Klaus Florian Vogt as Paul leads a mesmerizing Die tote Stadt in Hamburg

GermanyGermany Korngold, Die tote Stadt: Soloists, Chorus, Extra Chorus, Alsterspatzen (children and youth chorus) of Staatsoper Hamburg. Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg / Yoel Gamzou (conductor). Staatsoper Hamburg; 5.6.2024. (DMD)

From the 2015 performances of Hamburg State Opera’s Die tote Stadt © Bern Uhlig

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Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina in Berlin was quite simply, outstanding in every way

GermanyGermany Mussorgsky, Khovanshchina: Soloists, Staatsoper Children’s Chorus (director: Vinzenz Weissenburger), Staatsopernchor Berlin (director: Dani Juris), Staatskapelle Berlin / Simone Young (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 2.6.2024. (MB)

Ivan Khovansky (Mika Kares) © Monika Rittershaus

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Innocence, Kaija Saariaho’s masterpiece, packs a wallop in its U.S. premiere in San Francisco

United StatesUnited States Saariaho, Innocence: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Clément Mao-Takacs (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 1.6.2024. (HS)

Rotating set for a wedding venue and the scene of a school shooting © Corey Weaver/SFO

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Set in the silent movie era, The Magic Flute delivers pluses and minuses in San Francisco

United StatesUnited States Mozart, The Magic Flute: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Eun Sun Kim (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 30.5.2024. (HS)

Lauri Vasar (Papageno) made mute by the Ladies removing his lips and teeth © Corey Weaver/SFO

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Imaginative idea allows a promising Lohengrin take flight in Hagen

GermanyGermany Wagner, Lohengrin:  Soloists, Chorus, Extra chorus and Extras of Theater Hagen. Philharmonic Orchestra Hagen / Joseph Trafton (conductor). Theater Hagen, 20.5.2024. (DMD)

(l-r) Dong-Won Seo (King Henry), Kenneth Mattice (Herald), Dorothea Herbert (Elsa), Angela Davis (Ortrud), and Insu Hwang (Telramund) © Volker Beushausen

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