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Christopher Corwin

Christopher Corwin

Observer

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In the Met’s Many Revivals, Sometimes Second Casts Finish First

In many cases, the second, third and even fourth casts surpassed the season premieres that tend to attract the most attention.

previous day 20

Observer

Christopher Corwin

‘Three! Seven! Ace!’: The Met Goes All in On ‘Queen of Spades’

Elijah Moshinsky's vivid production is a winner.

30.05.2025 3

Observer

Christopher Corwin

‘Giulio Cesare’ Versus ‘Antony and Cleopatra’: Round Two

Giulio Cesare is once again competing with Antony and Cleopatra, the latter this time a new work by John Adams that premiered at the Met on May 12.

12.05.2025 2

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Soprano Elza van den Heever Is Tackling the Met’s ‘Salome’ Head On—or Off!

In early December, after the final two performances of Richard Strauss’ 'Die Frau ohne Schatten' at the Metropolitan Opera, something out of the...

23.04.2025 2

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Topflight Teamwork Makes for a Marvelous Met Mozart

Unlike many works by Puccini, Verdi or Wagner, Mozart’s operas demand charismatic singing actors working closely together with a minimum of...

08.04.2025 2

Observer

Christopher Corwin

‘Moby-Dick’ Sails Confidently into the Met, and the Exhilarating Optimism of ‘Fidelio’ Arrives Just in Time

Stephen Costello and Ryan Speedo Green. Karen Almond/Met Opera After its annual winter hiatus, the Metropolitan Opera reopened with a pair of...

13.03.2025 4

Observer

Christopher Corwin

‘Happy Birthday, Bill!’—America’s Gift to the French Baroque Turns 80

Commemoration of William Christie's eighth decade began last year with grand stagings in Paris of Charpentier’s 'Médée' and Rameau’s 'Les Fêtes...

07.02.2025 10

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Michael Mayer’s Faux-Archaeologists Can’t Rescue His Entombed ‘Aida’ at the Met

Mayer’s weak attempt to address opera’s recent struggles with its history of fetishization of “exotic” cultures adds nothing to the production.

09.01.2025 8

Observer

Christopher Corwin

St. Thomas, Trinity Church, David Geffen and Carnegie Hall: The Many Ways to Handle ‘Messiah’

Messiah at Trinity Church in December of 2024. Photo: Isadora Kosofsky Throughout December, Messiah is nearly inescapable in New York City churches...

04.01.2025 4

Observer

Christopher Corwin

The Met Honors Puccini With a Scattershot Gala ‘Tosca’

In recent years, the Metropolitan Opera has asked artists to respond to the company’s new productions. Their creations are then transferred onto...

21.11.2024 10

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Richard Tucker Award Winners Are Dominating New York City’s Fall Opera Season

January will mark the 50th anniversary of beloved tenor Richard Tucker’s sudden death at the age of 61. The foundation created soon after his...

15.11.2024 3

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Preparing Tomorrow’s Opera Stars: Joyce DiDonato Shows Us How It’s Done

When you search for “Master Class” videos on YouTube, you encounter unexpected instructors like Natalie Portman, Margaret Atwood, Neil DeGrasse...

31.10.2024 4

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Tenor Benjamin Bernheim Scores Another Triumph in the Met’s ‘Tales of Hoffmann’ Revival

After the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a recently composed opera—Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded—the company returned to standard repertoire...

04.10.2024 5

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Bard SummerScape Once More Endeavors to Make Meyerbeer Great Again

Every year as the centerpiece of SummerScape, Bard College’s wide-ranging performing arts festival, the institution’s president and impresario Leon...

15.08.2024 2

Observer

Christopher Corwin

Teatro Nuovo Revives a Forgotten Bel Canto Opera by a Woman Composer for the First Time in Nearly 200 Years

After the Metropolitan Opera’s season ends in early June, local opera lovers patiently bide their time until late July when Teatro Nuovo again...

10.08.2024 4

Observer

Christopher Corwin