Any time an opera production begins with non-textual lines, especially in a language different to the libretto, alarm bells ring louder the tubular Grail chimes in “Parsifal.” Such was the case in Davide Livermore’s new staging of “Manon Lescaut” for the Gran Teatre del Liceu which had already been seen in co-production with the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. Instead of {…}
This will be a weekend of new productions, closing nights, and role debuts. Two major stars return to signature roles while one rising star takes on her first Wagner role. Then there are two bel canto favorites and some verismo. Here is a look. Ernani – Opera de Marseille, France Francesco Meli takes on the title role in Verdi’s early work {…}
The great German soprano Lilli Lehmann once famously remarked that singing all three Brünnhildes in Wagner’s Ring Cycle , which equals about eight hours of singing, was less taxing than a single performance of Bellini’s “Norma.” Indeed, a great “Norma” certainly doesn’t grow on trees, and in any given generation there are maybe a handful of singers who can tackle {…}
It’s a crowded weekend and thus a major challenge to select from the numerous options. The five here were our favorites, but by all means, head over to the other companies not listed here and check out the opera offerings they have. There were truly more than we could imagine. Here are our picks, in alphabetical order by company. Houston {…}
Liudmyla Monastyrska is one of the most in-demand Verdi sopranos of her time. Just look at her repertoire and engagements and you will see that the Ukrainian soprano has run the gamut of the great composer’s repertoire. From the earliest works to “Aida,” Verdi’s final dramatic soprano role, Monastyrska has deep knowledge of Verdi’s artistic development. Among the roles that {…}
This article is a joint collaboration between David & Francisco Salazar. This past weekend saw the end of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-17 season. This week we will take a look back at the greatest moments that this season brought us, beginning with the top performers that we enjoyed. Since ladies should always go first, we start with the top 10 {…}
On May 7, Plácido Domingo returns to great performances on PBS. The tenor-turned-baritone stars in Verdi’s “Nabucco” from the Metropolitan Opera’s recent revival of the composer’s early masterwork. Domingo is joined by an exceptional cast that includes the dramatic soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska as Abigaille and Dmitry Belosselskiy as Zaccaria. Jamie Barton stars as Fenena while Russell Thomas is Ismaele. James {…}
Everyone’s busy and sometimes figuring out what opera you should go see can be quite a challenging decision to make. There is always so much to see in so many places, but unfortunately never enough time. While every opera house undeniably packs their schedule with “Must See” productions, there are some that simply generate more excitement for different reasons. No {…}
Plácido Domingo heads to the cinemas on Saturday as he returns to the role of Verdi’s “Nabucco” as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series. The performance will feature Domingo in the title role, for which he has garnered rave reviews. OperaWire noted that the role “fits him like a glove… At 75, his voice, while possessing an {…}
New Years weekend will not be particularly active in the American opera scene. Only three major companies will make their respective presences felt as the calendar turns from 2016 to 2017. The Metropolitan Opera will continue its full slate of operas, showcasing three works to end the year. There will be two performances given on Friday, December 30. At 12 {…}
Russell Thomas will grace millions of viewers in the United States with his brilliant tenor during the midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The tenor made the announcement via Twitter. He slated to sing “O Holy Night” during the mass. Thomas is currently performing a run of Verdi’s “Nabucco” at the Metropolitan Opera alongside Placido Domingo, {…}