The Devil takes the lead: Faust in Baltimore

By Raisa Massuda, 29 April 2013

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Reviewed at Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, Baltimore on 20 April 2012

Gounod, Faust

Lyric Opera Baltimore

Bryan Hymel, Faust

Stefania Dovhan, Marguerite

Lee Poulis, Valentin

Kristopher Irmiter, Méphistophélès

Irene Roberts, Siebel

James Meena, Conductor

Bernard Uzan, Director

Concert Artists of Baltimore Orchestra

Traditional Rigoletto in Baltimore: A tribute to Verdi

Raisa Massuda, 17th May

In the opera world, where loyalty to the libretto is oftentimes taken for poor taste and the use of period sets and costumes is attributed to the lack of a directorial concept, seeing a traditional production becomes a rare (and very comforting) treat.

***11

Georgy Vasiliev's Rodolfo triumphs: La bohème in Baltimore

Raisa Massuda, 2nd November

“Poetry and again poetry – tenderness mixed with pain; sensuality, a drama surprising and burning, and a rocketing finale.” This is composer Giacomo Puccini describing one of the world’s most famous operas, La bohème.

***11

Lyric Opera Baltimore's Traditional, Youthful Le Nozze di Figaro

Raisa Massuda, 9th March

In the opera world, where being true to a libretto is considered unforgivably boring, and using traditional scenery and costumes very dull, sometimes nothing is more pleasing than seeing a conservative production.

****1

Georgy Vasiliev's Rodolfo triumphs: La bohème in Baltimore

Raisa Massuda, 2nd November

***11

Lyric Opera Baltimore's Traditional, Youthful Le Nozze di Figaro

Raisa Massuda, 9th March

****1

Petrenko and Serebrennikov forge a new Ring in Salzburg

Phillip Richter, 1st April

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s much-anticipated return to Salzburg gets off to an impressive musical start. Kirill Serebrennikov’s staging raises numerous questions, but answers few of them.

****1

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Raisa Massuda

A firm believer in the importance of music at any age, Raisa teaches Opera Appreciation Seminars in a Senior Center in Baltimore, MD. She has launched a Live Opera for Seniors series, allowing her low-income students to study and attend free. Raisa is the author of a music and opera blog called Mandolin Vision.