(Photo credit: Claudia Greco) Opera singers, for the most part, seem to take on certain characteristics of the role they are portraying. But the French mezzo-soprano, Virginie Verrez, does not just portray the role—she becomes it. No matter what she is singing, Verrez enchants the listener and has the gift of taking one at once into her world which she {…}
(Photo: Christopher Wallace) In 2021, OperaWire reviewed a splendid concert presentation of Handel’s “Ariodante” at the Göttingen Handel Festival. With a strong cast, which included star names such as Marie Lys and Emily Fons. Quality performances were certainly expected, and they did not disappoint. However, it was soprano Rachel Redmond, whom I had previously never heard sing, in the role {…}
(© Photo: Ben Wolf) Chilean-American tenor Jonathan Tetelman released his second Deutsche Grammophon album “The Great Puccini,” and made his Metropolitan Opera debut just over six months apart. He spoke with OperaWire about his recent success and the power of Puccini. Tetelman made his Met debut in the role of Ruggero in “La Rondine,” and will be returning as Pinkerton {…}
Japanese soprano Eri Nakamura is in the prime of her career. The soprano, who has become a go-to interpreter of Cio-Cio San around the world, first came into prominence as a member of Jette Parker Young Artist Program. During that time, she stepped in for Anna Netrebko in “I Capuleti e i Montecchi,” a moment that she describes as one {…}
Photo:Henrich Mišovič It is the morning of the premiere of The Slovak National Theater Opera’s new production of Smetana’s opera “The Kiss,” a rarely performed work in western Europe but one that receives regular presentations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. To find out more about the opera and the production, we met up for an interview with soprano Mária {…}
(Photo: Edmond Choo) Armenian tenor Liparit Avetisyan made his European debut in the autumn of 2016 as Fenton in a new production of “Falstaff” at the Cologne Opera and has since been acknowledged as one of the most exciting lyric tenors of his generation. After his debut in Cologne, other international debuts followed in rapid succession at such leading theatres {…}
Italian soprano Roberta Mameli recently finished a run of performances in the title role of Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea,” a part which lies close to her heart. OperaWire met up with her for a short chat to find out more about the person behind the voice. OperaWire: What was the first opera you saw? Roberta Mameli: I was seven or {…}
Having seen soprano Jana Šrejma Kačirková’s splendid performance as Ellen Orford in “Peter Grimes” at the Brno Opera, OperaWire took the opportunity to find out more about her with a short, light-hearted interview. In November, she will be performing as Rusalka in this year’s Brno Janacek festival, which OperaWire shall also be covering. OperaWire: What is the next opera you {…}
In 2015, Opera Colorado appointed its first-ever Music Director, Ari Pelto. For the last eight years, he has been widely celebrated with the company conducting a wide array of repertoire and bringing the company’s artistic powers to the fore. He has also been in demand at opera houses and concert halls throughout the United States at the Spoleto Festival, Lyric {…}
(Photo: Laurent Guizard) Soprano Roberta Mameli has a voice that immediately makes an audience sit up and take notice. The fact that she is not even more well-known than she is currently, is no doubt down to the fact that she tends to specialize in baroque and, to a lesser extent, Mozart, with only occasional forays into other repertoire. Hers {…}
The French baritone Ludovic Tézier has performed worldwide at the most notorious opera houses like the Met, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Wiener Staatsoper. He also appears in many opera CDs and DVDs. He is one of the most renowned and in-demand baritones sing today. OperaWire spoke with Teezier during a run of performances of a new production of Verdi’s {…}