of Scotland.
MacbethOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
A thoughtful and moving take on Verdi's Macbeth |
| 29 Sep 16 / The Opera Critic |
It made perfect, horrible sense |
| 27 Sep 16 / Wall Street Journal (via Google) |
L'elisir d'amoreOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Theatrical distractions mar an otherwise witty and well sung Elisir |
| 9 May 16 / The Opera Critic |
Restoring Much of the Sparkle to Donizetti’s Elixir |
| 7 May 16 / Seen and Heard |
Opera Philly’s charming Elixir |
| 6 May 16 / The Huffington Post |
more reviews [+]
Ever may the fruit be plucked |
| 5 May 16 / Phindie |
Sarah Shafer's crystalline voice graces Opera Philadelphia |
| 4 May 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
CapriccioOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 3 | |
A compelling battle between words and music
|
| 14 Mar 16 / The Opera Critic |
Kirsten MacKinnon leads a splendid cast with her clear pure vocals and expressive acting |
| 14 Mar 16 / DC Metro Theater Arts |
'Capriccio': Surges, stalls - but a charming conversation on opera and art |
| 14 Mar 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Cold MountainOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Impressive cast and production for East Coast premiere of Cold Mountain |
| 13 Feb 16 / Seen and Heard |
An intimate take on a big spectacle |
| 12 Feb 16 / The Opera Critic |
Cold Mountain again proved an impressive first opera and a memorable theatrical experience |
| 12 Feb 16 / Opera News |
more reviews [+]
When this cruel war is over |
| 9 Feb 16 / parterre box |
Opera Philadelphia deserves congratulations on yet another coup |
| 9 Feb 16 / Opera Today |
Often stirring, if not always inspired |
| 8 Feb 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
La TraviataOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
El amor, la alegría y la vida destruidos por la hipocresía |
| 14 Jan 16 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
Lisette Oropesa makes an impressive debut as Violetta |
| 28 Oct 15 / The Opera Critic |
Lost soul |
| 13 Oct 15 / parterre box |
more reviews [+]
Opera Philadelphia’s emotionally compelling and thought-provoking La traviata |
| 7 Oct 15 / Seen and Heard |
This 'La traviata' makes news |
| 7 Oct 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
ANDY: A PoperaOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 4 | |
El respeto al pop art |
| 5 Oct 15 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
Warhol brought to the popera stage |
| 1 Oct 15 / The Opera Critic |
A party, with no rules |
| 16 Sep 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
more reviews [+]
An exciting world premiere |
| 13 Sep 15 / Phindie |
Don CarloOpera PhiladelphiaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
El hundimiento del Imperio de España |
| 6 Aug 15 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
The vulnerability of a tyrant |
| 6 May 15 / The Opera Critic |
associated articles [+]
In ‘Don Carlo’ productions, singers tease out a King’s humanity
Even if everyone loves a bad boy, the appeal of Philip II in Verdi’s “Don Carlo” is hard to explain.
Even if everyone loves a bad boy, the appeal of Philip II in Verdi’s “Don Carlo” is hard to explain.
Reviews search
Performance schedule
Puccini
26 Apr to 5 May 2019
Orth
2 to 5 May 2019
Venables
18 to 29 Sep 2019
Handel
19 to 28 Sep 2019
Prokofiev
20 to 29 Sep 2019
Keckler
21 to 28 Sep 2019
Verdi
31 Jan to 2 Feb 2020
Puccini
24 Apr to 3 May 2020
News & Articles
| 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 |
| Summing up Opera Philadelphia’s September festival |
Opera Philadelphia’s second annual festival faced a high hurdle. How could it compete with its 2017 ten-day fest where all the big guns were firing. |
| 16 Oct 2018 / The Opera Critic |
| Opera Philadelphia announces new season |
Opera Philadelphia's O18 brings the festival format back - but what about Opera on the Mall? |
| 21 Mar 2018 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
| How do you get an audience excited for opera? |
Opera Philadelphia's O17 festival has begun, turning the city into a giant opera stage for 12 days. |
| 23 Sep 2017 / Washington Post |
| Lawrence Brownlee joins Opera Philadelphia as Artistic Advisor |
Brownlee will work with the company to advise and advocate for expanded repertoire, provide insights on diversity in artistic practices and community initiatives. |
| 31 Mar 2017 / Broadway World |
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