Opera Philadelphia - Philadelphia
29 March 2024

Company search

click here for more photos for
this opera company
Click below for
production trailers
Written on Skin
Elizabeth Cree
Le nozze di Figaro
Tancredi
L'elisir d'amore

You've been granted free access to this page.

Take a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL or SUBSCRIBE today to access the full content of theoperacritic.com.

Free access

Performance reviews

Key Photo gallery Production details Video link
Written on Skin

Opera Philadelphia


No. of reviews: 8

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 Moved

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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 Theater Arts
Moved takes on Philadelphia headlines
22 Sep 17 / Opera Today
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 You

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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 Theater Arts
At war with Philadelphia
22 Sep 17 / Opera Today
Opera, war, PTSD, and bright ideas that don't quite gel
18 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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 Theater Arts
At war with Philadelphia
22 Sep 17 / Opera Today
Opera, war, PTSD, and bright ideas that don't quite gel
18 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Die Zauberflöte

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
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 World

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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 Theater Arts
Opera Philadelphia had premiered a third striking new work within five days
23 Sep 17 / Opera News
O17 hits the Barnes with a hallucinatory fairy tale
20 Sep 17 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Elizabeth Cree

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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 Theater Arts
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 Figaro

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
The cast was filled with superb singers and actors
3 May 17 / DC 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
Tancredi

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
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 Theater Arts
Turandot

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
Danger and darkness lurk around every corner of Opera Philadelphia’s stunning new production of Turandot
27 Sep 16 / DC Theater Arts
The main draw was Christine Goerke’s ferocious Turandot
27 Sep 16 / Wall Street Journal
A 'Turandot' both silly and serious
26 Sep 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer
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.
Breaking the Waves

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
Adultery in the name of love
27 Sep 16 / Wall Street Journal
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
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.
Macbeth

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
L'elisir d'amore

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
Ever may the fruit be plucked
5 May 16 / Phindie
Sarah Shafer's crystalline voice graces Opera Philadelphia
4 May 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Capriccio

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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 Theater Arts
'Capriccio': Surges, stalls - but a charming conversation on opera and art
14 Mar 16 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Cold Mountain

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
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 Traviata

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
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 Popera

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
An exciting world premiere
13 Sep 15 / Phindie
Don Carlo

Opera Philadelphia


No. 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
A “Don Carlo” to thrill the ear but disappoint the eye
6 May 15 / Seen and Heard
Eric Owens’ debut in Philly Don Carlo another bold feat
5 May 15 / Classical Voice North America
An underdone 'Don Carlo'
29 Apr 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer
An air of decay: Don Carlo opens at Opera Philadelphia
28 Apr 15 / Bachtrack
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.
Charlie Parker's YARDBIRD

Opera Philadelphia


No. of reviews: 9

El fantasma desde el purgatorio de Birdland
11 Jul 15 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish)
An interesting musical experiment
19 Jun 15 / Opera Today
Operatic portrait of a jazz legend
17 Jun 15 / Seen and Heard
He knew why the caged bird sings
11 Jun 15 / Bachtrack
A jazz great jams in limbo
10 Jun 15 / Wall Street Journal
‘Yardbird’ sings but fails to fly at Opera Philadelphia
8 Jun 15 / Washington Post
A caged bird sings
8 Jun 15 / The Opera Critic
‘Charlie Parker’s Yardbird’ uses opera to tell a jazz story
8 Jun 15 / New York Times
'Charlie Parker's Yardbird' soars
7 Jun 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Ariadne auf Naxos

Opera Philadelphia


No. of reviews: 6

On the beach with Ariadne & Ginger
13 Mar 15 / ConcertoNet (English)
A perceptive and witty Ariadne auf Naxos
12 Mar 15 / Seen and Heard
Good singing and pop references in Curtis Opera Theater's Ariadne auf Naxos
12 Mar 15 / Bachtrack
'Ariadne auf Naxos' combines Curtis, Kimmel, Opera Philadelphia, slapstick, and seriousness
8 Mar 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Clowns and opera collide
7 Mar 15 / Phindie
'Ariadne' at the Perelman is among the most dazzling shows of the season
7 Mar 15 / Philadelphia City Paper
Oscar

Opera Philadelphia


No. of reviews: 7

Oscar East Coast premiere at Opera Philadelphia
22 Feb 15 / Broadway World
Opera Philadelphia delivers East Coast premiere of 'Oscar'
13 Feb 15 / Baltimore Sun
The ups and downs of Morrison's Oscar
12 Feb 15 / The Opera Critic
East Coast premiere of Theodore Morrison’s Oscar
12 Feb 15 / Seen and Heard
'Oscar' too often forgets it's opera
11 Feb 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer
Born to be wilde
11 Feb 15 / parterre box
Opera Philadelphia's Oscar disappoints despite strong performances
10 Feb 15 / Bachtrack
Il barbiere di Siviglia

Opera Philadelphia


No. of reviews: 4

Opera Philadelphia’s Barbiere offers laughs in plenty, and in impeccable style
17 Oct 14 / Seen and Heard
The barber gets clipped
16 Oct 14 / The Opera Critic
Almodóvar influenced Barbiere in Philadelphia
30 Sep 14 / Bachtrack
'Barber of Seville' in a luscious setting
30 Sep 14 / Philadelphia Inquirer
A Coffin in Egypt

Opera Philadelphia


No. of reviews: 6

Coffin makes fine vehicle for Frederica von Stade
20 Jun 14 / Seen and Heard
Von Stade goes out (or not?) with a bang in "A Coffin in Egypt"
13 Jun 14 / Philadelphia City Paper
Von Stade nails the coffin
12 Jun 14 / The Opera Critic
Tale of a time-tested woman
11 Jun 14 / Philadelphia Inquirer
A diva reclaims the stage with authority
10 Jun 14 / Wall Street Journal
Even with von Stade, Gordon’s inert “Coffin” is a deadly night in Philadelphia
9 Jun 14 / Classical Review
Von Stade goes deep into the heart of Texas
For months, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade studied 90-year-old Myrtle Bledsoe, her character in the chamber opera A Coffin in Egypt.
<< back | next >>
Reviews search
Use this search to find historical reviews in our database
Performance schedule
Puccini
26 Apr to 5 May 2024
Mazzoli
25 to 29 Sep 2024
Bologne
31 Jan to 2 Feb 2025
Mozart
25 Apr to 4 May 2025

News & Articles

Opera Philadelphia announces its 2024-25 season
Opera Philadelphia’s 2024-25 season to feature works by Missy Mazzoli, Joseph Bologne and Mozart.
14 Feb 2024 / OperaWire
Changes at Opera Philadelphia
Opera Philadelphia to reduce staff, cut budget by 20%, and David Devan is stepping down with audiences and philanthropy not having materialized post-pandemic as once expected.
16 Aug 2023 / Philadelphia Inquirer
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