In opera as in the grocery store there are the strange fruit (ugli, figli, migli). Usually they will sit in your fruit bowl and look comfortably exotic. Sometimes visiting children will play with them. And occasionally they will get eaten, almost always with surprising pleasure. Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra is such a fruit, and Opera de [...]

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra is many things under Kent Nagano, but its repertoire is never less than varied. Tuesday’s concert was an enjoyable example of the rewards and pitfalls of his taste. It started promisingly, wallowed for an hour and then flew up, up and into the eaves to do wonderful things.

KENT NAGANO HAS BEEN Musical Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for over a year—time enough to ask, where has he taken us? In terms of programming, last week’s concert could stand for many of that year: super-standards mixed with shorter works, and the occasional grenade. Nagano certainly understands the necessity of throwing pineapples; with [...]