Articles by Philip Hodge

Tales of Hoffmann Review – San Francisco Opera does in differently

"We have created a space that comes from the imagination of the poet. A world both real and dreamlike, and a device that moves us from one story to another" - Laurent Pelly, Director

Otello Review – West Bay Opera does Moor with Less

How do you begin to write a review when you want to rave about all aspects of the production? I can’t think of anything better than the fundamental instructions for writing an essay: start at the beginning – continue until the end – stop

Miss Saigon Review – An old story newly told

Puccini and Schonberg have very different ideas about music!

Two Handles on Handel – Orlando (Pocket Opera) and Giulio Cesare (MetHD)

Cleopatra's costume ranged from towel and soapsuds to formal gay-nineties ball gown to a “little black dress”; - - - as Orlando rides forth the banner streaming behind him reads "Make War not Love."

Orpheus Review – Pocket Opera Captures Essence of Offenbach’s Farce

Jacques Offenbach cast his irreverent eye and ear on Gluck’s opera and the original myth and mused, “Hmm. I wonder what the real story was like?”

Schicchi Review – Part Two of Opera San José’s double bill from Puccini’s Il Trittico

To most of Florence Gianni Schicchi appears to he hard-hearted and selfish, but to his daughter he’s a pussycat

Angelica Review – Part One of Opera San José’s double bill from Puccini’s Il Trittico

The baby boy was snatched from her immediately upon birth and Angelica was sent immediately to a convent to spend the rest of her life in repentance, never to be spoken of or communicated with again

Sorcerer Review – Lamplighters excel in seldom-heard early Gilbert and Sullivan opera

A man falls in love with the first unmarried woman he sees – and that might not be the same woman he was courting a mere 12 hours before; it is not surprising that in Act II All Hell breaks loose

Pocket Opera’s Don Giovanni Review – A Masterpiece

Donald Pippin goes on to admit that Don Giovanni can be utterly charming, and concludes with an explicit warning to the women in the audience that they stay here at their own peril

Lucia Review – And a Special Extra Treat at West Bay Opera

When Lucia (Rochelle Bard) came on for her curtain call, the applause level doubled and nearly everyone was standing

Princess Ida Review – Lamplighters do it again

Rick Williams does not play the part of King Gama; he IS King Gama

Tosca Review – All Toscas are above Average

The instant Tosca sees the knife she becomes a changed woman. A plan has been conceived in an instant. She picks up the knife with a gleam of triumph and sprawls on the couch in a suggestive pose with a seductive smile on her face

A Very Small Fledermaus – Student Production Captures the Magic

I laughed longer and louder yesterday than I can recall doing for many a moon; the singing and the dialog were in English, and the diction of all of the singers was so good that only in retrospect did I realize that there were no supertitles

Fledermaus Review – Happy Hour at Opera San José

IF you live anywhere near San Jose California, and IF you like any of opera, light opera, operetta, or musicals, THEN run, do not walk, to the OSJ web site and order your tickets to see Cast I perform Der Fledermaus on Nov. 17,20, or 25

Lohengrin Review – Classic Wagner at its Best

The overture to Act III begins with the familiar Wedding March and the curtain rises to reveal a perfect gem of a bridal suite suspended in a jet-black infinity

Moby Dick Review – Thrilling Interpretation of a Classic American Novel

"When I read the book I realized how essentially musical and operatic it is -- the music was already there -- I could hear musical textures, rhythms, orchestral and vocal colors" -- Jake Heggie, Composer

Hoffmann Review – West Bay Opera presents a wonderfully integrated production

When I asked Rochelle Barr why she decided to sing all four roles whereas most sopranos opt for only one, she replied, “I want to become another Joan Sutherland;” she’s not there yet, but don’t bet against her over the next few years

Capulets and Montagues Review – Shakespeare it Ain’t

Totally and wonderfully dominated by Joyce DiDonato's Romeo and Nicole Cabell's Giuliette; brilliantly conducted by Maestro Riccardo Frizza. It was an evening to remember.

Mikado Review II – Memories

The D'Oyly-Carte Opera Company came to New York in 1936 when I was in high school, and we took the train into the city every Friday to see ten of the G&S operettas

Rigoletto Review – SFO’s Stunning Setting of Verdi’s Masterpiece

The menacing overture begins. With a crashing chord the curtain rises to show a dimly lighted arcade – Another chord and the scene is flooded with an intense red light – With the third there is instantaneous brilliant white light –

The Pearl Fishers Review –Bizet’s other Opera

Baritone Zurga, tenor Nadir, and soprano Leila are on a tropical island called Ceylon sometime in the distant past. The two men are each hopelessly in love with Leila; she has eyes only for Nadir. The classic Eternal Triangle – with complications

Mikado Review I – Lamplighters will Leave You Humming and Laughing

My anticipation grew as I walked into the theatre for the Piano Tech Rehearsal Friday night August 10, 2012 and viewed the open stage with its magnificent construction

Der Rosenkavalier MetHD Review – It gets better every time I see it

We are in old Vienna during the reign of Maria Theresa and Octavian, a young Viennese blade, is crawling out of the Marschallin’s bed

Postcard from Morocco Review - Unity out of Chaos

Forty-one years ago I attended the World Premiere of Dominick Argento’s Postcard from Morocco - when I found out that Merola was presenting it, I jumped at the chance

Magic Flute SFO Review – A 21st Century Production that Works

"I hope to understand what the composer and librettist wish to communicate with their original work and then interpret it in a way that is at once vital . . clear . . exciting and entertaining" - Harry Silverstein, Director

Attila SFO Review – Not Verdi’s best, but the music was beautiful

Any way you look at it, Attila is not your usual opera; to begin with, there is only one woman principal in the cast – but what a woman

Teseo Review - Donald Pippin’s Pocket Opera does it again.

Ten years ago Medea, the famed sorceress, had a spectacular day in which, to punish her faithless lover, she murdered their two small children, set fire to her successful rival and poisoned the girl's aged father - what will she do for an encore?

Pocket Opera’s Tales of Hoffmann Review – Worth Seeing Twice

There are many things about Tales of Hoffman which are unusual (if not unique) among operas - I can best describe them by first giving you a condensed version of the plot

Norma, Pocket Opera Review – Pocket Production of a Melodious Eternal Triangle

A high priestess in an austere religious order whose vows include that of chastity is in love with a leader of the enemy, and has even born him two children, a fact long kept secret, God only knows how. But a crisis is in the offing - -

Nixon in China SFO Review – Operatic version of an important moment in history

As the overture reaches a climax, an image of the plane Air Force One hurtles across the screen from left to right, touching down for its landing and rapidly disappearing in the mist