Union Avenue Opera

UAO’s Beautifully Sung ‘Samson et Dalila’ Struggles to Cohere

By CB Adams There is a particular sadness when the pieces of an opera production, many of them individually accomplished, never quite cohere. Union Avenue... Details

Union Avenue Opera’s ‘L’elisir d’amore’ Finds the Real Magic

By CB Adams Gaetano Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" ("The Elixir of Love") has delighted audiences for nearly two centuries. Union Avenue Opera's current production, directed by... Details

Union Avenue Opera Finds the Operatic Voice of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

By CB Adams Union Avenue Opera's "Fiddler on the Roof" returns to the artistic conversation from which the musical emerged. Stage director Kasey Cox reunites... Details

Union Avenue Opera’s One-Act Fest Finds Big Truths in Small Forms

By CB Adams Union Avenue Opera’s inaugural One-Act Festival is intimate in scale and ambitious in reach, a chamber-sized gesture that embraces the big questions... Details

Union Avenue Opera’s ‘Salome’ Delivers Power and Uneven Spectacle

By CB AdamsIt is a rare pleasure to encounter "Salome," Richard Strauss’s 1905 masterpiece (after Oscar Wilde’s scandalous play), on a St. Louis stage. Union... Details

A Classic Reimagined: Union Avenue Opera’s Vocally Rich ‘My Fair Lady’

Chas Adams
July 7, 2025
10 min read

By CB Adams Once considered the sacred domain of soaring arias and tragic finales, the modern opera house has become an increasingly hospitable venue for... Details

The Beauty of Union Avenue Opera’s ‘Into the Woods’ Is No Fairytale

By CB AdamsUnion Avenue Opera’s production of “Into The Woods,” stage directed by Jennifer Wintzer, is a rich tapestry. From the set design through the... Details

Union Avenue Opera’s Pared Down ‘Aida’ Soars on Vocal Performances

By CB Adams Union Avenue Opera’s concert version of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” seems to have taken its cue from George Bernard Shaw when he wrote:... Details

Union Avenue Opera’s ‘Carmen’ Delivers Compelling Moments Tempered by Contemporary Issues

Chas Adams
July 8, 2024
11 min read

By CB Adams Poor Carmen. As the protagonist in George Bizet’s 1875 opera, she’s sometimes reduced to being the poster person for critical analysis of... Details

Union Avenue Opera’s ‘Don Pasquale’ Is a Frothy, Summery Treat

By CB Adams As if to serve as a counterpoint to Union Avenue Opera’s (UAO) festival-opening but decidedly heavy “Turn Of the Screw,” the company... Details