We are all familiar with the aphorism ‘clothing maketh the man‘ and its related parabolic lesson, regardless of the superficiality of the statement and its inherent inadequacies as a didactic phrase that can be really listened to in any meaningful way. The backward iniquitous core of this phrase most properly resonates as eternally problematic when reworked in George Bernard Shaw’s {…}
What a wonder Giuseppe Verdi’s final opera “Falstaff” is. After all, he had, outside of his “Quattro pezzi sacri,” retired from the “arena” of composing and opera (with one of the grandest of all grand operas, “Aida”). But then, fate conspired, in a rather unlikely way, to have the maestro cross paths, and then lives, and ultimately work itself, with {…}
(Credits: Opéra de Limoges official website / Vincent Pontet) Opéra de Limoges has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. “Goyescas” features Vanessa Goikoetxea, Kévin Amiel, Armando Noguera, and Héloïse Mas. Robert Tuohy conducts. Performance dates: Nov. 7 – 9, 2021 Clémentine Bourgoin, Pierre Lebon, Flannan Obé, and Antoni Sykopoulos perform Olivier Py’s {…}
(Credit: Bettina Stöss) Famed baritone Željko Lučić, has signed with Mirshak Artists Management for his engagements in North and South America. In North America, the famed baritone is set to appear at the Metropolitan Opera this upcoming season as Baron Scarpia in Puccini’s “Tosca.” Outside of those performances, he is slated to appear in performance at La Coruña, Spain for {…}
(Photo: Franco Lannino) For its summer season Palermo’s Teatro Massimo moves outdoors to the Teatro di Verdura, situated in parkland on the outskirts of the city centre. The cool evening heat, with a gentle breeze blowing in from the sea, along with the theatre’s sizable stage and substantial amount of raked seating with excellent sight lines suggested everything was just {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s new “Rigoletto” has undergone a cast change. Ludovic Tézier, who was originally announced as the baritone tasked with taking on the title role from May 28 through June 11 in the production’s second run, has been replaced by Quinn Kelsey, who will now sing all performances. He will join Kristina Mkhitaryan and Stephen Costello. Karl Marek Chichon {…}
Nevill Holt Opera has announced the creative teams, principal cast, and orchestra partners for its outdoor summer festival kicking off on Aug. 4, 2021. The company will present two operas, Verdi’s “La Traviata,” and Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” on an outdoor stage built to frame the stunning valley views from Nevill Holt. The new outdoor space will accommodate 650 people in {…}
(Credit: Tyler Fayose) Femi Elufowoju Jr is a practitioner of many crafts. He’s a screen actor with 15 credits, a stage director who has been at the helm for myriads of productions, and a film director. But there was a missing piece. Elufowoju Jr is a music lover and comprehends the enormous power it can have over an audience. The {…}
As we did with the last quiz, we’re going to have some fun with some of opera’s major repertory staples. This week we look at Verdi’s seminal “Rigoletto.” The quiz will not only test your knowledge of its musical passages, story points, as well as some other miscellaneous information. My hope is that this quiz will provide some new and {…}
(Credit: Bayerische Staatsoper official website) Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk will not perform the role of Lady Macbeth for the performances of Verdi’s “Macbeth” on July 26 & 29, 2021. As a result, Liudmyla Monastyrska will take over the role. The soprano has performed Lady Macbeth at the Royal Opera House to great success and has also {…}
(Credits: LA Opera official website / Jan Windszus Photography / Lena Kern / Mark Janssen / Georg Schlosser / In Art Management official website) The Komische Oper Berlin has announced its 2021-22 season. Here is a look at the operatic and vocal performances. Opera – Premieres Enescu’s rarely performed masterwork “Œdipe” opens the season. The opera features Jens Larsen, Joachim {…}