Articles by Philip Hodge

Heart of a Soldier Review – The World Premier of a Gripping BiOpera

Heart of a Soldier is different from most operas. The Story is a biography of a current person, and it is by far the driving force of the opera; music, acting, scenery, lighting, etc. are important only in-so-far-as they enhance the story telling

Idomeneo Review– 12th Century BCA Greek Story – 18th Century Mozart Music – 21st Century American Staging

I had never seen or heard Idomeneo before, but I knew I’d like it – I mean, it’s Mozart so what else do you need to know?

H.M.S. Pinafore Review – A Delightful Bit of Operatic Froth

H.M.S. Pinafore hove into Mountain View this past weekend and it was immediately obvious that the “sober men and true” who sailed her were not exaggerating a bit when they sang, “Our saucy ship’s a beauty.”

Macbeth Review – an ROH production of Verdi’s darkest opera

Macbeth is a total villain with no redeeming qualities - not even consistency. Immediately after killing King Duncan he wishes the deed undone. But then he commits more murders to cover up the first one

Curtains Review – Who Says that Broadway’s Golden Age is Long Gone?

Imagine, if you will, Agatha Christie, Groucho Marx, Noel Coward, and Richard Rogers all locked in a small room and told they can’t come out until they’ve written a new musical - Curtains"

The Music Man Review – A Wonderful Rendition of one of the Top American Musical Theater Classics

The Broadway By the Bay’s production of Meredith Willson’s "The Music Man" is nothing but Cool

Marriage of Figaro Review – Servants outsmart masters; women outsmart men; what is the world coming to?

Pocket Opera's production of Mozarts' "Marriage of Figaro" with many stars who were familiar to me, was a delight

SFO RING Review – PART IV, WHY WAS THIS PERFORMANCE SO GREAT?

Why was the San Francisco Opera production of Wagner's "Ring Cycle" so great? Read on and find out

SFO RING Review– PART III, HOW

How Francesca Zambello, Director of the SFO Ring Series, manages two challenges which are not normally present in opera

SFO RING Review – PART II, WHO AND WHAT

Here you will find a complete list of all the mythical and human characters in the Ring, along with a terse summary to remind you of the complex plot.

SFO RING Review – PART I, INTRODUCTION

In the course of 6 days I spent 17 hours watching and listening to San Francisco Opera's complete cycle of Wagner’s 4 operas known as the Ring. Here is Part I of a four-part review of the cycle as a whole.

Italian Girl in Algiers Review – Brave Heroine Rescues Helpless Hero from Fate Worse than Death

Pocket Opera's Italian Girl in Algiers has great music by Rossini, an improbable plot, and a really happy ending – the bad guys aren’t really bad, everyone on stage likes the outcome, and the audience leaves humming, chuckling, and feeling good

Die Walküre at the Met Review – Part II of Wagner’s epic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen

The Met HD production of Part II of Wagner’s epic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen is a must see in its encore performance on June 1st

Dido and Aeneas and La Vida Breve Review – Two short tragic operas form an interesting combination

West Bay Opera's "Dido and Aeneas" by Henry Purcell and "La Vida Breve" by Manuel de Falla, similar and different were both thoroughly enjoyable

RIGOLETTO IN MANTUA Review - A movie shot live in the Duke’s hometown

In this European HD performance of Verdi's Rigoletto. Placido Domingo IS Rigoletto in a production filmed in Mantua, the real town where this took place

The Cat Transformed into a Woman Review – The last of two one-act operas separated by one intermission and millions of emotional miles

The title role of a cat named Minette is shared by a cute little stuffed toy (silently) and later by the even cuter soprano Elise Kennedy (not silently)

Cavalleria Rusticana Review – The first of two one-act operas separated by one intermission and millions of emotional miles

In it's 70 minutes, Pietro Mascagni’s "Cavalleria Rusticana" is challenged to present a beginning, a middle and an end

Il Trovatore Review – It all came together

I can’t recall ever witnessing a better opera performance than I saw this morning - everything came together: Verdi’s music, Amiliato’s conducting, the wonderful singers giving their all

Capriccio Review – Strauss’ Last Opera

Capriccio is like a delicate soufflé. When it is done perfectly it is an almost transcendental experience. But let any small thing disturb its fragile perfection, and it would fall flat - the soufflé served up Saturday was yummy

La Bohème Review – Opera San Jose Produces a Winner

And so Opera San Jose's production of La Boheme ends: beautiful, predictable, actions and music in sublime accord, lump growing in my throat, tears rolling down my cheeks - I could ask no more

Roland Petit’s Carmen Review- The Operanut Goes to the Ballet

I saw the Ballet San Jose present Roland Petit’s Carmen, danced to the music of the familiar opera by Bizet and I was moved to write about it

Le Comte Ory – Rossini’s Last Opera is pure unadulterated joy

My enjoyment of the Met HD production of Rossini's "Le Comte Ory" began before Ms Fleming had finished her 60-second introduction delivered from back stage

Manon Review - A "Dinner with Donald" Event

There is no question but that Erina Newkirk was the star of Pocket Opera's current production of "Manon

Kiss Me Lucia di la Mancha – A glorious musical weekend

What a fantastic 31 hours that included "Lucia di Lammermoor", "Kiss Me Kate" and "Man of La Mancha"

Iphigénie en Tauride Review – Gluck turns Euripedes play into a modern opera

A truly dysfunctional royal family - the king sacrifices his daughter, the queen kills the king, the son kills the queen - Fifteen years later the overture to Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride starts

Lucia di Lammermoor Review - Mary Zimmerman’s Production is Still Tops

I can’t think of a better way to start my review of this 2011 performance than to quote in full the review I wrote two years ago of the same production with a different cast

LA TRAVIATA Review – Classic Opera at its Best

The Euro HD rendition of last year’s performance of "La Traviata" from the Royal Opera House in London reinforced previous experiences I have had

Elixir of Love Review – Potent Potion Produces Rare Riotous Romance

If you enjoy light-hearted opera by such composers as Offenbach, Lehar, Gilbert and Sullivan, you are bound to like Donizetti’s "The Elixir of Love"

Turandot Review– A small opera company takes on a big opera – and produces a masterpiece

I love West Bay Opera and was thrilled to find that their production of "Turandot" by Puccini more than held its own in comparison to the Met HD's performance

Nixon in China Review – John Adam\'s opera is relentless

$Nixon in China Review – John Adam\'s opera is relentless$ You may not necessarily enjoy "Nixon in China" by John Adams but you may be in danger of being ensnared or seduced by it

Wednesday May 22nd: 12:00 AM | Cannes Film Festival; 5:30 PM | Craft Beer Tasting in May at Bistango; 7:30 PM | The Fantastics---South Coast Repertory; 8:00 PM | Steel Magnolias---The Laguna Playhouse
Thursday May 23rd: 12:00 AM | Cannes Film Festival; 2:00 PM | Steel Magnolias---The Laguna Playhouse; 8:00 PM | Steel Magnolias---The Laguna Playhouse; 8:00 PM | The Fantastics---South Coast Repertory

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