Sharpenicity

THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL MET LIVE IN HD  People often are surprised that the operas that they love the best— those that have survived several centuries on stage—had the most negative critical reviews  of their first performances.  So what are we to make of the reviews of a modern opera  that has received a continuum of comments   —- from “must see”  (NYTimes) to “felt like I was being locked in the opera house to stay” (comment). There is no quick test to know if this is a great gift to the future generations but for the here and now, Thomas   Adès' The Exterminating Angel , is something to experience.   No one disagrees over the facts:  It is surreal, complex, and stresses the highest range possible coming from a human voice.   High emotional moments were matched with higher vocal ranges as delivered by Audrey Luna, in the role of  Leticia (an opera diva in the opera), who reaches up to an A above high C. No one give...

Alcina    Washington National Opera Alcina is a sorceress living on fantasy island who turns her lovers into stones or other objects when she is through with them. There is a long backstory before the complex history of all the characters surrounding her in  Handel’s opera Alcina  even starts to unfold.  In short by the end,  Alcina gets what she deserves.   Handel’s opera Alcina also got what it deserves—  Washington National Opera’s   assembly of a cast of grand singers, set on a glorious stage with lighting to evoke their emotional states along with graceful dancers flowing throughout.   It leaves no surprise that Angela Meade would take ownership of this role of Alcina, adding sorceress to her impressive resume of fantasy characters like the Druid high priestess Norma and the Babylonian queen Semiramide.  Her singing is the stuff that legends are made of, her power in unleashing the hidden glories in Handel’s score....