Articles by Philip Hodge
Samson and Delilah Review – An exciting opening for West Bay Opera’s 56th Season
The air was electric when José Luis Moscovich, General Director (and Conductor) of West Bay Opera appeared on stage to welcome the audience to WBO's fifty-sixth season
Lucrezia Borgia Review – San Francisco Opera presents one of Donizetti’s less well known bel canto operas
There is little correlation between the historical Lucrezia Borgia and the title character of the opera Lucrezia Borgia - and even less between the real Lucrezia's bastard son Giovanni and opera Lucrezia’s long-lost son Gennaro
Heart of a Soldier Review – The World Premier of a Gripping BiOpera
Heart of a Soldier is different from most operas. The Story is a biography of a current person, and it is by far the driving force of the opera; music, acting, scenery, lighting, etc. are important only in-so-far-as they enhance the story telling
Idomeneo Review– 12th Century BCA Greek Story – 18th Century Mozart Music – 21st Century American Staging
I had never seen or heard Idomeneo before, but I knew I’d like it – I mean, it’s Mozart so what else do you need to know?
H.M.S. Pinafore Review – A Delightful Bit of Operatic Froth
H.M.S. Pinafore hove into Mountain View this past weekend and it was immediately obvious that the “sober men and true” who sailed her were not exaggerating a bit when they sang, “Our saucy ship’s a beauty.”
Macbeth Review – an ROH production of Verdi’s darkest opera
Macbeth is a total villain with no redeeming qualities - not even consistency. Immediately after killing King Duncan he wishes the deed undone. But then he commits more murders to cover up the first one
Curtains Review – Who Says that Broadway’s Golden Age is Long Gone?
Imagine, if you will, Agatha Christie, Groucho Marx, Noel Coward, and Richard Rogers all locked in a small room and told they can’t come out until they’ve written a new musical - Curtains"
The Music Man Review – A Wonderful Rendition of one of the Top American Musical Theater Classics
The Broadway By the Bay’s production of Meredith Willson’s "The Music Man" is nothing but Cool
Marriage of Figaro Review – Servants outsmart masters; women outsmart men; what is the world coming to?
Pocket Opera's production of Mozarts' "Marriage of Figaro" with many stars who were familiar to me, was a delight
SFO RING Review – PART IV, WHY WAS THIS PERFORMANCE SO GREAT?
Why was the San Francisco Opera production of Wagner's "Ring Cycle" so great? Read on and find out
SFO RING Review– PART III, HOW
How Francesca Zambello, Director of the SFO Ring Series, manages two challenges which are not normally present in opera
SFO RING Review – PART II, WHO AND WHAT
Here you will find a complete list of all the mythical and human characters in the Ring, along with a terse summary to remind you of the complex plot.
SFO RING Review – PART I, INTRODUCTION
In the course of 6 days I spent 17 hours watching and listening to San Francisco Opera's complete cycle of Wagner’s 4 operas known as the Ring. Here is Part I of a four-part review of the cycle as a whole.
Italian Girl in Algiers Review – Brave Heroine Rescues Helpless Hero from Fate Worse than Death
Pocket Opera's Italian Girl in Algiers has great music by Rossini, an improbable plot, and a really happy ending – the bad guys aren’t really bad, everyone on stage likes the outcome, and the audience leaves humming, chuckling, and feeling good
Die Walküre at the Met Review – Part II of Wagner’s epic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen
The Met HD production of Part II of Wagner’s epic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen is a must see in its encore performance on June 1st
Dido and Aeneas and La Vida Breve Review – Two short tragic operas form an interesting combination
West Bay Opera's "Dido and Aeneas" by Henry Purcell and "La Vida Breve" by Manuel de Falla, similar and different were both thoroughly enjoyable
RIGOLETTO IN MANTUA Review - A movie shot live in the Duke’s hometown
In this European HD performance of Verdi's Rigoletto. Placido Domingo IS Rigoletto in a production filmed in Mantua, the real town where this took place
The Cat Transformed into a Woman Review – The last of two one-act operas separated by one intermission and millions of emotional miles
The title role of a cat named Minette is shared by a cute little stuffed toy (silently) and later by the even cuter soprano Elise Kennedy (not silently)
Cavalleria Rusticana Review – The first of two one-act operas separated by one intermission and millions of emotional miles
In it's 70 minutes, Pietro Mascagni’s "Cavalleria Rusticana" is challenged to present a beginning, a middle and an end
Il Trovatore Review – It all came together
I can’t recall ever witnessing a better opera performance than I saw this morning - everything came together: Verdi’s music, Amiliato’s conducting, the wonderful singers giving their all
Capriccio Review – Strauss’ Last Opera
Capriccio is like a delicate soufflé. When it is done perfectly it is an almost transcendental experience. But let any small thing disturb its fragile perfection, and it would fall flat - the soufflé served up Saturday was yummy
La Bohème Review – Opera San Jose Produces a Winner
And so Opera San Jose's production of La Boheme ends: beautiful, predictable, actions and music in sublime accord, lump growing in my throat, tears rolling down my cheeks - I could ask no more
Roland Petit’s Carmen Review- The Operanut Goes to the Ballet
I saw the Ballet San Jose present Roland Petit’s Carmen, danced to the music of the familiar opera by Bizet and I was moved to write about it
Le Comte Ory – Rossini’s Last Opera is pure unadulterated joy
My enjoyment of the Met HD production of Rossini's "Le Comte Ory" began before Ms Fleming had finished her 60-second introduction delivered from back stage
Manon Review - A "Dinner with Donald" Event
There is no question but that Erina Newkirk was the star of Pocket Opera's current production of "Manon
Kiss Me Lucia di la Mancha – A glorious musical weekend
What a fantastic 31 hours that included "Lucia di Lammermoor", "Kiss Me Kate" and "Man of La Mancha"
Iphigénie en Tauride Review – Gluck turns Euripedes play into a modern opera
A truly dysfunctional royal family - the king sacrifices his daughter, the queen kills the king, the son kills the queen - Fifteen years later the overture to Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride starts
Lucia di Lammermoor Review - Mary Zimmerman’s Production is Still Tops
I can’t think of a better way to start my review of this 2011 performance than to quote in full the review I wrote two years ago of the same production with a different cast
LA TRAVIATA Review – Classic Opera at its Best
The Euro HD rendition of last year’s performance of "La Traviata" from the Royal Opera House in London reinforced previous experiences I have had
Elixir of Love Review – Potent Potion Produces Rare Riotous Romance
If you enjoy light-hearted opera by such composers as Offenbach, Lehar, Gilbert and Sullivan, you are bound to like Donizetti’s "The Elixir of Love"
Articles Trending on Social Networks
- Tuesday June 18th
- 5:00 PM | Common Ground Landscapes: La Ballona Wetlands and San Gimignano
- 7:00 PM | HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND CENTER CELEBRATES THE 10th SEASON OF THE HIGHLY POPULAR WINE & JAZZ SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
- 7:15 PM | Acting Class Los Angeles - Mother of Invention Acting School
- Friday June 21st
- 10:30 PM |
- 11:00 PM | attack of the rotting corpses! at ZJU Theatre
- Saturday June 22nd
- 10:00 AM | Success By Design Workshop
- 7:30 PM | OperaWorks presents "ARIAS IN MOTION"
- 8:00 PM | Gabriel Tristan's "Time Machine" Concert - A Musical Journey!
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