As part of this week’s CD / DVD releases, audiences will get an early Christmas, solo albums, a world premiere recording, and a classic recording. Here is a look at what audiences can watch or listen to this week. Anima Aeterna Countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński brings his latest album to Erato, showcasing an adventurous album of sacred arias and motets {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 69th straight week of streams. Per a press release, this week’s streams, which will be dedicated to the operas of Richard Strauss, will include several first-time broadcasts. Here is a breakdown of the schedule. Week 69 – Strauss Week Monday, July 5 – Strauss’s “Der Rosenkavalier” Starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Tatiana Troyanos, Judith Blegen, Luciano Pavarotti, Derek Hammond-Stroud, and Kurt {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 21st week of its nightly streams. This week’s slates will feature a number of notable artists as well as performances dating between 1992 through 2020. Monday, August 3 – Mozart’s The Magic Flute Starring Ying Huang, Erika Miklósa, Matthew Polenzani, Nathan Gunn, and René Pape, conducted by James Levine. From December 30, 2006. Tuesday, August {…}
Kiri Te Kanawa is arguably the most renowned artist to come out of New Zealand in the opera world. Born on March 6, 1944, the soprano was born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron but was adopted as an infant by Thomas Te Kanawa and his wife Nell. In her teens and early 20s, she worked as a pop star and entertainer {…}
The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019 has announced that 20 outstanding classical singers from across the globe have been selected to compete in the prestigious competition. The competitors, who were chosen from a pool of 400 applicants and hail from 15 different countries, include: tenor Roman Arndt and mezzo-sopranos Karina Kherunts and Yulia Mebbibaeva from Russia; baritone Leonardo Lee {…}
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has been given the Order of the Companion of Honour by the Prince of Wales on Dec. 20, 2019. The soprano received the award alongside Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, who received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to sports. Paul Zubier was also decorated with the George medal, which was given to {…}
The Mirjam Helin Competition has announced the jury for this year’s competition. This year, the jury will be led by an all-star line up of singers including Olaf Bär, Ben Heppner, Vesselina Kasarova, François Le Roux, Waltraud Meier, Deborah Polaski, and Kiri Te Kanawa. The competition’s Executive Director Marja-Leena Pétas-Arjava said in a press release, “Once again, the Mirjam Helin Competition {…}
Baritone Simon Keenlyside was knighted in the Queen’s birthday honors list. The baritone, who is best known for his interpretations of Mozart, was among the list of classical music figures who were honored by the queen. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was made a Companion of Honour, joining the likes of conductor Sir Mark Elder and percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie in the prestigious order. Composer Thomas {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced it will broadcast a historical performance of Strauss’ “Arabella.” The company announced that on Feb. 4 at 8 p.m., the Bay Area’s Classical KDFC will broadcast a 1980 performance of “Arabella” starring soprano Kiri Te Kanawa in the title role, Barbara Daniels as Zdenka, tenor William Lewis as Matteo and baritone Ingvar Wixell as Mandryka, with German conductor Wolfgang Rennert. The performance comes {…}
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa received a lifetime achievement award from Gramophone Magazine. The award was bestowed on the singer on the same day that she announced that she was retiring from public performances and exactly 25 years since Gramophone awarded Artist of the Year to Dame Te Kanawa. That year, 1992, was a great year for the diva as she recorded {…}
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has announced her retirement from the stage. The 73-year-old soprano announced the news on BBC after having stopped performing a year ago. Her final performance was a concert in the Australian city of Ballarat last October. She noted, “Before I’d gone on, I said, right, this it. And that was the end.” During the interview, Te {…}
