Michael Levine

Review: JEN�®FA, Royal Ballet And Opera
by Alexander Cohen - Jan 16, 2025

It’s a mistake to dismiss Claus Guth’s production of Janacek’s Jenůfa as symbolically overwrought and interminably grey. Look closer and you’ll discover a duality to each beguiling appearance.

Kean Stage Adds DALLAS BRASS To 2024-2025 Season Lineup
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 22, 2024

Kean Stage has added DALLAS BRASS to its 2024-2025 season lineup. Learn more about the 2024-25 season programming and see how to purchase tickets.

Photos: Karen Mason Sings Encore Performance of Jule Styne Celebration at Birdland
by Stephi Wild - Sep 18, 2024

Birdland presented the return of singer Karen Mason in an encore performance of “Just in Styne: Karen Sings Jule” on Monday, September 16. Check out photos here!

Joffrey Ballet Opens 2024-25 Season With US Premiere Of Cathy Marston's ATONEMENT
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 6, 2024

Joffrey Ballet has announced its 2024-25 season, featuring the US premiere of Cathy Marston's ATONEMENT.

The Met Opera's MADAME BUTTERFLY Will be Broadcast in UK Cinemas
by Stephi Wild - May 7, 2024

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will return in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 Live in HD season, broadcast live from the Met stage on Saturday 11th May at 5:55pm.

Asmik Grigorian And Jonathan Tetelman Star In THE MET: LIVE IN HD Transmission Of MADAMA BUTTERFLY
by A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2024

Join Asmik Grigorian and Jonathan Tetelman as they star in The Met: Live in HD transmission of MADAMA BUTTERFLY.

Review: Dizzying Night at the Met with Grigorian's Splendiferous BUTTERFLY in House Debut
by Richard Sasanow - Apr 29, 2024

Those of us who keep an eye on the comings and goings of singers at major opera houses around the world, have known that Friday’s debutant, Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, was going to be one to watch. And it was. No worries about whether her voice would translate from Europe’s smaller houses to the Met’s enormous hall: Grigorian may have been singing Puccini’s Cio-Cio-San/Madama Butterfly this time around, but she’s a well-schooled Lady Macbeth and Turandot as well, bringing a notably large voice with her. She survived the Met’s notoriously short rehearsal time for revivals (particularly for the second cast of the season). Lastly, she even made it through the final curveball, when tenor Jonathan Tetelman became ill and standby Chad Shelton had to take over as Pinkerton; he did well considering the circumstances, but he was no match for her.

Video: Watch Asmik Grigorian Sing 'Un Bel Dì' from MADAMA BUTTERFLY at Met Opera
by Blair Ingenthron - Apr 28, 2024

Watch Asmik Grigorian sing an excerpt from Cio-Cio-San’s Act II aria in a stage rehearsal for the Met Opera's Madama Butterfly, running through May 11, in the video here!

Video: Michael Fabiano Sings 'La fleur que tu m'avais jetée' from Met Opera's CARMEN
by Blair Ingenthron - Apr 28, 2024

Watch tenor Michael Fabiano sing an excerpt from Don José’s Act II aria in a stage rehearsal in the video here!

Review: THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, Royal Opera House
by Michael Higgs - Mar 1, 2024

Albery’s revival of his Flying Dutchman simply works: with a great cast and a smooth atmosphere created by a dreamlike ship-inspired set, it all builds towards a Gesamtkunstwerk that Wagner might have enjoyed himself. A great success, all around.

Video: Mezzo-Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina on Singing CARMEN at The Met
by Joshua Wright - Jan 30, 2024

Watch as During intermission of the Live in HD transmission of Bizet’s Carmen, host Matthew Polenzani speaks with mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina about her experience singing the title role. 

Video: Watch A New Trailer For CCARMEN at the Metropolitan Opera
by Joshua Wright - Jan 23, 2024

Watch an all new trailer for English director Carrie Cracknell's Met debut with a new modern-day staging of Carmen, one of opera’s most enduringly powerful works.

Cherry Jones Will Lead THE GRAPES OF WRATH at The National Theatre; Summer 2024 Line-Up Announced
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Jan 23, 2024

The National Theatre has announced new productions for all three South Bank stages this summer: Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff and Mnemonic in the Olivier theatre and The Grapes of Wrath in the Lyttelton theatre, alongside the previously announced The Hot Wing King in the Dorfman theatre. 

The Met: Live in HD Brings CARMEN to the Rialto Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jan 22, 2024

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 Live in HD season continues with a live transmission of Bizet’s ever-popular Carmen on Saturday, January 27, at 19:55 at Rialto Theatre.

VIDEO: Mezzo-Soprano Aigul Akhmetshina Discusses CARMEN at the Metropolitan Opera
by Blair Ingenthron - Jan 13, 2024

Watch Angel Blue speak with mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina about her portrayal of the title role of Bizet’s Carmen below!

The Met: Live In HD 2023-24 Season To Continue With Bizet's CARMEN This Month
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 10, 2024

The Met: Live in HD presents a daring new production of Bizet’s Carmen on January 27. Learn how to purchase tickets!

VIDEO: Get A First Look at Met Opera's MADAMA BUTTERFLY for the 2023/24 Season
by Joshua Wright - Jan 10, 2024

Get a first look at Puccini’s Madama Butterfly which returns to the Met stage for 16 performances, starting January 11.

Review: When Akhmetshina's CARMEN Is On Stage at The Met, Don't Fence Her In
by Richard Sasanow - Jan 6, 2024

Sometimes you hear a singer who embodies a role so completely that it’s hard to imagine her in anything else. That’s how I felt about the wonderful mezzo Aigul Akhmetshina, who’s singing the title role in the Met’s new production of Bizet’s CARMEN, which I saw at its second performance. Her portrayal was as full-bodied as her voice and she sizzled, filling up the stage as much as one can imagine. It’s little surprise that she’s considered the Carmen of the moment, having appeared in seven other productions (with two to come).

Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY to Return to the Metropolitan Opera This Month
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 5, 2024

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will return to the Met stage for 16 performances, starting January 11.

VIDEO: Aditional Songs The Met's New Production of CARMEN
by Joshua Wright - Jan 3, 2024

Get an extended look at The Met Opera's highly anticipated new production of Carmen.