By Gregory Moomjy Atlanta Opera recently aired its production of Pagliacci, directed by Tomer Zvulun. That opera is most famous for “Vesti la Giuba”, the crying clown’s aria. “Vesti la Giubba” is one of those pieces that everyone knows, but doesn’t necessarily realize they know­, at least by name. Referenced in everything from Hey, Arnold and The Big…Continue reading REVIEW: Pagliacci

By Gregory Moomjy David T. Little’s Soldier Songs is not the first operatic work to deal with the experiences of war. We need to look no further than Verdi to see a multitude of operas like Aida and I Lombardi that explore the patriotic aspects of dying in glory for your country. It’s only in…Continue reading REVIEW: Soldier Songs

By Gregory Moomjy  Over the course of its 400-year history, Opera has evolved to have a greater focus on the drama of everyday life. For instance, the genre successfully made the transition from stories of Gods and mythic leaders of the past in l’Orfeo (1607) to Italian peasants getting caught in adultery in Cavalleria Rusticana (1890). In the new…Continue reading REVIEW: Bon Appétit!

By Gregory Moomjy Every year the Prototype Festival pushes the boundaries of opera and musical theater for New York City audiences. In the past, they’ve presented works like Aging Magician composed by Paola Prestini.  Recently they have performed Blood Moon, an opera influenced by Japanese noh theater, the oldest form of theater in Japan.  The…Continue reading REVIEW: Modulation

By Gregory Moomjy To say that this year up-ended many performances is a gross understatement. However, a few days ago when I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw that the Metropolitan Opera had announced the district winners of the National Council Auditions. This reminded me that even one of my most favorite parts of opera…Continue reading REVIEW: Giargiari Bel Canto Competition