The Dutch National Opera is set to perform “Maria Stuarda,” the second installment of Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy. The company will present a new production by Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen, which is a co-production with Teatro San Carlo (Naples) and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia (Valencia). Enrique Mazzola, a specialist in the bel canto repertoire, will conduct the Donizetti masterpiece. The {…}
Musica Viva in Hong Kong is set to present Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” this December. The opera, which opens on Dec. 9, 2022 and runs through the 11th, will take place at the Concert Hall at Hong Kong City Hall. The opera will feature two casts. Taking on the role of Maria Stuarda are Lee Sang-eun and Meryl Dominguez. As Elisabetta, {…}
(Photo: Pat Redmond) Irish National Opera continues to march forward. Although only in its fifth year, it has managed to establish itself as an innovative, forward-thinking company of high quality, which successfully mixes traditional productions with new works and modern presentation methods. Whereas many companies closed down during the COVID crisis, INO used it to showcase new short operas via {…}
Many times the final moments of a piece of art are the ones that leave the audience with the biggest impression. It may be the final image of a film or the final bars of a musical work. In the bel canto repertoire, the final impression is generally left by whether a singer hits a certain high note, be it {…}
Divaria Productions is set to present the digital world premiere of “Rival Queens” on Nov. 12, 2020, followed by a second performance on Nov. 14. The showcase features music from Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda,” but seeks to dig deeper into the relationship between the two women throughout their lives (rather than the limited months as portrayed in the Italian opera). The {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer) Only seven days before the COVID-19 pandemic fell on our heads, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato was in New York portraying the role of Agrippina at the Metropolitan Opera House. Taking on the role of the cunning queen, DiDonato already had been in the eye of the storm. At that moment very few people really understood well what {…}
(Credit: Monika Rittershaus) The Opernhaus Zürich has announced three live streams scheduled for Sept. 25 through 27, 2020. In a statement, the company said, “After the painful cancellation of ‘oper für alle’ in June 2020 due to the Coronavirus, we are very pleased to announce that this popular format will be continued in digital form from Sept. 25-27, 2020. Thanks {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced Week 7 of its weekly streams. This week’s slate will feature Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy in addition to showcasing a rare modern opera and a Russian classic. But the big surprise this week will be the showcase of a legendary performance starring Leontyne Price, suggesting that the company will start to showcase some of its historic {…}
Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Lisboa has announced its 2019-20 season. The season will start off with Welsh National Opera’s production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” directed by David Pountney. The cast will feature Miklós Sebestyén as the Marquis of Calatrava / Il Padre Guardiano, Cristiana Oliveira / Julianna Di Giacomo as Leonora, Damiano Salerno as Don Carlo di {…}
The Metropolitan Opera revealed its 2019-20 season on Wednesday afternoon. Among the major announcements were the company’s schedule for its ever-popular Live in HD slate. Here is a look at the list of performances that will be broadcast to audiences around the world. Worthy of note is that of the 10 productions set to screen in cinemas, three will be {…}
It’s hard to find the right voice for the Bel Canto repertoire. A great Bel Canto singer needs flexibility, bright high notes, immense breath control, and impeccable phrasing. And of course, a singer needs to have great command of expression, otherwise, the music can easily fall flat. Many singers attempt to put all this together, but few actually have the complete package, {…}