Opera Philadelphia Archives

Music Reviews

10 Days in a Madhouse (Opera Philly): This is not a time for quiet art

Michael Fisher September 24, 2023 No Comments

Director Joanna Settle wants you to know that 10 Days in a Madhouse is not just an opera. It is an “announcement … almost a…

Music Theater

DON PASQUALE (AVA): A Dilettante at Large review

Toby Zinman February 17, 2023 No Comments

Our dilettante at large reviews Academy of Vocal Arts’ South Philly themed production of Donizetti’s comic opera

Music Reviews

Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman February 6, 2023 No Comments

The Dilettante at Large is at large again, writing about the culture as an enjoyer rather than an expert. Her latest pleasure was Opera Philly’s…

Theater

BLACK LODGE (Opera Philadelphia): Beautiful, unsettling, and thrilling

Keddy Michaels October 21, 2022 No Comments

If Black Lodge is any indication of what the afterlife has in store for us then I would encourage you all to repent immediately—that is,…

Music Reviews

OTELLO (Opera Philadelphia): A dilettante at large reviews

Toby Zinman September 26, 2022 1 Comment

This is one for the life list if you’re an opera fan.

Theater

RIGOLETTO (Opera Philadelphia): A Dilettante at Large reviews

Toby Zinman May 3, 2022 No Comments

Dilettante at Large (Toby Zinman) has awakened from her long pandemic slumber, and is once again writing about stuff she knows little about but enjoys, unlike theater which she knows quite a lot about and doesn’t always enjoy.

Music Reviews

What A Lark: The dilettante at large has A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM with Opera Philly

Toby Zinman February 12, 2019 1 Comment

Visually, musically, and vocally gorgeous, this is a delectable MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.

Opera Philly Midsummer Night's Dream review image

Music Reviews

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Opera Philadelphia): Fairy magic and flying beds

Margaret Darby February 9, 2019 No Comments

Benjamin Britten’s music still sounds wonderfully imaginative and modern

Music Reviews

A dilettante at large reviews NE QUITTEZ PAS (Opera Philadelphia)

Toby Zinman October 1, 2018 No Comments

What a complicated evening, filled with gorgeous singing and roiled emotions and puzzling theatrics

Music Reviews

CARMEN (Opera Philadelphia): Color and excitement

Dorie Byrne April 30, 2018 No Comments

nspired by by the resetting of their 2015 production of La Traviata, director Paul Curran and set/costume designer Gary McCann team up again to bring CARMEN to a nearer past, set in a beautiful Havana-esque 1950’s.

Music Reviews

A dilettante at large: A QUIET PLACE (Curtis Institute of Music)

Toby Zinman March 13, 2018 No Comments

The Curtis Institute of Music and Opera Philadelphia’s stunning production Leonard Bernstein’s opera, A Quiet Place, is one of many worldwide celebrations of his centennial;

Reviews Theater

A dilettante at large: WRITTEN ON SKIN (Opera Philadelphia)

Toby Zinman February 11, 2018 4 Comments

Philadelphia’s premiere drama critic, Toby Zinman knows her theater. Opera, not so much. Here’s her dilettante review of Opera Philadelphia’s WRITTEN ON SKIN.