Regina Opera Company has released its recording of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera on its official website. The free stream features a performance from Nov. 30, 2014 with a cast starring Michael Morrow as Riccardo, Alexis Cregger as Amelia, Andrew Cummings as Renato, Mizuho Takeshita as Oscar, Lara Michole Tillotson as Ulrica, Antoine Hodge as Samuel, Jonathan Dauermann as Tom, {…}
(Credit: Studioline Photography / Xavier Sabata official website / Ascolta Artists official website) The Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has announced that it will perform a version of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” for two pianos and the percussion on Feb. 12-14, 2021. The showcase will be presented by the Coro Nacional, and the percussion section of the Orquesta Nacional {…}
(Credit: Studioline Photography) The Gran Teatre del Liceu has announced that soprano Elena Sancho Pereg will perform the role of Stella in the upcoming production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” on Jan. 18, 19, 25, 28 & 31, 2021. Soprano Adriana González must spend 10 days in preventive isolation, in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations. González will perform the role {…}
(Credit: http://www.avantartmagazin.com/) Famed Serbian mezzo-soprano Biserka Cvejić has died at the age of 97. Cvejić performed over 70 roles during throughout her renowned career, including Bizet’s “Carmen,” which became one of her calling cards. Other major roles included Eboli in Verdi’s “Don Carlos,” Amneris in “Aida,” Ulrica in “Un Ballo in Maschera,” Azucena in “Il Trovatore,” Charlotte in Massenet’s “Werther,” {…}
The Teatro Real opened the 2020-21 season with Verdi’s masterpiece, “Un Ballo in Maschera.” Only the second opera performed at the theatre since the global lockdown due to the pandemic, it marks a hopeful beginning for the company’s season. As the regulations have changed, the production—complete with full sets and dancers—had to be adjusted. Dancers wore protective masks because they {…}
(Credit Javier del Real) This review is for the performance of the 3d of October 2020. Due to the cancellation of a previous soprano, the Teatro Real engaged three additional sopranos for this middle-period Verdi opera: Saioa Hernandez, Maria Pia Piscitelli, and Sondra Radvanovsky. And while all three are fantastic artists in their own right, there was no doubt that {…}
(Credit: Michael Cooper) “People are craving music and all the healing, soothing, and bonding elements it provides.” American-Canadian soprano superstar Sondra Radvanovsky was in Rio de Janeiro on March 13, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in full force. Radvanovsky was slated to perform at the Theatro Municipal, but the performance ended up being canceled. Faced with a {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid was forced to cancel its Sunday performance of “Un Ballo in Maschera” after a disturbance broke out in the upper levels of the audience. Per El País, the protest broke out after audience members complained of the lack of social distancing. In the report, an assistant noted that there were 15 straight occupied seats with {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The company announced that Sara Blanch will sing the role of Oscar replacing Isabella Gaudí in performances scheduled on Oct. 3, 6, 11, and 14. Blanch is a rising star who has perofrmed at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Gran Teatre del {…}
(Credit: Studio Amati_Bacciardi) Few singers have dominated the Rossini repertory in recent years the way Daniella Barcellona has. She debuted at the Rossini Festival in 1999 in the title role of “Tancredi,” and has since appeared in recordings of such works as “Sigismondo,” “La Donna del Lago,” “Il Viaggio a Reims,” “Adelaide of Borgogna,” and “Bianca de Falliero;” she has {…}
(Credits: Michael Cooper / Lourdes Balduque / The Israeli Opera official website / Silvia Beltrami – Mezzosoprano Facebook Page) Russian soprano Tatiana Serjan has cancelled performances as Amelia in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” at the Teatro Real. Per the official statement on the company’s website, the Russian soprano has withdrawn from the production due to illness. Sondra Radvanovsky, Saioa {…}