John Adams’ Antony and Cleopatra delivers a punch in its world premiere at San Francisco Opera

United StatesUnited States John Adams, Antony and Cleopatra: Soloists, chorus and orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Eun Sun Kim (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 15.9.2022. (HS)

(Opening of Act II) Antony (Gerald Finley) brooding after his and Cleopatra’s loss in battle © Corey Weaver

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Alisa Weilerstein in conversation with Harvey Steiman about FRAGMENTS, her fresh approach to Bach’s cello suites

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein in conversation with Harvey Steiman

Alisa Weilerstein walked onto the stage Monday morning at Harris Concert Hall in Aspen, picked up her cello and played for a select audience who were there to provide feedback on her new idea for a concert experience.

Alisa Weilerstein © Graham Northrup/Northrup Studios

For the project, called FRAGMENTS, Weilerstein had commissioned short pieces from 27 living classical composers to intersperse between the 36 movements of Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for unaccompanied cello. The audience got no printed program and knew only that she was going to play all of the first cello suite and music from five contemporary composers. There would be a stage set and lighting.

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A lurid tale told deftly in M. Butterfly, a new opera from Huang Ruo based on David Henry Hwang’s play

United StatesUnited States Santa Fe Opera 2022 [2] – Huang Ruo, M. Butterfly: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Santa Fe Opera / Carolyn Kuan (conductor). The Crosby Theater, Santa Fe, 3.8.2022. (HS)

Song Liling (Kangmin Justin Kim) and René Gallimard (Mark Stone) © Curtis Brown/Santa Fe Opera

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