Opera

SFCV’s perceptive writers report on topics relevant to opera.

Steven Winn - March 21, 2025

Tenor Michael John Butler gives a stunning account of Schumann’s Dichterliebe in a program that also features baritone Olivier Zerouali.

Jim Farber - March 18, 2025

The production is silly fun, but the cast’s singing and James Conlon’s music direction are serious standouts.

Steven Winn - March 16, 2025

The South African artist and a team of collaborators combine surrealism, time travel, and stagecraft in this production at Cal Performances.

Lisa Hirsch - March 9, 2025

Opera Parallèle’s The Pigeon Keeper is a production for everyone, with a strong moral and moving performances.

Lisa Hirsch - March 4, 2025

A solid cast makes this a winning production of Mozart’s masterpiece.

Victoria Looseleaf - March 4, 2025

The hardworking young star, who’s back at LA Opera this month for Così fan tutte, knows his business and what to do next with his career.

Michael Zwiebach - February 25, 2025

Casting this opera well is difficult even for bigger houses, but WBO manages it.

Jim Farber - February 24, 2025

Composer Mary Kouyoumdjian’s new opera comes to the company’s Off Grand series in a brilliantly visceral production.

Victoria Looseleaf - February 18, 2025

This new work by composer Daniel Kessner and librettist Lionelle Hamanaka is set to take the stage at Los Angeles’ Aratani Theatre.

Lisa Hirsch - February 17, 2025

Strong singing and direction give Béla Bartók’s one-act chiller plenty of thrills in this production from OSJ’s Shawna Lucey.