(Callas enshrouded in reporters. Credit: Maurice Zalewski/ADOC photos) Vignettes of onstage outtakes are aplenty. Daily shots of the soprano, less so. Here’s a peek into Maria’s typical excursions—culinary and sartorial; social and cultural—on a work(not really)less day. Coruscating like the crystalline intrusion of a cocktail dress’ brooch asparkle in a parking lot; a spotlight pooling blindness onto “Poliuto”‘s Paolina; {…}
On May 3, 2023, New Amsterdam Opera presented a concert of excerpts from Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia.” Held at The Players in Gramercy, this concert comes as the company readies to mount a full production later this month, and featured the cover cast artists, accompanied by founder and artistic director, Keith Chambers. Opening the program was soprano Elizaveta Ulakhovich, who is {…}
The English Touring Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Lucrezia Borgia.” The company said, “we regret to announce that Paula Sides has had to withdraw from our remaining performances of ‘Lucrezia Borgia.’ We are delighted that Katherine McIndoe, who stepped in to perform the role of Lucrezia Borgia earlier on tour, will return to the role {…}
The Theater Essen has announced a cast change for its “Lucrezia Borgia” performance on Feb. 4, 2023. The company said that Lidia Fridman will take over the title role making her house debut. She will replace Jessica Murihead, who opened teh production early this year. Fridman recently made her house debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in “Don Giovanni.” She {…}
On May 20, 2023, New Amsterdam Opera will preset Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia” in a one-night-only performance at The Sanctuary Theater at The Center at West Park in New York City. Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Keith Chamber will lead the NAO Orchestra and Chorus in this seldom-staged bel canto work, with the last fully-orchestrated performance being done in 2000 by {…}
In September, mezzo-soprano Teresa Iervolino got a call from the Bayerische Staatsoper to perform “La Cenerentola” on short notice. The mezzo, who was already scheduled to perform at the house later in the month immediately said yes and began her season earlier than expected. A rising star in the opera world, Iervolino has already made her name performing Bel canto {…}
(Photo: Half way through the first act of Teatro Comunale di Bologna’s production of Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Bogia,” a chorus of booing and shouts of “Shame on you” rang out from sections of the audience, which was met by enthusiastic applause from other parts of the theatre. Following the interval, some members of the audience voted with their feet and did {…}
On May 7, the Teatro Comunale di Bologna will open a new production of “Lucrezia Borgia,” one of Donizetti’s most popular works and one that has become a vehicle for a star soprano to show her vocal fireworks. However, it is also one of the composer’s most dramatic works and one that contains some of Donizetti’s most mature music. In {…}
(Credit: Javier Camarena official website) Tenor Javier Camarena will give five concerts in Spain from Jan. 12 to Jan. 21, 2021. The first concert will be at the Auditorio de Zaragoza on Jan. 12, followed by a recital at Teatro Real de Madrid on Jan. 15. Camarena will then perform at the Palau de la Música Catalana on Jan. 18 {…}
Ópera de Tenerife has confirmed performances of Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia.” The Spanish theater announced that opera will be performed on Nov. 24, 26, and 28, 2020 after being postponed back in March due to the pandemic. The opera will be headed by Spanish soprano Yolanda Auyanet and will be a co-production with the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, la Ópera de {…}
“Lucrezia Borgia” is one of the most challenging soprano roles of the Bel Canto repertoire. It is a part that sopranos relish to sing due to the complexity of the character and the flashiness of the music. So when a new soprano takes on the part for the first time, it is always exciting to wonder how that singer will {…}