The Classical Review

Mäkelä returns to Chicago Symphony for a brilliant and blazing night of Berlioz

As on his recent recording with the Orchestre de Paris, Mäkelä brought a fresh approach and richly colored palette to Berlioz ...
The Classical Review

Opera creators find the light of love amid the horror of “The Shining”

Since its 2016 premiere as part of Minnesota Opera’s New Works Initiative, the opera has seen repeat productions across the ...
The Classical Review

Tapped as Chicago Symphony music director, Klaus Mäkelä makes an exhilarating stand with Shostakovich

Klaus Mäkelä conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday night. Photo: Todd Rosenberg Even so the 28-year-old maestro was welcomed upon his entrance Thursday night at Orchestra Hall with ...
The Classical Review

Rust Belt bel canto: Met provides a dark, mostly compelling update to “Lucia”

Nadine Sierra in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl Cheers greeted Simon Stone and his creative team Saturday night as they walked onstage ...
The Classical Review

Three finalists take impressive last shots in Cliburn Competition

Evren Ozel performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with Marin Alsop and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Friday night at the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Fort Worth. Photo: Ralph Lauer It was ...
The Classical Review

A dazzling desert season bears rich fruit with Santa Fe Opera’s Debussy, Monteverdi

Samantha Hankey and Huw Montague Rendall in Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO The libretto of Pelléas, adapted almost directly by the composer from the ...
The Classical Review

A beautiful, riveting tragedy with Chicago Symphony’s Mahler Sixth

Jaap van Zweden conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 Thursday night. Photo: Todd Rosenberg With multiple street closures and exits off the Drive shut down for a race in ...
The Classical Review

Dubious “Dutchman” and trenchant “Tosca” refract two classics through modern lenses at Santa Fe Opera

Nicholas Brownlee and Elza van den Heever in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO General director Robert Meya has given Wagner fans cause to rejoice: Santa Fe Opera ...
The Classical Review

Outstanding new opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” makes a moving debut

Flora Hawk and Jonathan Michie star in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia at Virginia Opera. Photo: Dave Pearson Virginia Opera is marking its golden anniversary season in the ...
The Classical Review

Met’s “Kavalier & Clay” mixes stunning production with largely lightweight music

Andrzej Filończyk (left) and Myles Mykkanen in Mason Bates’ The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera The best works of art, in any medium, ...
The Classical Review

A Gustav Holst rarity is restored to life at Grant Park Music Festival

Christian Tetzlaff performed Elgar’s Violin Concerto with the Grant Park Orchestra Friday night at Millennium Park. Photo: Charles Osgood The Grant Park Music Festival hit cruising speed Friday night ...
The Classical Review

Aristo Sham takes the Gold at Cliburn Competition

The 2025 Cliburn medalists are, from left, Bronze medalist Evren Ozel, 26, from the United States, Gold medal winner Aristo Sham, 29, from China, and Silver medalist Vitaly Starikov, 30, from ...