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Opera Reviews

by Dr.Andrew Byrne

Andrew is in the process of transcribing his reviews for the last few years on to this web site. We have noted in the table below the date on which the summary was added to the site, or significantly updated (so you will be able to skip those you have previously read).

Reviews

The table below lists reviews and observations by Dr. Andrew Byrne. The table can be sorted into date order (newest first) or Opera, Composer or Headline order (ascending alphabetical) by selecting the relevant heading.

The word "listserv" in the "Updated" column means the review can be found on the OPERA-L list service. The link for this line will take you the review (opens in a new window).

\/  Date
VariousVariousVariousThe 5 most recent reviews on one page_
ArabellaRichard Strauss07-Mar-08Arabella at Sydney Opera House2008/03/18
Masked BallVerdi20-Feb-08 Sydney Opera House: "Masked Ball" by Verdi2008/02/25
VariousVarious17-Feb-08Joan Sutherland Society "A Summer Serenade". St Paul's, Burwood (and a correction).2008/02/25
CarmenBizet13-Feb-08Joshua Bloom blooms into Escamillo. Sydney Carmen update.2008/02/25
CarmenBizet24-Jan-08Carmen gala opening at Sydney Opera House - Chavez and Zambello wow them!2008/02/25
La BohemePuccini04-Jan-08La Boheme at Sydney Opera House - Aussie Xmas with snow!!2008/02/25
VariousVarious2008Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2008* listserv *
Tales of HoffmannOffenbach04-Oct-07Mid-season Hoffmann hits highs. Plus some theatre reservations2007/10/22
Tales of HoffmannOffenbach01-Sep-07New Tales of Hoffmann at the Sydney Opera House - don't miss it!2007/09/03
Il TritticoPuccini17-Aug-07Sydney Trittico: one soprano for three operas! Also, new season announced.2007/08/20
A Streetcar Named DesirePrevin02-Aug-07Sydney Streetcar - not for me!2007/08/20
The Abduction from the Seraglio13-Jul-07Seraglio at the Sydney Opera House. Get a ticket if you can!2007/07/30
Il TrovatoreVerdi03-Jul-07Il Trovatore in Sydney. Classic grand opera with bells and whilstles2007/07/30
Barber of Seville26-Jun-07Fawlty Towers comes to Sydney in Barber Gala2007/07/30
Il TritticoPuccini20-Apr-07Trittico Gala at the Met - splendid opera on a grand scale2007/06/06
11-Apr-07Andrea Chenier at the Met. Verismo at its very best. Wed 11th April.2007/06/06
VariousVarious03-Apr-07Netrebko and Villazon - 'a chemistry lesson' at the Met2007/07/30
La Traviata31-Mar-07New York La Traviata - Zeffirelli at his best with great singing as well2007/07/30
Pirates of PenzanceGilbert & Sullivan29-Mar-07GREAT Pirates! Shame about Flavio and Donna del Lago, also at NYCO2007/06/06
Rusalka21-Mar-07Unique Rusalka at the Sydney Opera House2007/07/30
AlcinaHandel23-Feb-07Alcina at the Sydney Opera House. Flawed fantasy and (seemingly) forever2007/03/12
La TraviataVerdi14-Feb-07La Traviata season heavily booked but free open air 'broadcast' still available2007/03/12
La TraviataVerdi10-Jan-07Sydney La Traviata (are they in competition with the Met?!)2007/03/12
Marriage of FigaroMozart02-Jan-07Marriage of Figaro at the Sydney Opera House - fine opening to summer season2007/03/12
VariousVarious2007Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2007* listserv *
VariousVarious25-Dec-06Physicians in opera - reflection of medical history and public perception.2007/06/06
VariousVarious11-Oct-06Joan Sutherland's 80th birthday and Australian opera company turns 502007/02/21
Julius CaesarHandel05-Oct-06Top-rate Julius Caesar at Sydney Opera House2006/10/11
La RondinePuccini23-Sep-06La Rondine in concert at the Sydney Opera House on the equinox2006/09/27
RigolettoVerdi01-Sep-06Oops, Gilda's D flat ... and, amateurs in major roles in Sydney Rigoletto!2007/02/21
RigolettoVerdi01-Sep-06Class act: Rigoletto at Sydney Opera House2006/09/04
BataviaMills19-Aug-06Batavia - an intense, unremitting and negative opera experience2006/08/22
TurandotPuccini17-Jul-06Turandot in Sydney. Third time lucky (and unlucky!)2006/07/17
VariousVarious17-Jul-06The Melba - JC Williamson Tour of 19282006/07/17
LakméDelibes28-Jun-06Where was Joan Sutherland last night? At Bollywood Lakme Gala in Sydney! 2006/06/29
ToscaPuccini08-May-06Tosca at the Met May 2006. A night to forget2006/05/10
Il Tabarro / Gianni SchicchiPuccini07-May-06Tabarro and Gianni Schicchi at Hunter College.2006/06/18
RodelindaHandel02-May-06Rodelinda Gala: The Metropolitan Opera, New York City2006/05/16
RigolettoVerdi01-May-06Met Rigoletto. Gavanelli trumphs. Water-sphere man a side show - only in New York!2006/05/18
LohengrinWagner20-Apr-06Lots lacking in last night's Lohengrin. But much great opera, too. Heppner, Mattila, Fink, DeVol.2006/07/23
FidelioBeethoven13-Apr-06Fidelio at the Met. 8 out of 10!2006/06/12
VariousVarious2006Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2006* listserv *
Die FledermausStrauss25-Feb-05Fine Fledermaus in Sydney, awfully amplified2006/07/23
VariousVarious2005Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2005* listserv *
Le Comte OryRossini09-Jul-28Another auspicious night for the local opera troupe2007/02/21
Bonynge/Sutherland Golden Wedding AnniversaryOpera Australia22-Jan-04Any excuse for a concert!2006/07/03
VariousVarious2004Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2004* listserv *
Antony and CleopatraBarber06-Apr-03Antony and Cleopatra at Carnegie Hall2006/06/18
RigolettoVerdi11-Feb-03Rigoletto at the Sydney Opera House, Wed 11th February 20032007/02/21
VariousVarious2003Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2003* listserv *
VariousVarious2002Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2002* listserv *
ParsifalWagner13-Apr-01Met Parsifal: impressions from a beginner2006/07/23
VariousVarious2001Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2001* listserv *
OtelloVerdi03-May-00Otello at Carnegie Hall2006/06/05
La Clemenza di TitoMozart15-Apr-00A magnificent evening in every respect2006/07/10
IdomeneoMozart11-Feb-00Idomeneo, an opera seria by WA Mozart 2007/02/21
VariousVarious2000Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 2000* listserv *
VariousVarious1999Andrew's postings on OPERA-L listserv for 1999* listserv *
Madama ButterflyPuccini19-Jun-97Opera Australia, June19972006/07/23
Il TrovatoreVerdi25-Aug-28Old review from roaring 20's in Sydney town2006/07/13
Madame ButterflyPuccini21-Jul-28Emotional Acting and Singing2006/07/10
The Daughter of the RegimentDonizetti09-Jul-28Toti dal Monte's Success2006/07/07
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