Anita Rachvelishvili, Piotr Beczała, Isabel Leonard, Juan Diego Flórez, Luca Pisaroni Headline Wiener Staatsoper Streaming Slate

(Credits: David Agassi / Johannes Ifkovits / Deniz Saylan / Sony Classical / Wiener Staatsoper official website) Wiener Staatsoper has announced the next slate of operas that it will be presenting on its streaming platform over the next week. First up is Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” with Mariusz Kwiecien, Erwin Schrott, Marina Rebeka, Juliane Banse, and Benjamin Bruns. Ádám Fischer conducts {…}

Jan 23, 2021

Opera Quiz: How Well Do You Know Bellini’s ‘I Puritani?’

Bellini’s “I Puritani” had its world premiere back on Jan. 24, 1835. From there it was a massive hit and then disappeared for quite some time, only to be revived in the middle of the 20th century. Today, the opera remains one of the great works of the standard bel canto repertory, beloved for its vast and endless melodic invention. {…}

Jan 22, 2021

Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Giulio Pelligra & Alexandros Stavrakakis Lead Teatro Massimo di Palermo Online Concert

(Credits: Salzburger Festspiele official website / Allegorica Opera Management official website / Askonas Holt official website) The Teatro Massimo di Palermo will livestream its concert on Jan. 31, 2021. Mezzosoprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, tenor Giulio Pelligra and bass Alexandros Stavrakakis will perform a program that includes Sergej Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D major op. 25, and Igor Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella.” Gabriele {…}

Jan 20, 2021

Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, Aleksandra Kurzak Headline Opernhaus Zürich Streams Throughout January & February

(Images source: MEZZO TV website) Opernhaus Zürich will broadcast three operas on MEZZO TV throughout January and February 2021. First up will be Bellini’s operatic jewel “I Capuleti e i Montecchi” featuring Joyce DiDonato in the role of Romeo, Olga Kulchynska as Giulietta, Benjamin Bernheim in the role of Tebaldo, Alexei Botnarciuc as Capellio, and Erik Anstine as Lorenzo. Opernhaus {…}

Jan 15, 2021

Lisette Oropesa Leads Series of ABAO Bilbao Ópera Concerts

(Credit: Jason Homa) The ABAO Bilbao Ópera has announced that it will present a series of concerts, with the first taking place in February 2021. Between February and May 2021, six recitals will be held in collaboration with different institutions in Bilbao, such as the Euskaduna Palace or the Bilbao Philharmonic Society. Famed soprano Lisette Oropesa will open the series {…}

Dec 29, 2020

Obituary: Tenor Angelo Mori Dies at 86

Famed Italian tenor Angelo Mori has died at the age of 86. Mori studied at the Scuola di Teatro La Fenice. He made his operatic debut in 1962 in the role of Duca di Mantua in Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” His vast repertory included roles of Don José in Bizet’s “Carmen,” Don Alvaro in Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” Radames in “Aida,” {…}

Dec 24, 2020

Tenor Celso Albelo To Perform At New Year Concert With Orquesta Sinfónica de Las Palmas

(Credit: Gran Teatre del Liceu official website) Tenor Celso Albelo will be performing the New Years concert with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Las Palmas. Due to COVID-19 measures in Spain, a total of four performances will be offered on Dec. 26, 27, and 28 2020, with two concerts on Dec. 27. Albelo will be joined on stage by singers Patricia {…}

Nov 13, 2020

Will Liverman, Ana María Martinez, René Barbera, Mario Rojas, David Portillo Headline New Productions by Lyric Opera of Chicago for 2020-21

The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced additional productions for its 2020-21 season. In addition to its “Twilight: Gods” the company will present “Pasión Latina,” a free concert featuring such renowned artists as Ana María Martínez, René Barbera, David Portillo, Mario Rojas, Richard Ollarsaba, Denis Vélez, and Ricardo José Rivera. The performance will feature music from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, {…}

Nov 9, 2020

Word Search: Complete the Title of that Bellini Opera

For this week’s word search, we turn to the operas of Bellini. 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 it horizontal to maximize get {…}

Nov 6, 2020

Q & A: John Osborn on ‘I Puritani,’ Hopes & Fears In COVID-19 World

(Credit: Matilde Fasso) ***Note – this interview was conducted many weeks prior to the recent regulations imposed throughout Spain that have effectively forced many theaters, including the Ópera de Oviedo, to alter their schedules. Over the course of his 27-year career, American Tenor John Osborn has been distinguished as one of the top bel canto tenors in the world. With {…}

Nov 5, 2020

Opera Meets Film: How a Bellini Aria Foreshadows Tragedy in Luchino Visconti’s ‘La Terra Trema’

“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a film section or a film in its entirety and highlight 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 Visconti’s {…}