On Nov. 28, 2022, Melos International will present a special event in honor of iconic opera star Maria Callas. The showcase, which will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, will be hosted by Victoriana Abate and Antonella Salvucci, who will read letters and poems by Pier Paolo Pasolini that he dedicated to Callas. Audiences will see {…}
Soprano Katia Ricciarelli is weighing in on Plácido Domingo’s controversial performances at the Arena di Verona. The soprano, who performed with Domingo for many years told Corriere della Sera, “It’s a physiological question. The vocal cords are muscles that, with age, no longer work as they once did. This is the reason why I no longer do opera: I don’t {…}
(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 {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced its alternative 2020 Summer Festival entitled “In the Heart of Music.” The season opens with a concert entitled “Il cuore italiano della Musica” featuring soloists Eleonora Buratto, Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi, Rosa Feola, Barbara Frittoli, Maria José Siri, Daniela Barcellona, Annamaria Chiuri, Veronica Simeoni, Annalisa Stroppa, Fabio Armiliato, Roberto Aronica, Francesco Meli, Saimir Pirgu, Fabio {…}
Melos International will present the Callas Tribute Prize NY on Nov. 25, 2019. The event, which will take place at Columbia Unviersity’s historic Italian Academy, will feature global dignitaries, prize recipients, and renowned performers. The date was specifically chosen to honor Callas on “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.” Among the Awards Recipients will be famed soprano {…}
The Teatro Verdi Trieste has announced its 2019-20 season featuring a number of new productions. The season opens with Puccini’s “Turandot” starring Mlada Khudoley, Marcelo Puente, Desirée Rancatore, and Andrea Comelli. Nikša Bareza conducts the production by legendary soprano Katia Ricciarelli. Performance Dates: Nov. 29-Dec. 8, 2019 Fabrizio Maria Carminati conducts Katia Ricciarelli’s production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The opera will star Anna Litvinova, Gianluca Terranova, Anastasia Boldyreva, and Andrea Borghini. {…}
The story of soprano Katia Ricciarelli is one of rags to riches. Born on Jan. 16, 1946, the Italian soprano grew up with a poor family, working during her time as a student at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice. Upon graduation, she kickstarted her career as Mimì in “La Bohème” in Mantua and from there she had a major {…}
When Verdi’s “Luisa Miller” hits the stage on Thursday, March 29, it will be the first time the opera is staged with the company in exactly 12 years. The cast will include Plácido Domingo and Piotr Beczala among the male leads, but will also showcase the third major work headlined by Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva at the Met in 2017-18. {…}
There is a perception that if you don’t sing an E flat at the end of the mad scene in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” you don’t have the voice for Donizetti’s virtuoso singing. But this is a false tradition that has been implanted in opera lover’s minds for too long. I once witnessed an important diva who sang a performance of Lucia {…}
On Jan. 16 two of opera’s legendary sopranos will celebrate their birthdays. Pilar Lorenagr, who died in 1996 and Kata Ricciarelli. Both sopranos were recognized for their versatility and immense repertoire. While Ricciarelli focused on the Bel Canto and lyric repertoire, Lorengar delved into Mozart’s demanding works and sang multiple Wagner repertoire. She was also an expert in Zarzuela. As {…}
Renato Bruson is one of the famous Verdi baritones of all time. His rotund sound had such tremendous range that allowed him to tackle all of the composer’s major roles, almost all to resounding success. He also had such a fantastic technical mastery of his voice that, despite being born on Jan. 13, 1936, he could still be heard singing {…}