Tosca is a dream role for almost every soprano. It is a role where the diva gets to act and sing gorgeous lines as well as bring a number of complex emotions to the stage. It is also an opera that is action-driven like no other and features THE moment when the soprano gets to kill the baritone on stage. {…}
This week the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova is set to open its new season with a new production of “Sull’essere angeli” and “Pagliacci” directed by Cristian Taraborrelli. The production will be realized in collaboration with RAI Cultura and will be broadcast on Italian television. It will also mark the house debut of baritone Sebastian Catana as Tonio. Catana, who {…}
On Sept. 27, the Metropolitan Opera will make history presenting “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” It will be the first time the company presents an opera composed by a black composer – that composer is Terence Blanchard. Talking about the historical moment to the Washington Post the composer said, “It’s a bit overwhelming. Once you get into the rehearsal {…}
On Sept. 23, the Ópera de Bella Artes will open a new production of Graun’s rarely performed masterpiece “Montezuma.” It will be a chance for audiences to hear an early masterwork alongside some of Mexico’s prominent and rising stars. Among them will be Karen Gardeazabal, who will be making a role debut and her house debut. The Mexican soprano, who {…}
(Credit: Richard Hubert Smith) On Sept. 18, Switzerland’s Theater St. Gallen will open a new production of Missy Mazzoli‘s 2016 “Breaking the Waves,” one of the most acclaimed operas of recent years. This run of performances will mark the first time the country presents the work, which will bring a cast of rising stars including Vuvu Mpofu. Mpofu will interpret {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) On Sept. 9 Staatsoper Hamburg is set to open concert performances of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” the work that the put composer on the map. The company has lined up an all-star cast that includes Sonya Yoncheva, who will make her overdue role debut. The Bulgarian soprano was originally set to make her role debut in the {…}
(Credit: Eric Bouloumie) Donizetti wrote nearly 70 operas, many of which have been forgotten. Over the last several years many of his works have been rediscovered thanks in part to concert performances, festivals, or recordings. This week German audiences will get to discover the composer’s 1841 one-act opera “Rita” at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The opera will star a cast of {…}
(Credit: © Eric Dervaux) Verdi’s “Aroldo” is one of the composer’s rarest works, one that rarely gets produced. The work was based on and adapted from the composer’s earlier 1850 opera, “Stiffelio” and went on to get its world premiere in 1857. This week the Teatro Amintore Galli will present a new production with a distinguished cast of rising stars {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver) On August 21, the San Francisco Opera will return to the stage after a year and a half of no performances due to the pandemic. The company will revive a production of “Tosca” with an all-star cast including Ailyn Perez in her role debut and Michael Fabiano in his U.S. role debut in Shawna Lucey’s acclaimed production. {…}
(Credit: Rossini Opera Festival) The Rossini Opera Festival is back in full swing after COVID-19 and is presenting one of the composer’s rarely performed Opera Seria, “Elisabetta Regina d’Inghilterra.” The opera is best known for having the same overture as “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” and for depicting one of the most famous queens in history. For the iconic role, the {…}
(Credit: © Wiener Staatsoper/Taylor) This week the Salzburg Festival continues in full swing with a new production of Händel’s oratorio “Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.” The production is a revival from the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, which premiered to great acclaim and brings together the same cast from that very festival, with one exception. This time Regula Mühlemann will {…}