opera

Review: Sweeney Todd, the Not-Demonic-Enough Barber of Fleet Street

Houston Grand Opera's production of the Stephen Sondheim classic captures the musical's humor, but misses the menace.

04/27/2015 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: HGO's Die Walküre Offers More Subdued Take on Wagner

Compared to last year's bombastic Rheingold, the Fura dels Baus Walküre plays up the composer's sensitive side.

04/20/2015 By Sydney Boyd

choral work

The "Singing Revolution" Comes To Houston

Inspired by the Baltic nations' musical protests against the Soviet Union in the 1980s, the Houston Chamber Choir performs works by living Baltic composers.

02/19/2015 By Sydney Boyd

investigation

What the Hell's Going On at Opera in the Heights?

Gossip, accusations, conspiracy theories, a high mortality rate. Is this opera or real life?

02/12/2015 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: HGO's Magic Flute Has Great Singing But Not Much Else

Houston tenor David Portillo shines as Tamino, but production and conducting are lackluster.

02/02/2015 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: Brilliant Ana María Martínez Shines In Madame Butterfly

The Puerto Rican soprano returns to Houston Grand Opera in Puccini's beloved masterpiece.

01/26/2015 By Sydney Boyd

classical music

Guitar and Voice Virtuosos Visit Menil For Concert of English Music

Eliot Fisk and Nicholas Phan will perform songs by British composers from John Dowland to Benjamin Britten.

01/23/2015 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: HGO's Christmas Carol Deserves Lump of Coal

This opera made us want to go "Bah! Humbug!"

12/08/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Best of 2014

The Top 5 Operas of 2014

From Wagner to Verdi to Humperdinck, it was a very good year indeed.

12/04/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Best of 2014

The Top 5 Classical Music Concerts of 2014

How many did you hear?

12/02/2014 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: HGO's New Così Fan Tutte Plays It Safe

Classic Mozart opera buffa features fine ensemble singing but lacks brio.

11/04/2014 By Sydney Boyd

classical music

Review: Five-Hour Performance of For Philip Guston Worth The Wait

Our intrepid critic spent Sunday afternoon at the Rothko Chapel, listening to Morton Feldman's rarely performed masterpiece.

11/03/2014 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: Otello Launches New HGO Season In Style

Verdi's classic opera brought to thunderous life in a bravura production

10/27/2014 By Sydney Boyd

opera

Review: What's the Point of Opera in the Heights's Rigoletto?

The Houston Grand Opera produced Verdi's classic last year. Do we really need another production so soon?

09/29/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Classical

Review: Houston Symphony Pops Finishes Season on High Note

Actor Victor Garber helps the orchestra close out its 2013–2014 season in style.

05/26/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Review

Review: Mahler's Eighth Provides Glimpse of Transcendence

With Eschenbach on the podium, the monumental "Symphony of a Thousand" proves the perfect way to end the Houston Symphony's Centennial Season.

05/10/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Opera

Review: HGO's Carmen Lacks Passion

Despite strong vocal performances, opera missing Bizet's original fire

04/28/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Opera

Review: Going Mad for Lucia Di Lammermoor

Soprano Jessica Jones leads a talented ensemble in new production of the bel canto classic.

03/31/2014 By Sydney Boyd

Opera

Review: A Coffin in Egypt is Dead on Arrival

Despite an extraordinary performance by 68-year-old Frederica von Stade, the HGO world premiere opera falls flat.

03/18/2014 By Sydney Boyd