BEL CANTO

Vanities/Style

Break out the cough drops and flick open the lorgnettes—the opera is getting a refresh

The 19th-century boom of classics, frpm Verdi's Otello to Puccini's La Boheme, may be known as the art form's golden age, but opera's are having a modern moment. Hot off a summer that debuted Fire Shut Up in My Bones (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis), adapted from Charles Blow's memoir about growing up ini segregated Louisiana), and the queer epic Stonewall (New York City Opera), the upcoming season include,s world premieres of Denis & Katya, based on the social-media-centric, story of two Russlan teen runaways (Opera Philadelphia), and TheLost Thing, featuring a cast with varying physical abilities (London's Royal Opera). Of course, the classics still wield political relevance. The Marriage of Figaro is an opera buffa about overthrowing the upper classes. Verdi inspired rebellion. Beethoven's Fideio celebrates human right?. So make like it's; 1877. Phone off. Curtain up.

KEZIAH WEIR

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