This week, the Houston Grand Opera is set to revive Javier Martínez and Leonard Foglia’s “El Milagro del Recuerdo,” celebrating the holiday season. It’s a work that world premiered in 2019 to critical acclaim and sold-out shows. For this revival, the production will see the return of some of the original cast members including Cecilia Duarte. Duarte originated the role {…}
This month the Metropolitan Opera celebrates the holiday season with three productions opening. So we will continue our series that introduces newcomers to opera through film. Opera can be daunting and while some works are more well-known than others, those that have never been to the opera, don’t have the same connection to certain works as traditional operagoers do. This {…}
After two years of lockdowns, cancelations, and COVID, 2022 seemed like it would be an easier year. But alas it wasn’t as the world was struck with a war, human rights violations that were met with worldwide protests, and governments that threatened to rewind time and take away rights. There were also major cuts in funding for opera that has {…}
This week, the Donizetti Opera Festival opens its 2022 season featuring three operas including “Chiara e Serafina,” a rarely performed work and one that flopped at its premiere in 1822. However, for its 200th anniversary the Donizetti is bringing the work back with a young cast and veteran buffo bass-baritone Pietro Spagnoli. For the past years, Spagnoli has been in {…}
Censorship. Repression. Scorn. Brutality. Humor. Absurdity. Hysteria. Russia’s relationship with self-expression has been a fraught one throughout its tumultuous history. Full of danger and hardship, with no guarantee that your vision will be seen, respected, or even tolerated unless it is confined to authorized narratives, music has always been that one art form whose voice is hard to control and {…}
A week ago Serena Sáenz made headlines when she won second place at the Operalia Competition. Following numerous other competitions over the years, the soprano finally had her major breakout and is likely set for a major career. That career will get a significant boost this week when she makes her Wiener Staatsoper debut in a production of “Ariadne auf {…}
Russell Thomas is one of today’s great Verdi tenors. He has performed all over the world in some of the composer’s most difficult roles, garnering great acclaim. This week he returns to the Metropolitan Opera for his first headliner. Thomas made his debut at the Met in 2005 as the Heralder in “Don Carlo” and has since performed supporting roles {…}
On October 28th in 1896, the American composer and musical polyglot Howard Hanson was born. Originating from Wahoo, Nebraska, and born to an exceedingly musical family, it seems his life was predestined for musical excellence. As a champion of American classical music, he worked tirelessly to foster interest in classical music. After having had prestigious musical training first at Institute {…}
On Oct. 28, the Teatro Carlo Felice will make history with the first Italian production of Berlioz’s “Beatrice et Benedict.” The opera, which had its world in 1862, has been performed all over the world by many great interpreters. For this upcoming production, the Genoa theater has brought together a cast of important artists including Julien Behr. Behr is a {…}
