The Magic Flute now brilliant Australiana
February 4, 2024 by Victor Grynberg
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in his all too short life, wrote masterpiece after masterpiece…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata in best production ever
January 4, 2024 by Victor Grynberg
An Opera review by Victor Grynberg Read more
Adriana Lecouvreur: An opera review by Victor Grynberg
February 22, 2023 by Victor Grynberg
Francesco Cilea’s ADRIANA LECOUVREUR is a rarely produced opera nowadays, and this critic doesn’t recall ever seeing it before. Read more
Mozart’s evil hero Don Giovanni brilliantly portrayed writes Victor Grynberg
January 8, 2023 by Victor Grynberg
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is often described as one of the big three of classical composition, along with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. Read more
Handel’s Messiah: a choral concert reviewed by Victor Grynberg
December 14, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
Since I attended the opening of the Sydney Opera House 50 years ago, I have attended perhaps more than 1500 performances there. Read more
Verdi’s Attila: another masterpiece – reviewed by Victor Grynberg
November 2, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
Giuseppe Verdi, in the judgement of many, was the greatest ever composer of operas. Read more
The Phantom of the Opera: a review by Victor Grynberg
September 14, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
A season virtually sold out before opening night was a definite indication that the local audience was expecting something special from the first Sydney Opera House staging of this mega-hit. Read more
Stacey Alleaume magnificent in classic Traviata triumph
July 8, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
If Giuseppe Verdi is indeed the greatest opera composer (which I certainly think he is ) then among his many great compositions La Traviata must surely be close to the very top…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
Madama Butterfly: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
July 3, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
Bravo Opera Australia, which once more has given us an unforgettable evening. Read more
The Phantom of the Opera: Victor Grynberg reviews the opera on the harbour
March 28, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
It’s 25 years since I first saw a production of THE PHANTOM, that time in the original production in London’s West End. Read more
The Marriage of Figaro: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
January 31, 2022 by Victor Grynberg
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is widely regarded as the third member of the greatest classical composers trio, along with Johann Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. Read more
Come from Away: a musical review by Victor Grynberg
October 28, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
It would not be accurate to describe “Come from Away” as simply a musical. Read more
Aida: Tragic love story is operatic triumph – an opera review by Victor Grynberg
June 24, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
Re-staged in Sydney for the first time since its amazing success in 2018 this digital backgrounded production of Giuseppe Verdi’s blockbuster reached even greater heights this season. Read more
Violetta dies, but La Traviata will live forever: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
March 30, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
Two of the most popular operas of all time are Giacomo Puccini’s LA BOHEME and Giuseppe Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA. Read more
Bluebeard’s Castle: Sumegi’s vocal mastery a triumph
March 2, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
Bela Bartok, the most famous of the 20th Century Hungarian composers only wrote one opera, a one-hour one-act piece with only two singers, Bluebeard and his new wife Judit…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
Tosca: Puccini’s masterpiece even better under John Bell’s direction
February 23, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
Since its premiere in Rome in 1900 at a time of political unrest, Giacomo Puccini’s opera of the Vincent Sardou French-language play “La Tosca” has been one of the most popular pieces in the whole operatic repertoire…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
The Merry Widow: an operetta review by Victor Grynberg
January 6, 2021 by Victor Grynberg
So there we were in the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House, about to see our first Opera Australia production since their magnificent production of the early Verdi masterpiece “Attila” had its season dramatically curtailed by the arrival of COVID fears 10 months ago. Read more
Faust: McVicar’s devilish take on classic opera…an opera review by Victor Grynberg
February 13, 2020 by Victor Grynberg
One of France’s greatest ever composers, Charles Gounod had an immediate hit on his hands when his opera Faust finally premiered in Paris in 1859. Read more
Don Giovanni: singers shine in Mozart masterpiece
January 27, 2020 by Victor Grynberg
Don Giovanni is the tale brought to Mozart by his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte when he was looking for a story to follow his great success with The Marriage Of Figaro writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
John Bell’s Havana colours bring extra delight To Carmen: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
January 14, 2020 by Victor Grynberg
George Bizet died tragically at only 37 years of age, after 33 mixed-reviewed performances of his Spanish-themed opera Carmen. Read more
La Boheme: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
January 5, 2020 by Victor Grynberg
A summertime favourite at the Opera House almost every year, La Boheme received that rare Sydney accolade, an almost total standing ovation after this year’s opening night. Read more
A Hakoah hero passes away..
September 10, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
Former Hakoah player and coach Gerry Chaldi passed away this week in the Montefiore Home in Sydney’s Hunters Hill on the day his daughter Alex was married in Israel where she lives. Read more
Bright young stars shine In West Side Story: a review by Victor Grynberg
August 22, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
If PORGY and BESS is the pre-eminent American Folk Opera, then certainly WEST SIDE STORY is the outstanding American Musical. Read more
Whiteley: a stunning triumph for Opera Australia
July 17, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
Victor Grynberg reviews the premiere of a new Australian opera recounting the life of the iconic artist Brett Whiteley… Read more
Madama Butterfly reaches new heights: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
June 30, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
When Opera Australia premiered their new era digital sets last year with the production of AIDA not everybody was as enthusiastic as this critic. Read more
Salome: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
March 12, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
Once banned. Still shocking. But Salome is bloody and fantastic. Read more
Werther: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
March 1, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
Suicide is painless when Massenet pulls the strings. Read more
Wozzeck: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
February 3, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
After the glorious melodies of LA BOHEME and TURANDOT Opera Australia’s latest production is Alban Berg’s atonal opera, considered today a modern opera but written almost 100 years ago in 1925. Read more
Turandot: re-working lifts opera to new heights
January 20, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
Giacomo Puccini is rightly acclaimed for so many brilliant operas, and for many of the arias and duets in his less successful works. Read more
New stars create another success for the world’s favourite opera
January 6, 2019 by Victor Grynberg
There will always be carping critics complaining about Opera Australia repeating once more the world’s most played 0pera, Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece “La Boheme”…writes Victor Grynberg. Read more
