Zachary Woolfe
Posts
How Directors Mine the Gold at the Heart of Wagner’s ‘Ring’
Productions take very different approaches to the central symbol of this epic cycle, treating Wagner with daring freedom.
Review: The Philharmonic Breezes Through Wagner’s Epic ‘Ring’
The conductor Nathalie Stutzmann led Lorin Maazel’s coolly efficient 1987 distillation, “The ‘Ring’ Without Words,” at David Geffen Hall.
The New Year Brings New Talent to the New York Philharmonic
Kevin John Edusei and Daniele Rustioni, conductors in their 40s, made impressive debuts with the orchestra in back-to-back programs.
Bryn Terfel, Suave and Thundering, Is Back at the Met After 13 Years
The booming bass-baritone stars in Puccini’s “Tosca” after ill-timed injuries kept him away from the Metropolitan Opera, where he was a perennial favorite.
Verdi’s ‘Aida’ Gets a New Staging at the Metropolitan Opera
Michael Mayer directs Verdi’s classic as an archaeologist’s discovery, featuring the shining soprano Angel Blue.
Strauss’s ‘Die Frau Ohne Schatten’ at the Metropolitan Opera
“Die Frau Ohne Schatten,” a dense ode to fertility, may not sound appealing at first. But in this performance, the fairy tale comes movingly to...
Puccini Died 100 Years Ago. So Did the Great Opera Tradition.
A century after his death, the composer of “La Bohème,” “Tosca” and “Madama Butterfly” still dominates the repertoire like no one since.
Yunchan Lim Plays Chopin With the New York Philharmonic
Performing with the New York Philharmonic and Kazuki Yamada, Lim played Chopin’s F minor Concerto with imperturbable calm and eloquence.
Does the Conductor Klaus Mäkelä Deserve His Meteoric Rise?
The 28-year-old maestro, entrusted with two storied ensembles, visited Carnegie Hall with the superb Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.
The Berlin Philharmonic Is the Best in the Business
In three concerts at Carnegie Hall led by Kirill Petrenko, this orchestra played with awe-inspiring force and finesse.