For this week’s Word Search we turn to the roles of the iconic tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano. Instructions: You are free to solve the word search directly on your mobile or desktop device; just click the first and last letter of each word for it to appear on the screen. For those using a mobile device, we highly recommend turning {…}
Anthony Davis is one of the most important opera composers working today. Often called the “Dean of African-American opera composers,” he has created a number of major operas, including a Pulitzer Prize winner. So for this week’s edition of the opera quiz, we take a look at the composer’s legendary career, with a special emphasis on his operatic output. As {…}
(Credit: Louis Melancon / Metropolitan Opera) A version of this piece was published in a 1998 edition of SF Weekly. Being a Super (Supernumerary), a fancy word for “Extra” at the San Francisco Opera had been a habit of mine many years ago. Nightly rehearsals from June through August, and performances September through November, only encouraged me to juggle my {…}
With festival season in full swing in Europe and experimentation a key to this year’s programs, the Festival Valle di Itria in Martina Franca is scheduled to open a new production of the Italian version of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The production will be headed by an all-star cast that includes the world-renown coloratura soprano, Jessica Pratt. Pratt will {…}
Scott Joplin was renowned in his time as the father of Ragtime. But after his death, his music was largely forgotten for decades. Eventually, a revival would come forth, returning the composer to his place amongst one of the great American composers. And yet, there are still many unfamiliar with his output, especially in the realm of opera. So this {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features “Diamantino.” A Cristiano {…}
Twenty-two years ago, the opera world was presented with “Patience and Sarah.” The work would become a major milestone for LGBTQIA+ representation in the opera world. In honor of that world premiere, here is a quiz that takes a look at “Patience and Sarah.” As always, enjoy!
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Luchino Visconti’s “Senso.” {…}
(Credit: Marco Borrelli) Back in March at the height of the Pandemic, OperaWire stopped writing Artist of the Week profiles as every opera house was shut down. Now with theaters reopening in Europe, OperaWire will resume its Artist of the Week series highlighting one artist a week. This week marks the reopening of the Teatro alla Scala nearly four months {…}
