Soprano Catherine Malfitano has confirmed that Matthew Epstein is still alive. The soprano took to social media and said, “I’d like to clarify Matthew’s current situation, as there has been a lot of misinformation circulating. He is alive but unconscious in the hospital undergoing testing, His vitals are stable but his prognosis is unknown. I will write here again when {…}
(Credits: Maria José Siri official website / Chris Gloag / Zoe Cura / Georg List) Italian television channel Rai5 has announced broadcasts for the week of Feb. 14 – Feb. 20, 2021. The opera broadcasts will be dedicated to composer Giacomo Puccini. The stream on Feb. 14 will be dedicated to late soprano Mirella Freni. OPERAS The broadcast of Niccolò {…}
(Photo Credit / Source: Magdalena Kozena Facebook / Kamil Szkopik / Warner Classic) The Festival d’Aix-en-Provence has announced a revamped approach to its 202 Festival which is set to take place online due to the continued impact of COVID-19. For 10 days, audience members will get the opportunity to engage with four distinct events which will be accessible via Arte {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to open “Manon” on Sept. 24, 2019. The work has been featured over 270 times in its history and remains a major staple of the standard repertory The main draw in the opera is the title role, one of the most challenging in all of opera, requiring not only a vocal master, but a strong {…}
(Credit: Festival d’Aix en Provence) On July 9, 2019, Mezzo TV is set to present Puccini’s “Tosca’ from the Festival D’Aix-En-Provence. The new production by Christophe Honore is set to star Angel Blue in the title role and her role debut and Catherine Malfitano as La Prima Donna. The cast is rounded out by Joseph Calleja as Cavaradossi and Alexey {…}
The Opéra de Lyon has announced its 2019-20 season featuring some of the greatest stars in the world and a number of new productions of some of the great masterworks in the world. Nicola Alaimo takes on Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell” with Daniele Rustioni conducting a production by Tobia Kratzer. The cast also includes Enkeledja Shkoza, Jennifer Courcier, John Osborn, Jean Teitgen, and Jane Archibald. Performance {…}
Catherine Malfitano is that rare career where the star soprano also becomes a prominent director. The New York native was born on April 18, 1948, to a violinist and a ballet dancer. In such a circumstance it is no surprise that Malfitano would have some sort of career in the arts. And sure enough, her early upbringing cemented that. She {…}
“Madama Butterfly” is one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire, which makes it no surprise that the Metropolitan Opera will bring back the work for its 2017-18 season. This year’s run kicks off on Nov. 2, 2017 and will be showcased six times in the fall before returning on Feb. 22 for another six performances. In the {…}
Gounod’s beloved “Romeo Juliette” returns to the Met on New Years Eve with a star cast that includes two singers that had electric chemistry in another great French work a few years ago. The Performers Diana Damrau and Vittorio were a dynamic duo when they took the stage for Massenet’s “Manon” back in March 2015. Their chemistry was revered by {…}
On Dec. 31 Diana Damrau will make her role debut as Juliette in Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” in a special New Year’s Eve gala at the Metropolitan Opera. The occasion will also mark the premiere of Bartlett Sher’s acclaimed staging from the Salzburg Festival. With such a momentous occasion Operawire takes a look at past Juliettes who have graced the {…}