Reviews
World class productions by PORTopera have generated high acclaim from national publications, including Opera News, the leading magazine devoted to all things Opera. Please take a moment to peruse the reviews below, or use the links at right to read about other happenings at PORTopera.
Opera News Praises PORTopera’s
production of Madama Butterfly
Opera News once again has high praise for PORTopera. The 2012 production of Madama Butterfly marked our eighteenth season, and their positive review had this to say:
“PORTopera's artistic director Dona D. Vaughn elicited from her talented cast striking and nuanced performances rooted in the reality of each character’s emotional life . . .
Review: 'Madama Butterfly' production soars
I have attended many of the productions staged at Merrill Auditorium by PORTopera, and this year’s “Madama Butterfly” stands out as one of the finest.
Wednesday night’s performance appeared to be entirely sold out, but good balcony seats are still available for today and should go fast . . .
Opera News Praises PORTopera’s
production of The Daughter of the Regiment
Joining the chorus of “Bravos” for PORTopera’s production of the Donizetti opera this past July is perhaps the most prestigious publication in the opera world, “Opera News.” A full review by Judith Malafronte appeared in the November issue . . .
Maine soprano delights in 'La Fille du Regiment'
PORTopera has done it again -- presented a well-known opera that is staged, directed and sung at the highest professional level. In the case of Thursday night's performance of Donizetti's "La Fille du Regiment" at Merrill Auditorium, it was also thoroughly enjoyable . . .
PORTopera's Glorious Hansel & Gretel
In the world of opera Humperdinck’s “Hansel und Gretel” stands pretty much by itself as a tale that can reach, teach, inspire and be understood by everyone from innocent children to grown ups who have seen it all . . .
Review: PORTopera vocalists succeed in difficult roles
PORTopera's Young Artists Program, which opened its six-performance series Friday night at USM's Hannaford Auditorium, is a double-bill of vocal virtuosity by Mozart and Donizetti, well costumed and professionally sung by some already accomplished young artists . . .
PORTopera's Roméo et Juliette was a successful addition to this company's growing list of strongly cast, musically rich productions. Artistic director Dona D. Vaughn, who has a knack for getting convincing performances . . .
'Roméo et Juliette' superb world-class performance
Dona Vaughn has done it again. PORTopera's production of Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" at Merrill Auditorium on Thursday would have been worthy of any world capital . . .
'Too Many Sopranos' hits the high notes
Really good parody has to be as close as possible to the subject being lampooned. That was certainly true of Friday night's premiere performance by Maine's Emerging Artists of “Too Many Sopranos” at the Portland Museum of Art . . .
Musical and dramatic clarity came together perfectly in PortOpera's production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia (July 29) in Portland, Maine's Merrill Auditorium. Giovanni Reggioli led a finely nuanced reading of the overture, using dynamic contrasts and variety of attack to impart a fresh, spontaneous feel to the familiar work . . .
