I will never die. But when if I do—certainly after 2300—, I want to be mourned with Verdi’s “Requiem.” No discussion. Few musical moments are more rewarding than the first tenor “Kyrie,” breaking into the orchestral mass, abashing any feelings that are not of heroic repentance. I simply love it. However, such strong personal preference creates rigid expectations of how {…}
Benedetta Torre is set to open the 2023-24 season performing two special concerts that close the “Viva Verdi” series, which was created in order to build awareness and save the composer’s famed house which is also a museum. Riccardo Muti will conduct the concerts on Sept. 8 at the Teatro Municipale di Piacenza and Sept. 9 at the Teatro Donizetti {…}
The Vicenza in Lirica has announced its 10th anniversary season. The season opens with the concerto “Finale” del Concorso lirico Tullio Serafin. Performance Date: June 7, 2023 The festival will present a Concerto Benefico in honor of Assi Gulliver. Performance Date: June 10, 2023 Next up is the rarely performed opera Malipiero’s “Ecuba.” The Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto {…}
On Oct. 14, the Festival Verdi concluded its performances of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.” The occasion was special as the festival brought back the original 1857 version which is rarely heard (there are very few recordings available as well). So for most opera lovers, much of the music was new and different. A Refreshing Look When Verdi premiered the work at {…}
The XXII Festival Verdi has announced its 2022 programing. Here is a look at what the world-famous festival will offer Verdi lovers. The season opens with a new production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” Roberto Abbado conducts the 1869 Milano Critical edition with Anna Pirozzi, Gregory Kunde, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Marko Mimica, Roberto de Candia, Annalisa Stroppa, and Andrea Giovannini. {…}
The Royal Opera House Muscat has announced its tenth anniversary season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in production by Franco Zeffirelli. The new production is the final piece of work that Zeiffirelli left behind. The production will star Leo Nucci in the title role, Dmitry Korchak (Duke of Mantua), Giuliana Gianfaldoni (Gilda) and Ricardo Zanellato (Sparafucile). The orchestra and {…}
The Teatro Regio di Torino has announced its 2022 season. Grigorij Frid’s “Il diario di Anna Frank” will be performed by Shira Patchornik and conducted by Giulio Laguzzi. Anna Maria Bruzzese directs the production. Performance Dates: Jan. 27 & 28, 2022 Dinara Alieva and Maria Teresa Leva lead Puccini’s “La Bohème” with Valentin Dytiuk and Matteo Lippi as Rodolfo. The cast {…}
On July 25 the CortinAteatro will present an Hommage to Giuseppe Verdi at the Alexander Girardi Hall di Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The concert will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the composer’s death and will showcase operatic selections and narration about the composer. Tenore Fabio Sartori and bass Riccardo Zanellato will perform works from the composers, while Lella Costa will perform {…}
The CortinATeatro in the Comune di Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy has announced its 2021 season which will open on July 17 and run through Sept. 10. The festival will see the participation of the Teatro Stabile del Veneto, Orchestra Regionale Filarmonia Veneta, Teatro Sociale di Rovigo, and OPV – Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto. For the purposes of this article, {…}
Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège in Belgium has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the vocal works only. Here is the full slate. Opera Verdi‘s “La Forza del Destino” will star Marcelo Álvarez as Don Alvaro, María José Siri as Donna Leonora, and Simone Piazzola as Don Carlo di Vargas. The cast also {…}
Radio France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article we will focus only on the vocal works. Here is a look. Operas Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” spotlights Jodie Devos, Clara Guillon, Adèle Charvet, Marie Lenormand, Élodie Méchain, Antoine Normand, Régis Mengus, and Paul Gay. Mikko Franck conducts. Performance date: Oct. 1, 2021, Philharmonie de Paris {…}