Elly Kace was in Italy as the pandemic began ripping through the country’s population. She was there to improve her craft as a classical vocalist, taking lessons, and the beauty of her surroundings. When things became dire, she had to leave. People were dying in horrific numbers and lockdowns were closing nations’ borders. Her social media posts’ emotional honesty revealed {…}
Ah Young Hong, is a soprano who has collaborated with composer Michael Hersch on numerous pieces. She is a globally recognized concert and chamber soloist, and has collaborated with top-notch artists like violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and renowned orchestras such as the BBC Symphony. In the world of opera, she made waves with her New York premiere of Michael Hersch’s “On {…}
There’s no secret that when opera becomes a point of mainstream conversation, there is a perception of the art form and its industry as being insular. Even elitist. It’s a mindset and bias that the industry itself has sought to course correct in recent years with independent opera companies working to create more inclusive works by a diverse array of {…}
Back in 2016, Kirsten C. Kunkle and Sarah Van Sciver worked together for the first time. Kunkle performed as part of The Philadelphia Opera’s Collective, appearing in Van Sciver’s “Shadow House.” However, they never met in person. In fact, their only communication was via social media. But yet, they had a lasting impact on one another that would develop into {…}
(Credit: Daniel Welch) Baritone Johnathan McCullough is no stranger to being a versatile singer. He is a singer who has performed at many of the world’s great stages including Opera Philadelphia, Komische Oper Berlin, English National Opera, Opéra de Lausanne, Portland Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, among others. He is also a director whose “Soldier Songs” {…}
(Photo: Olivia Da Costa) One of Ireland’s most exciting young singing talents is Dublin-born soprano Ava Dodd. At only 25, she already has an impressive biography. Not only has she appeared on the stage in a variety of roles, including Oscar from Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera,” the Waldvögelein from Wagner’s “Siegfried” and Perdita from Goldmark’s “Ein Wintermärchen,” in venues {…}
Lili Elbe’s story is an important one, especially for the Transgender community. Born in 1882, Elbe became a noted painter (known as Einar Wegener) and married Gerda Gottlieb in 1904. By the 1920s, Elbe was presenting herself as a woman and took on the name of Lili and stopped painting. In 1930, she went to Germany for gender-affirmation surgery, changed {…}
(Photo: Maria Rosenblatt) With the start of the Wexford Festival Opera now only a matter of days away, OperaWire has been busy with recent interviews featuring some of the artists involved. One of the more intriguing productions at this year’s festival is “La Ciociara,” set in Italy during the Second World War. Having just interviewed its composer, we thought it {…}
One of the headline operas for this year’s Wexford Festival Opera is Marco Tutino’s 2015 work “La Ciociara,” written for San Francisco Opera. The opera is based on Alberto Moravia’s 1957 novel, which was later turned into a film directed by Vittorio De Sica and starring Sophia Loren, for which she won an Oscar for best actress. The film now {…}
