Renée Fleming, Amitai Pati & Ekaterina Bakanova Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week, one of the biggest divas releases a highly anticipated album. There is also a world premiere recording and a re-release of a classic recording. Psyché Château Versailles Spectacles will release Jean-Baptiste Lully’s work featuring a cast that includes Ambroisine Bré, Déborah Cachet, Bénédicte Tauran, Cyril Auvity, Eugénie Lefebvre, Robert Getchell, Zachary Wilder, Fabien Hyon, Philippe Estèphe, Anas Séguin, Matthieu Heim, {…}

Apr 25, 2021

Obituary: Famed Mezzo-Soprano Christa Ludwig Dies at 93

(Credit: © Willy Saeger) Famed dramatic mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig has passed away at the age of 93. Ludwig was born in Berlin in a musical family. She made her operatic debut right after WWII in 1946 in Johan Strauss’ operetta “Die Fledermaus” at the Oper Frankfurt. She became a member of the ensemble of the Staatstheater Darmstadt in 1952. In {…}

Aug 21, 2020

The Cleveland Orchestra Launches Third Edition of Classics Concerts

(Credit: Jennifer Taylor) On Thursday, August 20, 2020, The Cleveland Orchestra launched its third collection of full-length concerts on TCO Classics, showcasing some of the orchestra’s most memorable performances across its first half-century at the Blossom Music Center. The collection spotlights performances by Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, clarinetist Benny Goodman, pianist Van Cliburn, violinist Itzhak Perlman, soprano Roberta Peters, and {…}

Jun 29, 2020

Jonas Kaufmann, Karita Mattila, Jessye Norman, Hildegard Behrens Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week

While theaters are opening, more and more American opera companies are committing to the online presentation. So there is no doubt that there will be plenty of streaming options for the foreseeable future. And we will be here to spotlight 10 operas every week. But as we have done over the past few weeks, do not forget to check out {…}

Jun 25, 2020

Beverly Sills, Jessye Norman Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Week 16 of Metropolitan Opera’s Nightly Streams

The Metropolitan Opera has announced week 16 of its Nightly Streams. This coming week’s streams feature a wide range of options including a showcase starring Beverly Sills, Shostakovich opera, a classic Ring performance, some Bel Canto magic, and a historic performance from the 2018-19 season. Monday, June 29 – Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment Conducted by Enrique Mazzola; starring Pretty Yende, Stephanie {…}

Mar 21, 2020

Opera Quiz: Who Was it – Teresa Berganza or Christa Ludwig?

Mezzo-sopranos Teresa Berganza and Christa Ludwig shared a great deal in common. In addition to both being born on March 16, albeit of different years, they both practically made all their major debuts as Cherubino (Met Opera debuts, Vienna State Opera debuts). So in celebration of these two historic singers, here is a short little quiz, a lightning round if {…}

Mar 16, 2019

Artist Profile: Mezzo Christa Ludwig, A German Superstar

Christa Ludwig is one of the German mezzo-sopranos of all time. Born on March 16, 1928 in Berlin, Ludwig had music all around her from a young age. Her father was a tenor and her mother was a mezzo who was performing under Herbert Von Karajan at the Aachen Opera; she proved to be the young Christa’s first voice teacher. {…}

Mar 16, 2017

The Operas That Christa Ludwig & Teresa Berganza Sang in Common

On the surface, Christa Ludwig and Teresa Berganza have nothing in common, aside from the fact that they were born on the same day, March 16, and were two of the greatest mezzo-sopranos in history. But their repertoire was wildly different. Ludwig was best known for her native German repertoire while the Spaniard, Berganza, was famous for her work in {…}

Mar 15, 2017

Christa Ludwig’s 5 Controversial Statements During Interview With Swiss Publication

Christa Ludwig is one of the greatest artists of all-time. She made her mark in the German repertoire laying claim to numerous roles in Strauss and Wagner operas. The soon-to-be 89-year-old recently had an interview with Swiss Publication NZZ on Sunday, giving her insight on a number of opera topics. You will surely find some unique and potentially controversial thoughts {…}

Dec 16, 2016

The Major Interpreters & Recordings of Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’

Ludwig Van Beethoven turned 246 on Friday, Dec. 16. Upon his death in 1827, the composer left behind veritable masterpieces of classical music. His most famous works are his nine symphonies, his piano sonatas and concertos and his string quartets. There was also one opera, “Fidelio.” The composer is said to have struggled to create this singular work, creating three {…}

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