Luciano Pavarotti, Renée Fleming, Leona Mitchell, Shirley Verrett Headline Next Month of Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the next month of nightly streams which focus on a number of unique themes including operas in English, holiday works, and even an entire work dedicated to one of the most iconic artists of all time. Week 39– In Plain English Monday, December 7 – Thomas Adès’s The Tempest Starring Audrey Luna, Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies, Alek Shrader, {…}

Jul 24, 2020

Leonie Rysanek, Even More Than A Diva: One of OperaWire’s Writers Remembers the Diva From a Unique Perspective

(Credit: Louis Melancon / Metropolitan Opera) A version of this piece was published in a 1998 edition of SF Weekly. Being a Super (Supernumerary), a fancy word for “Extra” at the San Francisco Opera had been a habit of mine many years ago. Nightly rehearsals from June through August, and performances September through November, only encouraged me to juggle my {…}

May 11, 2020

Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams Week 10 to Feature Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Dmitri Hvorostovsky

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 10th week of its nightly streams. Here is a rundown of all the performances which includes two classic performances. Monday, May 18 – Mozart’s Idomeneo Conducted by James Levine, starring Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever, Alice Coote, and Matthew Polenzani. Transmitted live on March 25, 2017. Tuesday, May 19 – Wagner’s Lohengrin – {…}

Nov 16, 2019

Opera Quiz: How Well Do You Know Leonie Rysanek’s Career?

Leonie Rysanek is one of the most beloved sopranos of the 20th century. Born on Nov. 14, 1926, she would forge a major career as an interpreter of the works of Wagner and Strauss. She was also a champion of many of the heavier Verdi roles. Later in her career, she transitioned to becoming a mezzo-soprano, leaving her mark on {…}

Sep 20, 2019

Anna Netrebko, Leonard Warren, Leonie Rysanek & The Famed Interpreters of ‘Macbeth’ At the Met Opera

(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) Verdi’s “Macbeth” may be a major repertory staple, but its Met history is actually not as extensive as one might imagine. In sum, the Verdi opera has appeared just 105 times in the company’s history. When it returns on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the company will be reviving it for the first time in five {…}

Nov 14, 2018

Artist Profile: Legendary Dramatic Soprano Leonie Rysanek

Austrian soprano Leonie Rysanek was one of the great dramatic sopranos of the 20th century. Born in Vienna on Nov. 14, 1926, Rysanek’s childhood saw her working in munition factories. She was hoping to be an actress, but her brother encouraged her to become a singer. So at age 16, she entered the Vienna Academy and by age 23 she {…}

Aug 7, 2018

CD / DVD Releases – Week of August 6

This week get will see two classic performances released as well as a rarely performed opera get a new DVD. There will also be a solo album by one of today’s rising bass-baritones. Here is a look at what’s in store. Cendrillon Naxos is releasing a new version of Massenet’s rarely performed work from the Theater Freiberg. Kim-Lillian Strebel takes {…}

Nov 14, 2017

Leonie Rysanek’s Five Best Italian Arias of her Career

Austrian soprano Leonie Rysanek may not have performed as many roles as other dramatic sopranos such as Birgit Nilsson or Kirsten Flagstad, but that has very little to do with her artistic abilities. Rysanek was meticulous in what she chose to perform, opting to nurture the key roles she established early in her repertoire rather than trying to tackle every {…}

Apr 24, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Preview: ‘Der Fliegende Holländer’s’ History Marked By 10-Year Breaks

Wagner’s first masterpiece “Der Fliegende Holländer” returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday, April 25 after a seven-year absence. Despite being well-known throughout the opera world, “The Flying Dutchman,” as translated in English, has had a rather interesting history at the Met marked by long hiatuses. The opera opened the 1889-1890 season in its first-ever performance. The cast that included {…}

Jan 9, 2017

On This Day – How Rudolf Bing Transformed the Metropolitan Opera Forever

Rudolf Bing’s name towers in the world of opera. The Austrian-born impresario, born on January 9, 1902, has an enduring legacy, in many ways tainted by the scandals and feuds Bing was known to have with the opera’s greatest figures and lesser-known figures during many of the company’s most tumultuous years. But to see the general manager who wielded his {…}