'Glory Denied' by Vulcan Lyric

Another victim of Vietnam

At last! Here’s a contemporary opera that has a gripping story, melodic music, intriguing dialogue, and superior singing and acting. This is the best production of the Vulcan summer festival and the most satisfying new opera I’ve seen in 2015.

Steve Cohen

Aug 14, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read

Catán's 'Hija de Rappaccini' by Vulcan Lyric

Good read, bad theater

Mexican composer Daniel Catán was inspired by Claude Debussy — musically and dramatically. This influence was revealed in his Spanish-language opera, La hija de Rappaccini (Rappaccini’s Daughter), in its local premiere.

Steve Cohen

Aug 11, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read

‘Maren of Vardø’ by Vulcan Lyric

The devil to pay

A horrifying true story from 17th-century Norway receives a surprisingly innocent treatment in this world premiere opera production.

Steve Cohen

Aug 04, 2015 · Articles · 3 minute read

Three things I learned from Yes

We craved rhythms that would pound in a chest where we hoped was a heart, and, oh, we wished for melodies that would soar above the cracking ruins of an imagined world. We wanted Yes, and then Yes came, and Yes was ours.

Kile Smith

Jul 21, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

The pianist as collaborator

Musical collaborations can be intimate experiences. Like other intimate experiences, the result is ultimately more satisfying with give and take, and respect — the kind of respect that at least mentions your name and lets your face show up for a moment if you're performing with someone on YouTube.

Maria Thompson Corley

Jul 19, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read

Delaware Valley Opera Company's 'Magic Flute'

A steampunk night at the opera

You don’t have to be a fan of opera or classical music to have a great time at the Delaware Valley Opera Company’s low-budget but thoroughly charming production of Mozart’s Magic Flute, in which opera meets vaudeville for an evening of fun.

Michael J. Miller

Jul 18, 2015 · Articles · 2 minute read

Russian Opera Workshop present Rubinstein's 'The Demon'

The Demon comes to Philadelphia

The Russian Opera Workshop presented the Philadelphia premiere of one of Russia’s most popular operas.

Tom Purdom

Jun 30, 2015 · Articles · 3 minute read

On saying "thank you"

My dinner with Beethoven

Why do we say "thank you," and who do we say it to?

Kile Smith

Jun 23, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

Gunther Schuller: An appreciation

Gunther Schuller had more musical careers than Leonard Bernstein, including composer, conductor, educator, French horn player, author, and longtime advocate of the co-existence of jazz and classical music.

Bruce Klauber

Jun 23, 2015 · Articles · 2 minute read

Ornette Coleman: An appreciation

Time catches up to Ornette

Live long enough, as jazz innovator Ornette Coleman did, and it can help your public catch up to you — even to music like his, which was once well ahead of its time.

Michael Woods

Jun 16, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read