It’s a sure sign of disaster when the loudest cheer during an opera comes in response to a circus divertissement. Sadly, this was the case in this, the Royal Opera’s second revival of Francesca ...

“My music is rhythmic because I am Czech… the natural music of the Czechs is rhythm – strong and agile rhythm.” (Martinů). How well the conductor Jac van Steen and the director Paul Curran understood ...

Conducted by Tomáš Hanus and directed by Dirk Schmeding, the production continues the company’s ongoing run of the opera, with performances scheduled throughout late March. The creative team also ...

Musically, Bedřich Smetana’s The Bartered Bride is marvellous, vivid, dance-infused work. In the second performance of the run, conductor Jac van Steen and the Philharmonia Orchestra were achieving ...

For over 150 years, The Bartered Bride has occupied the top position among Czech operas. Said to be now part of the Czech DNA, its popularity eclipses that of any other feted Bedřich Smetana opera.

The Bartered Bride By Bedrich Smetana. April 9 and 10. New World School of the Arts, College Opera Theatre, Gusman Center, 174 E. Flagler St., Miami; 305-374-2444; gusmancenter.org You probably ...

When the work’s level of inspiration rises, so does Bělohlávek’s. In Mařenka’s great Act 3 aria, Bělohlávek’s treatment of lower strings conveys Mařenka’s gut-wrenching dilemma and goes on to enhance ...