The Classical Review

Grosvenor scales the heights with a trio of blockbusters for Chamber Music Maryland

The Finale, one of the oddest movements Chopin penned, is a blur of notes in octaves between the two hands moving in lockstep. Grosvenor played it with surprising clarity, using the soft pedal and ...
The Classical Review

Outstanding new opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” makes a moving debut

Flora Hawk and Jonathan Michie star in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia at Virginia Opera. Photo: Dave Pearson Virginia Opera is marking its golden anniversary season in the ...
The Classical Review

No slowing down for Gerard Schwarz, South Florida’s busiest conductor

Gerard Schwarz conducting the Palm Beach Symphony at a 2024 concert. Photo: IndieHouse Films When Gerard Schwarz was a teenage trumpet student, he dreamed of being a member of the New York ...
The Classical Review

Santa Fe season of rarities rounded out by a “Rusalka”of probing psychological depth

Ailyn Pérez performed the title role in Dvořák’s Rusalka at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO As if there were not enough reasons to visit Santa Fe Opera this summer, the fifth opera of the ...
The Classical Review

Under Rouvali, Philharmonia sounds fresh and vital on 80th anniversary tour

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra Monday night at the Music Center at Strathmore. Photo: Marco Borggreve London’s Philharmonia Orchestra returned to the Washington area for ...
The Classical Review

Dubious “Dutchman” and trenchant “Tosca” refract two classics through modern lenses ...

Nicholas Brownlee and Elza van den Heever in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO General director Robert Meya has given Wagner fans cause to rejoice: Santa Fe Opera ...
The Classical Review

Florida Grand Opera’s “Silent Night” proves a rich and moving tale of common humanity

Alex DeSocio (Audebert), Kyle Albertson (Horstmayer) and Elijah William Brown (Jonathan Dale) in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, presented by Florida Grand Opera at the Arsht Center in Miami. Photo: Lewis ...
The Classical Review

In a role debut, Polish soprano proves an electrifying Lucia in Seattle

An impresario as smart as Seattle Opera’s Speight Jenkins does not bother to present Lucia di Lammermoor unless he has a dynamite Lucia. This time, Jenkins took a chance on the Polish soprano ...
The Classical Review

Dover Quartet brings its first-class artistry to Miami

The Dover Quartet performed Monday night at the University of Miami’s Newman Recital Hall. Photo: Izzi Guzman The Dover Quartet has received critical acclaim as one of the finest chamber music groups ...
The Classical Review

Santa Fe Opera rounds out comeback season with brilliant Verdi and Wagner

Quinn Kelsey stars in the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown The most complex works on the stage this summer at Santa Fe Opera came at the end of the first full week ...
The Classical Review

Met’s “Kavalier & Clay” mixes stunning production with largely lightweight music

Andrzej Filończyk (left) and Myles Mykkanen in Mason Bates’ The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera The best works of art, in any medium, ...
The Classical Review

Rust Belt bel canto: Met provides a dark, mostly compelling update to “Lucia”

Nadine Sierra in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl Cheers greeted Simon Stone and his creative team Saturday night as they walked onstage ...