OPERA: 'Faust' concert cast top-notch

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OPERA: Te Kanawa's 'farewell'

Intimate, welcoming recital may be last in D.C. — or not

Monday, Nov. 16, 2009

Renowned soprano Kiri Te Kanawa's Saturday-evening recital at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall was billed as her "farewell" appearance in Washington.

OPERA: WNO's lucky concert 'Ring'

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009

Richard Wagner's four-opera "Der Ring des Nibelungen" — better known in English as the "Ring Cycle" — follows the tale of golden ring that confers great powers upon its owner. But it also carries a deadly curse.

OPERA: Satirical 'Ariadne' sparkles

Comedy, politics meet

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

The Washington National Opera's production of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos" is simply fabulous. Brilliantly performed and sung and sharply directed, Saturday's opening-night performance brought good humor and artistic coherence to a work whose ultimate aim eluded even the composer and his librettist.

OPERA: Room to grow in 'Falstaff'

WNO singing delights, but acting falters

Monday, Oct. 12, 2009

Opera fans attended Saturday's opening-night performance of the Washington National Opera's "Falstaff" at the Kennedy Center Opera House with great expectations. Boasting a great cast and a nifty stage concept, the production had a great deal going for it. But, alas, the evening was a bit of a letdown.

Replacement pianist Groh shines with NSO

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009

There were two surprises in store Thursday evening as the National Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of guest conductor Ludovic Morlot, presented its second regular season concert in the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall.

OPERA: Star singers and WNO Orchestra

Evening of opera arias

Monday, Oct. 5, 2009

Russian, Italian, and French opera arias were on tap Saturday evening at the Kennedy Center Opera House as the Washington National Opera Orchestra, under the baton of Placido Domingo, presented the Russian dynamic duo of Olga Borodina and Ildar Abdrazakov in concert.

MUSIC: NSO's 'No. 6' opener tranquil

Friday, Oct. 2, 2009

Under the baton of principal conductor Ivan Fischer, the National Symphony Orchestra gave a measured, understated reading to Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, tastefully performed but a touch underwhelming.

MUSIC: Higdon's BSO triumph

Jazz, blues, bluegrass excite in classical work

Monday, Sept. 28, 2009

While tried and true works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky appeared on the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Strathmore Center program Saturday, the heart of the evening belonged to contemporary composer Jennifer Higdon.

PONICK: 'Cosi goes Hollywood'

Updated lyrics, lots of energy

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

Washington's eclectic In Series kicked off its 2009-2010 season at the Source on Saturday with a madcap revival of its hit show, "Cosi fan tutte Goes Hollywood." Director Nick Olcott's Roaring Twenties, English-language update of Mozart's comic opera returns to the stage with updated lyrics and plenty of good-natured energy.