Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week, audiences will get to hear several world premieres, rarities, and several complete opera recordings. Giacomo Puccini: Manon Lescaut C Major releases Puccinios’ breakthrough opera with a cast that includes Liudmyla Monastyrska, David Bizic, Gregory Kunde, and Carlos Chausson. The Gran Teatre {…}
Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera PBS has announced that it will start broadcasting Puccini’s “Turandot” as part of its Great Performances at the Met series. The showcase premieres on Sept. 4, 2022 at 12 p.m. on THIRTEEN. The opera starred Liudmyla Monastyrska in the title role alongside Yonghoon Lee, Ermonela Jaho, and Ferruccio Furlanetto. Marco Armiliato conducted the performance and {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera / Marty Sohl) I could commence this review by going into the political implications and problematic circumstances surrounding this production, but another writer has already done an excellent job spotlighting all that. Instead, I am going to jump into the performance itself, the second in this run of the famed Puccini work and Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic and, {…}
(Credit; Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) Following Saturday night’s opening performance of “Turandot” at the Metropolitan Opera, soprano Liudmyla Monastryska came out to take her final curtain call wrapped in the Ukrainian flag. Monastyrska, a Ukrainian soprano, was returning to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time since 2017 when she appeared in a production of “Nabucco.” The soprano made {…}
Liudmyla Monastyrska is opening up about the War in Ukraine in recent interviews about her return to the Metropolitan Opera after a five-year absence. The soprano, whose family is still in Ukraine and who she speaks with via Facetime noted in an interview with the New York Times that “it’s almost impossible to sing.” She added that she was never {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2022 season. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the festival. Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Verdi’s Requiem on the First Night of the 2022 BBC Proms. Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Jennifer Johnston, Freddie De Tommaso, and Kihwan Sim are the soloists. Performance Date: July 15, 2022 David Bates and La {…}
The LA Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of Main stage productions, of grand and community events. Here is a look at what the ambitious season is set to showcase. Main Stage The season opens with Verdi and Cammarano’s “Il Trovatore” starring Angel Blue in her role debut as Leonora and Gregory Kunde in his LA Opera {…}
The weekend is here and it’s an interesting one. Two of the works we recommend feature some of the most acclaimed singers in the world and then there is a “Tosca” marathon with three of the greatest interpreters performing the role in Dresden, London, and Barcelona. Manon – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Juan Diego Flórez and Nino Machaidze continue their first {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has announced its 2019-20 season featuring numerous new productions, rare works, and a number of stars. Anna Netrebko opens the Teatro alla Scala in the title role of Puccini’s ‘Tosca” with Luca Salsi in the role of Scarpia. Riccardo Chailly conducts the production by Davide Livermore. Saioa Hernández sings three performances of the title role. Performance {…}
Latvian National Opera and Ballet will showcase its 100 Anniversary Gala on Nov. 30, 2018. Those who can’t attend the event can still watch it live on OperaVision. The event will feature such opera stars as Dinara Alieva, Inga Kinca, Liudmyla Monastyrska, Marina Rebeka, Olesya Petrova, Zanda Svede, Kalvis Kalinins, Egils Silins, Krisjanis Norvelis, all under the musical direction of {…}
The weekend is here and we have some interesting recommendations that include role debuts, classic works and some rare and new operas that are worth checking out. Here is a look at what we recommend for the weekend. The Seasons-Teatro Colón, Argentina Haydn’s rarely performed oratorio gets a showcase with soloists Daniela Tabernig, Hernán Iturralde in the lead role, and {…}