Korngold’s Die tote Stadt, more alive than ever in Boston

Andris Nelsons, Christine Goerke and David Butt Philip

Andris Nelsons and the cast of Die tote Stadt

Andris Nelsons and Karen Cargill

By Cameron Kelsall, 31 January 2025

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“a smoldering performance that unlocked... melodrama, romance and psychosexual terror”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Boston on 30 January 2025

Korngold, Die tote Stadt (The Dead City)

Boston Lyric Opera

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

David Butt Philip, Paul

Christine Goerke, Marietta

Elisa Sunshine, Juliette

Karen Cargill, Brigitta

Andrzej Filończyk, Frank

Elliot Madore, Fritz

Terrence Chin-Loy, Graf Albert

Joshua Sanders, Victorin

Neal Ferreira, Gaston

Boston Lyric Opera’s Macbeth is hobbled by miscalculations

Kevin Wells, 10th October

David Angus leads a taut, spirited performance, but Steve Maler’s staging of Verdi's first Shakespearean opera raises many questions.

**111

Flawed staging, compelling singing: Eurydice at Boston Lyric Opera

Kevin Wells, 10th March

Conducting a reduced version of his own opera, Matthew Aucoin's Eurydice still packs a big punch.

***11

Beantown rags to riches: BLO’s Cenerentola an unalloyed delight

Kevin Wells, 12th November

Impeccable ensemble work in Dawn M Simmons' first foray into opera.

*****

Harrowing intimacy: Boston Lyric Opera’s Bluebeard’s Castle

Kevin Wells, 26th March

Boston Lyric Opera decamps to a 1919 wharf shed for a production of Bartók's eerie two-hander, framed by four of Alma Mahler's songs.

****1

Merrily We Roll Puccini: Boston Lyric presents Bohème in reverse

Kevin Wells, 30th September

Yuval Sharon’s production of La bohème turns the opera upside down... with captivating consequences.

****1

Acustica rusticana: Boston Lyric’s first-rate Cavalleria hobbled

Kevin Wells, 3rd October

The white hot intensity and conviction of the duet between Santuzza and Turiddu encapsulated the strengths of this performance.

***11

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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.