Opera Philadelphia's Unholy Wars creates a dialogue with Monteverdi

Karim Sulayman and John Taylor Ward

Raha Mirzadegan with dancer Coral Dolphin

Coral Dolphin and Karim Sulayman

John Taylor Ward, Raha Mirzadegan and Karim Sulayman

By Cameron Kelsall, 24 September 2023

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“suggests a dreamworld between the reality of battle and the idealized vision of love”

Reviewed at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Philadelphia on 23 September 2023

Various, Unholy Wars

Opera Philadelphia

Kevin Newbury, Director

David C. Woolard, Costume Designer

Jennifer Fok, Lighting Designer

Opera Philadelphia Orchestra

Rick Jacobsohn, Sound Design

Michael Salvatore Commendatore, Projection Designs

Julie Andrijeski, Director

Ebony Williams, Choreography

Mourad Kevork, Visual artist

Karim Sulayman, Tenor

Raha Mirzadegan, Soprano

John Taylor Ward, Bass

Coral Dolphin, Dancer

A sorta fairy tale: Sleepers Awake premieres at Opera Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 22nd April

A new opera by Gregory Spears subverts the Sleeping Beauty trope, with middling results.

**111

Opera by committee: Opera Philadelphia premieres Complications in Sue

Cameron Kelsall, 4th February

Opera Philadelphia commissions ten composers to tell the story of an ordinary woman's idiosyncratic march from cradle to tomb.

****1

A didactic Decameron: The Seasons at Opera Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 20th December

Conceived by Anthony Roth Costanzo and Sarah Ruhl, this high-handed pasticcio sets the climate crisis to a soundtrack of Vivaldi.

***11

A long, strange trip: Opera Philadelphia’s Il viaggio a Reims

Cameron Kelsall, 19th September

The intrepid company brings Damiano Michieletto’s well-traveled production of a Rossini rarity to the US for the first time.

***11

The Listeners: daring psychological thriller at Opera Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 25th September

The new opera by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek draws on cult mindsets and conspiracy theories but smartly avoids sensationalism.

****1

Quinn Kelsey triumphs in Opera Philadelphia's Simon Boccanegra

Cameron Kelsall, 22nd September

In his role debut as the Genoan Doge, the American baritone continues to burnish his bona fides as the premier Verdi baritone of his generation.

****1

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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.