Tag Archives: Opera

Classical Press Piles on Levine Story (… plus a bonus zing at DG)

The press is piling on in the day and a half since the Metropolitan Opera announced that James Levine is withdrawing from the fall portion of the company’s 2011-12 season. A few are worth a read, including Zachary Wolffe at the NY Observer, who writes:

Continue reading Classical Press Piles on Levine Story (… plus a bonus zing at DG)

James Levine’s Withdrawal: Reading Between the Lines

Daniel Wakin follows through on yesterday’s breaking news about James Levine’s decision to withdraw from the entire fall portion of the MET season due to a new and serious back injury with a more detailed article just posted to nytimes.com. Again, a number of details leap off the page:

Continue reading James Levine’s Withdrawal: Reading Between the Lines

A Tactful Panning

I’ve never warmed to Andrea Bocelli’s opera recordings, but I am that rare classical snob who likes his pop and Neapolitan offerings.  Zachary Woolfe’s negative review of  Bocelli’s MET recital in the NY Times spreads the blame quite properly. Woolfe did not make mention of Bocelli’s management, which has also done an extraordinary job, at least up until now. The talented, likable crooner should sack whoever it was on his team that persuaded him to do a MET recital.

Fabio Luisi abruptly resigns from Sächsische Staatsoper (and Staatskapelle Dresden)

Daniel Wakin has the details at nytimes.com, including details of a broadcast deal that was made behind Luisi’s back involving his successor, Christian Thielemenn.

Continue reading Fabio Luisi abruptly resigns from Sächsische Staatsoper (and Staatskapelle Dresden)