Q & A: SeokJong Baek On His Favorite Roles & How His Faith & Voice Transitioned His Opera Career

https://operawire.com/q-a-seokjong-baek-on-his-favorite-roles-how-his-faith-voice-transitioned-his-opera-career/

(Photo: Dahyun Baek) SeokJong Baek’s rise to prominence in the opera world can only be described as meteoric, if not almost difficult to believe. Almost 15 years singing as a baritone, a chance encounter with fellow South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee suggested to him that he might make a better tenor than a baritone. Despite joining the San Francisco Young {…}

News

Leah Hawkins, Maria Brea, Rafael Moras & SeokJong Baek Lead Arizona Opera’s 2024-25 Season

https://operawire.com/leah-hawkins-maria-brea-rafael-moras-seokjong-baek-lead-arizona-operas-2024-25-season/

The Arizona Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Arizona Opera’s new “Beyond Downtown” program, the newest evolution of the company’s McDougall RED Series, which will bring operatic performances throughout Arizona, reaching beyond the walls of the theaters in which the company typically performs. Performance Dates: TBD Caitlin Gotimer, SeokJong Baek, Benjamin Taylor, and Emma Marhefka perform {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist of the Week: SeokJong Baek

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-seokjong-baek/

This week, the Royal Opera House opens a new production of “Samson et Dalila” led by the company’s music and starring one of the great mezzo’s of our time. But perhaps what makes this production all the more exciting is the young tenor SeokJong Baek, who will make his house debut. The South Korean tenor, who began as a baritone, {…}

News

Leah Hawkins, Laura Wilde, SeokJong Baek, Véronique Filloux Headline Arizona Opera’s 2022-23 Season

https://operawire.com/arizona-opera-announces-2022-23-season/

Arizona Opera has announced its 2022-23 season. The season kicks off with “The Falling and the Rising.” The new work is by Zack Redler and Jerre Dye. Audrey Babcock, Brad Bickhardt, Schyler Vargas, and Thomas Cannon. Michael Sakir conducts a production directed by Dennis Whitehead Darling. Performance Dates: Oct. 14-16, 2022 in Phoenix / Oct. 22-23, 2022 in Tucson Next {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: Tosca (Cast C)

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2024-25-review-tosca-cast-c/

(Credit: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) For the third time this season, the Metropolitan Opera is reviving Sir. David McVicar’s “Tosca” production. The production has become one of the most successful for Peter Gelb’s tenure and one that has seen some of the greatest divas on stage. At the beginning of the season, the Met showcased a beguiling Aleksandra Kurzak {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Soprano Chiara Isotton on Her Debut at the Royal Opera House & Performing the Role of Tosca

https://operawire.com/q-a-soprano-chiara-isotton-on-her-debut-at-the-royal-opera-house-performing-the-role-of-tosca/

(Photo: Michele Monasta) Italian Soprano Chiara Isotton is a graduate of the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, and is a member of the La Scala Academy, Milan. She won several important national and international competitions, including being among the winners of the “European Community” Competition for Young Opera Singers by the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto in 2013 where she {…}

News

Metropolitan Opera Announces New Cast Changes for ‘Aida’

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-announces-new-cast-changes-for-aida/

The Metropolitan Opera has announced a new cast change for its Jan. 4 performance of “Aida.” The company said that Morris Robinson will sing the role of Ramfis replacing Dmitry Belosselskiy, who is ill. Harold Wilson will sing the role of The King taking over for Robinson. This is the latest change following a very controversial opening night. Piotr Beczala {…}

News

Following New Year’s Eve Controversy, Metropolitan Opera Announces Inevitable Cast Change for ‘Aida’

https://operawire.com/following-new-years-eve-controversy-metropolitan-opera-announces-inevitable-cast-change-for-aida/

Everyone knows what happened on New Year’s Eve at the Metropolitan Opera. Tenor Piotr Beczala, sick as he was, sang through the entire night, creating an unforgettable experience for all involved, but not of the kind anyone will remember fondly. It was inevitable that he would cancel subsequent shows and that announcement has finally come. The company announced that tenor {…}

Special Features

Best of 2024: OperaWire’s Top 11 Singers of the Year

https://operawire.com/best-of-2024-operawires-top-11-singers-of-the-year/

It is time to wrap up the year and look back at our favorite moments and performers. After releasing our favorite performances of 2024 and showcasing our rising stars of the year, it’s time for OperaWire’s annual tradition of naming our top 11 singers of the year, performers that we thought stood out. Performers who had major breaks, headlined major productions or simply had {…}

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Q & A: SeokJong Baek On His Favorite Roles & How His Faith & Voice Transitioned His Opera Career

Leah Hawkins, Maria Brea, Rafael Moras & SeokJong Baek Lead Arizona Opera’s 2024-25 Season

Artist of the Week: SeokJong Baek

Leah Hawkins, Laura Wilde, SeokJong Baek, Véronique Filloux Headline Arizona Opera’s 2022-23 Season

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: Tosca (Cast C)

Q & A: Soprano Chiara Isotton on Her Debut at the Royal Opera House & Performing the Role of Tosca

Metropolitan Opera Announces New Cast Changes for ‘Aida’

Following New Year’s Eve Controversy, Metropolitan Opera Announces Inevitable Cast Change for ‘Aida’

Best of 2024: OperaWire’s Top 11 Singers of the Year