(Credit: Cory Weaver/Metropolitan Opera) On Oct. 25, 2019 Puccini’s “La Bohème” will open at the Metropolitan Opera reviving Franco Zeffirelli’s classic production. The Mimì’s This season the production will feature three acclaimed Mimì interpreters who have performed the role throughout their Met careers. Ailyn Pérez will open the production in a role she has been hailed for. OperaWire stated, “Pérez’s Mimì {…}
(Photo Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) On October 20, 2019, the Metropolitan Opera premiered this season’s production of Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice.” Mark Morris’ production gave the classic work a staging that, while at times veering towards the abstract, remained consistent to its artistic vision and true to its source material. One detail, downplayed but very present, were the {…}
Hei-Kyung Hong, born on July 4, 1959, has built up a fascinating career that has resulted in a long-lasting association with the Metropolitan Opera. The South Korean soprano kicked off her studies at the Yea Won Music School in Seoul but wound up heading to the United States at the age of 15 to study at the Juilliard School of {…}
The North Carolina Opera’s 2018-19 season has been announced, featuring three operas and one recital. The season will showcase many rising stars and some of today’s biggest international artists. The season with a concert performance of Bellini’s “Norma” in a concert performance. Leah Crocetto sings the title role alongside Elizabeth DeShong and Chad Shelton. Anthony Walker conducts the performance at {…}
It’s always fun to receive awards. And all five of the major honorees of the OPERA NEWS Awards were beaming on Sunday afternoon, April 23, 2018, during the gala event at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. For the past 13 years, the famed opera magazine has given out accolades to five opera powerhouses. “We always look at a {…}
OPERA NEWS Editor in Chief F. Paul Driscoll has announced the 13th Annual OPERA NEWS Awards. The magazine has announced that this year’s honorees will be conductor William Christie, mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto, tenor Vittorio Grigolo, soprano Hei-Kyung Hong, and soprano Sonya Yoncheva. The honorees will be celebrated in a black-tie gala celebration on April 22nd, 2018 at the Plaza Hotel {…}
May is Asian Heritage Month in the United States and in honor of cultural diversity, OperaWire will look at honoring the Asian opera stars making major headlines at this very moment. Yonghoon Lee There are few tenors at this moment who can truly dominate the spinto tenor repertoire like Yonghoon Lee does. The South Korean tenor has established himself as {…}
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 {…}