Paisiello’s Barbiere from On Site Opera in New York Landmark Building

A disappointing decision to downplay the ghosts and uneven performances made for a difficult and distracting in situ staging of Britten's adaptation of the classic Henry James thriller. 

The opera can be summed up by a line sung by the Countess in Act 4: “You’re killing her with all this noise.”

A disappointing decision to downplay the ghosts and uneven performances made for a difficult and distracting in situ staging of Britten's adaptation of the classic Henry James thriller. 

The opera can be summed up by a line sung by the Countess in Act 4: “You’re killing her with all this noise.”

“Nibble, nibble, like a mouse – who is nibbling at my house?” As a preschooler, I used to giggle with glee when I would hear this quote from the wicked witch in Hansel and Gretel. No doubt the story was dark, yet Eloise Wilkin’s delightful illustrations and the touching message of brother/sister love enticed me to return frequently to this beloved tale during nightly story time.

The 2012 Fort Worth Opera Festival, now nearing its conclusion, presented the last of its three performances of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro on Friday evening. A traditional approach governed everything from the modest yet handsome sets to the conservative musical interpretation.