Delaware Valley Opera Company 2023 Review: The Stronger, Cavalleria Rusticana, and I Pagliacci

Credit: Julie Smith Delaware Valley Opera Company (DVOC) presented a unique triple-bill on August 13, 2023, which included the Philadelphia debut of Misha Dutka’s “The Stronger.” This was accompanied by Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci.” The operas were performed at the Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center in Philadelphia. It’s no small job to showcase three operas {…}

Feb 10, 2021

Elena Sancho Pereg, Xavier Sabata & Manel Esteve Headline ‘Carmina Burana’ at Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España

(Credit: Studioline Photography / Xavier Sabata official website / Ascolta Artists official website) The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced that it will perform a version of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” for two pianos and the percussion on Feb. 12-14, 2021. The showcase will be presented by the Coro Nacional, and the percussion section of the Orquesta Nacional {…}

Jan 16, 2021

Obituary: Elijah Moshinsky Dies at 75

(Credit: Opera Australia official website) Celebrated Australian opera director Elijah Moshinsky has died at the age of 75. Moshinsky graduated from the University of Melbourne and made his operatic debut in 1975 at the Royal Opera House with a production of Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes.” The famed director went on to stage a number of highly successful productions at the {…}

Oct 30, 2020

Obituary: Conductor Alexander Vedernikov Dies at 56

(Credit: Marco Borggreve) Famed Russian conductor Alexander Vedernikov has died at the age of 56, after having been diagnosed with COVID-19. Vedernikov died on Friday, Oct. 30 after being put on a ventilator for few days following the diagnosis. Born in Moscow, Vedernikov was the son of the bass Alexander Filipovich Vedernikov and Natalia Nikolaevna Gureeva. The conductor went on {…}

Oct 24, 2020

Q & A: Atlanta Opera Artistic & General Manager Tomer Zvulun on the Courage & Imagination of Making Opera into a Circus

The Atlanta Opera (TAO) website greets visitors with an invitation: “JOIN US AT THE BIG TENT!” Cool. The company’s staging its 2021 productions in an enormous tent. But wait a minute; is that a circus tent? Yes, it is, and unlike the Met’s new-ish production of “Così fan tutte” in which the circus entered the opera house, The Atlanta Opera’s {…}

Oct 9, 2020

Anna Netrebko to Perform at Philharmonie de Paris

(Credit: © Dario Acosta) Soprano Anna Netrebko will perform a double recital at the Philharmonie de Paris on Nov. 11, 2020. The soprano will give the first recital at 5:00 p.m CET, and the second one will follow at 8:30 p.m. at the Grande salle Pierre Boulez. Anna Netrebko will be joined onstage by the mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova. Giovanni Andrea Zanon {…}

Aug 5, 2020

Composer Oliver Ostermann & Tenor Brian Cheney Release New Album

(Credit: Oliver Ostermann/Brian Cheney) Austrian Composer Oliver Ostermann and American Tenor Brian Cheney have teamed up during the COVID-19 pandemic to create the album “ I Sang My Heart to the Moon.” The album features eight pieces in total with lyricist and acclaimed poet Nancy Fitz-Hugh Meneely offering up poetry suited for this time. “Love Apart,” “I Sang My Heart {…}

Feb 18, 2020

Mesa Arts Center 2020 Review: Renée Fleming in Recital

(Credit: Timothy White for Decca) Wearing a shiny taupe gown that reflected minimized images of the lights above, soprano Renée Fleming and pianist Gerald Martin Moore entered to applause that showed they have fans in this desert city. They opened with a Valentine befitting February 14th: George Frideric Handel’s enticing “Bel Piacere è Godere.” Fleming followed its fast, tricky coloratura {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Teatro Grattacielo 2019 Review: 25th Anniversary Concert

Established in 1994, Teatro Grattacielo’s mission has always centered spotlighting often-overlooked Italian operas between the years of the 1890’s and the 1930’s, with the hope of reintroducing them to the public’s consciousness. On Sept. 28, 2019, the company kicked off its 25th season with an anniversary celebration, presenting Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “La Boheme,” Alfredo Catalani’s “Loreley,” and Ottorino Respighi’s “The Sleeping {…}

Aug 13, 2019

Boston Lyric Opera To Pair ‘Pagliacci’ With Immersive Roadshow Circus

Boston Lyric Opera will open its 2019-20 season this September with the company’s first production of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” David Lefkowich will direct the opera “and its pre-show experience – an immersive roadshow circus that mirrors the opera’s play-within-a-play story of a traveling troupe whose onstage drama pales in comparison to its backstage love triangle.” Guests can enjoy circus performances, live {…}

Jul 19, 2019

ICAV Unveils Cast For Leoncavallo’s ‘La Bohème’

L’Institut Canadien d’Art Vocal Has announced the cast for its upcoming production of Leoncavallo’s “La Bohème.” The production will feature Alexei Kuznietsov as Marcello with Jay Lucas Chacon as Rodolfo. Playing Mimì will be Isabelle Freeman, while Musetta will be interpreted by Cloe SanAntonio. Eugenia Forteza will take on the role of Eufemia and Jan Van der Hooft will interpret {…}