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, {…}

Aug 13, 2021

Francisco Araiza to Head Jury for VIII Alfredo Kraus International Singing Contest

Mexican tenor Francisco Araiza will be the president of the jury of the VIII Alfredo Kraus International Singing Contest, which will be held from September 19 to 25, 2021. Initially, the president of jury was set to be the Italian baritone Leo Nucci, but he informed the organization of he was unable to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alfredo {…}

Apr 24, 2020

Francisco Araiza Named Chair of Vocal Studies At Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía

Francisco Araiza has been named the Chair of Vocal Studies “Alfredo Kraus” at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía Araiza will begin his tenure during the 2020-21 year and becomes the latest chair following such legends as Alfredo Kraus, Teresa Berganza, Tom Krause, and Ryland Davies. The “Alfredo Kraus” Fundación Ramón Areces was created during the 1994-1995 and has {…}

Oct 4, 2018

Artist Profile: Francisco Araiza, One of Mexico’s Greatest Tenors

Many Mexican tenors have managed successful careers in recent years. Francisco Araiza was among the most influential. Born in Mexico City on Oct. 4, 1950, Araiza was the song of a tenor and seemed well on his way to an early music education. He studied voice while studying business administration and made the switch completely under the encouragement of soprano {…}

Oct 4, 2017

5 Recordings That Show How Francisco Araiza Championed Rare Operas

Francisco Araiza, born on Oct. 4, 1950, is one of the greatest Mexican tenors of all time. He pioneered a path for many singers from Latin America, including such stars as Ramón Vargas and Javier Camarena. He had a tremendously diverse repertoire, stretching from Mozart and Rossini, all the way to Wagner, from whom he took on lead roles in {…}

Jun 18, 2017

Opera Profile: Carl Maria von Weber’s ‘Der Freischütz’

Carl Maria von Weber wrote a number of operas, but only a select few have made it into the books of posterity. Shining brightest above these is “Der Freischütz,” the opera that had such a massive effect on the young Richard Wagner. The opera had its premiere on June 18, 1821, and has had a mixed life in the repertoire. {…}

Jan 3, 2017

On This Day: 5 Essential Recordings of Donizetti’s Masterpiece ‘Don Pasquale’

On Jan.3, 1843 Donizetti’s comic masterpiece “Don Pasquale” made its premiere with immediate success. It immediately became part of the standard repertoire and a piece that was translated into French, and performed all over the world. Since its premiere the opera has been performed more than 700 times and has been recorded by many great artists. To celebrate the works {…}