viennaoperareview.com is a review of live opera currently performed at Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) , Vienna Volksoper, reviewed by Philautus (Peter Rose), an English critic resident in Vienna. The review has been running for over twelve years, with more than 180 reviews of operas and operettas published so far.

The aim is to stimulate enjoyment of opera, demystifying an often rarefied and snobbish medium: to make opera accessible to a wider audience, and to provoke debate. I’m passionate about opera, and want to communicate that excitement; but sometimes you have to object to bad ‘radical’ productions, where the producer’s ‘concept’ hinders understanding of the opera.

Remember cast and conductor are frequently changed within a season. Only the sets remain constant for a given production. And as with all live performance, there is no definitive review. The chemistry between cast, conductor, and orchestra is never constant; and the performance is itself subject to different audiences’ appreciation. A so-called critic can only give a subjective view; a snapshot of one particular performance.

I welcome your comments, and criticism. Especially, please, from those of you who may have actuallyseen any of the productions reviewed.

Please post in Comment: or email at hq@viennaoperareview