A dominant force in the world of opera at the turn of the 20th century, alongside contemporaries like Marguerite Bériza, Germaine Bailac, and Blanche Deschamps-Jéhin, French soprano Emma Calvé left more than a mark during her 28-year career. However, it is not her operatic achievements I wish to talk about today, but her relationship with Hinduism, particularly Swami Vivekananda — Hindu monk, spiritual {…}
This week the Gran Teatre del Liceu will open a new production of “Tristan und Isolde” with an all-star cast and featuring one of the most anticipated role debuts of the year. Headlining the cast is Lise Davidsen who will sing her first Isolde. The performances also mark her return to the opera stage following a hiatus due to pregnancy. {…}
(Photo: Sakari Viika/Finnish Music Quarterly) Throughout operatic history, family difficulties are among the most widely utilized themes by composers, with the more recognizable feuds seemingly being children and their (step) mothers. From Pamina and her mother (“Die Zauberflöte”), Hansel, Gretel, and their stepmother (“Hansel and Gretel”), Lucette/Cinderella and her stepmother (“Cendrillon”), and Elektra and her stepmother (“Elektra”), there is something {…}
Photo Credit: Opéra national du Rhin A multitude of operas are premiered every year, some of which never really get as publicly highlighted as they should. Often this is because other operas take the limelight, funds, and critical attention. Thus, in this three-month series, “Opera History Flashbacks,” we will be taking a look at three historically important years and the {…}
It is time to wrap up the year and look back at our favorite moments and performers. After releasing our favorite performances of 2025 and showcasing our rising stars of the year, it’s time for OperaWire’s annual tradition of naming our top singers of the year, honoring the opera stars that had major, and in some cases, career-defining, years. So without further ado {…}
The world of classical singing is fraught with challenges, especially for those wishing to make a career from singing alone. From an oversaturated marketplace of voices and biases of all shapes and sizes, to economic stressors and the constant fight for golden opportunities, what keeps someone going? The chronic instability within the classical music industry makes searching for opportunities both {…}
(Credits: Brescia e Amisano) This week the Teatro alla Scala opens its 2025-26 season celebrating the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, presenting the 1934 edition of his masterwork “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.” It’s a work that is rarely performed due to its challenging score and huge cast. With La Scala’s new production, several cast members will be appearing with the {…}
It’s that time of the year. The end of the year. As with every year, 2025 was full of a lot of opera revelations in productions, concerts and competitions. So in recognitions of those breakouts, here’s a look at some of the young singers who are likely to make operatic waves in the very near future. Here are OperaWire’s 10 {…}
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Metropolitan Opera put on its, in my view, unfortunate production of “Carmen.” While Carmen gets into a fight with one of the other factory girls, chaos erupts as the security guards try to regain control. At this moment in the production, a white man dressed in black came onto the stage and started dancing. He {…}
