Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Peter J. Hall

Puccini's tale of bohemian love lives on at the Dorothy Chandler as LA Opera launches its 2025-26 season. 

Sir Peter Hall's classic staging of Britten's Shakespearean comedy nears a landmark moment in Glyndebourne’s autumn season. 

The soprano's sumptuous Mimì is the main reason to catch the latest revival of Zeffirelli's La bohème at the Met. 

Franco Zeffirelli's perennial Bohème returns for yet another revival, with Federica Lombardi's luminous Mimì the standout performance. 

A strong revival cast, conducted by Dalia Stasevska, demonstrate why Sir Peter Hall's 1981 vintage staging of Britten’s A Midsummer Night's Dream is such a classic. 

Gorgeous sets and costumes aren't quite enough to make this La traviata revival sparkle.

An impressively cast revival for Verdi's one-time neglected masterpiece at Covent Garden.

A debuting conductor, two new singers, and a fine ensemble of singers bring unexpected joy to the Met's traditional La bohème with fresh and youthful energy.

The quality cast purred, but glorious roars are required to jolt audiences from placid enjoyment of Opera Australia’s gorgeous 24-year-old production of this Verdi classic.

A terrific cast in the Metropolitan Opera's revival of La bohème... “near the top of a lifetime of Bohèmes” for our reviewer. 

A revival of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 production was graced by an impressive case, including the Met debut of soprano Angel Blue. 

In Los Angeles, Patricia Racette was an impressive Salome but the orchestra was, as it should, the main character.

As it turned out, the second performance of the Met’s revival of I puritani was the one to see – it offered some of this season’s greatest singing – and a surprise.

“Out of this wood do not desire to go!” Tytania orders Bottom. Glyndebourne's revival of Peter Hall's classic production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is eerily enchanting, weaving its spell right from the queasy double bass glissandos, which slither into Britten's score.

Plush costumes and lavish sets make up for shortfall in music and singing in Opera Australia’s La traviata. 

Placido Domingo was "suffering from a bad cold" on Saturday afternoon, so baritone Luca Salsi, scheduled to sing Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor later that night, put on the costume and delivered a convincing last minute Don Carlo in Verdi's Ernani.

Zeffirelli's La Bohème at the Met never fails to charm. Balance issues aside, a beautifully sung performance by a very capable cast.