Category Archives: opera

‘Ernani’ at the Opera in Tel Aviv

Posted on January 16, 2011 by admin

‘Ernani’ is not one of the most popular operas of Verdi. Actually it us staged for the first time in Israel. Despite lacking any of the spectacular hit areas that made ‘Aida’ or’ ‘Rigoletto’ famous, it is a solid and … Continue reading →

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‘Bluebeard’s Castle’ at the New Israeli Opera

Posted on December 19, 2010 by admin

It seldom happens that people go to an opera performance mainly for the stage sets. Here is one of these rare instances, as the sets of the New Israeli Opera staging of Bela Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle are designed by no … Continue reading →

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The Cape Town Opera with ‘Porgy and Bess’ in Tel Aviv

Posted on November 21, 2010 by admin

Gershwin’s (or The Gershwins’ as the performance program says) Porgy and Bess performances in Israel were not spared of some non-musical controversy, as a few weeks before the show there was big pressure on the Cape Town Opera to cancel … Continue reading →

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Monteverdi’s L’Orpheo at Theatre de la Monnaie

Posted on August 21, 2010 by admin

Monteverdi’s rendition of the story of Orpheus is a milestone in the evolution of opera, one of the first works that definitely crossed the barrier of the oratorio into a fully defined stage representation. It includes remarkable musical moments, arias … Continue reading →

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Opera: ‘Pique Dame’ in Tel Aviv

Posted on July 11, 2010 by admin

The last evening of the opera season brought us yesterday to the staging of ‘Pique Dame’ the beautiful creation of Tchaikovsky based on the novella by Pushkin – a story of passion and obsession, which gives the opportunity of great … Continue reading →

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Moscow’s Stanislavski Opera with Prokofiev’s ‘Betrothal in a Monastery’ in Tel Aviv

Posted on May 9, 2010 by admin

Last night’s performance at the New Israeli Opera was one of the first in the series of performances that brings here the Stanislavski Opera from Moscow. It was a fine performance in my opinion, although quite a different one than … Continue reading →

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‘La Juive’ at the Israeli New Opera

Posted on April 17, 2010 by admin

I doubt that the applause at the end of ‘La Juive’ can sound so strong and enthusiastic any place in the world but in Tel Aviv. The last act of this opera recovered from the 19th century repertoire of Grand … Continue reading →

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‘Faust’ at the New Israeli Opera

Posted on February 14, 2010 by admin

The second performance this year in the New Israeli Opera subscription was Gounod’s ‘Faust’. It is my preferred work by Gounod, the very typical example of the French Grand Opera at its best. It’s a story of contrast and absence … Continue reading →

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Opera – ‘Flying Lessons’ at the Cameri Theatre

Posted on February 10, 2010 by admin

I do not want to let too much time pass before I write something about a performance that I enjoyed at the Cameri Theatre put on stage in collaboration with the new Israeli Opera. The name of the representation is … Continue reading →

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Le violon de Rothtschild

Posted on December 29, 2009 by admin

The life of composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his relationship with the soviet regime and with dictator Stalin was already the subject of ‘Testimony’ where Ben Kingsley played the lead role. As a human being he was intimidated and oppressed, often … Continue reading →

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