Artist Of The Week: Krassimira Stoyanova To Bring ‘Lucrezia Borgia’ To Life At Salzburg Festival

It’s the final week of the Salzburg Festival, but before it concludes “Lucrezia Borgia” will open in two concert performances with a stellar cast that includes Juan Diego Flórez and Ildar Abdrazaov with Marco Armiliato conducting. But it is Krassimira Stoyanova that headlines the performances in the title role and forays once again into the Bel Canto repertoire. Throughout her career Stoyanova has {…}

Aug 14, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Gerald Finley To Showcase Dramatic Power As ‘Lear’

This week Aribert Reimann’s “Lear” makes its premiere at the Salzburg Festival in a new production by Simone Stone with Gerald Finley as the title character. The premiere will see Finley in yet another new role as he continues to expand his varied and unique repertoire. For years Finley has been a big proponent of modern and contemporary works, including the {…}

Aug 7, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Nino Machaidze Brings Vocal Beauty To Rossini’s ‘The Siege Of Corinth’

In 2008 a new star graced the stage of the Salzburg Festival in “Roméo et Juliette,” showcasing dramatic power and promising to become the next big star in the opera world. All eyes were on Nino Machaidze who many believed would follow a specific route in the lyric repertoire. However, after nine years of an immensely successful career, Machaidze has {…}

Jul 31, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Anna Netrebko Brings Her Dramatic Force To ‘Aida’ At The Salzburg Festival

Ever since 2002, Anna Netrebko has been a mainstay at the Salzburg Festival, headlining some of the most acclaimed productions of the showcase. In fact, her productions have often drawn some of the biggest audiences due to her magnetic star power and brilliant stage presence. This week looks to be no different as the diva headlines another new production, Verdi’s {…}

Jul 24, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Liana Aleksanyan Headlines ‘Aida’ At The Macerata Festival

Liana Aleksanyan has had a rollercoaster year making an unexpected debut at the Teatro alla Scala and establishing herself as one of the most acclaimed Cio-Cio Sans of her generation. This week she continues her ascension in the opera world headlining “Aida” at the Macerata Opera Festival. The assumption of Aida brings Aleksanyan to another stage in her career as she takes {…}

Jul 17, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Edward Parks Portrays Steve Jobs At Santa Fe Opera’s World Premiere

Steve Jobs is one of the most revered and enigmatic personalities in recent history. He created one of the biggest companies and is responsible for some of the most popular products in modern society. After numerous film adaptations with different actors, Edward Parks will have the task of portraying the figure in Mason Bates’ first opera, “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” {…}

Jul 10, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Leah Crocetto Dispatches Vocal Fireworks In ‘The Siege Of Calais’

Leah Crocetto is known for her work in Verdi’s spinto roles as well as her interpretation of my Puccini operas. She has garnered acclaim in this repertoire and is among the rising stars in the opera world. However, this weekend she steps out of these boundaries and moves into the realm of Bel Canto for her role debut as Eleonora {…}

Jul 3, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Michael Fabiano To Fill Aix-En-Provence Festival With Intensity As He Debuts Don José In ‘Carmen’

Ten years ago Michael Fabiano announced himself as one of the most promising tenors of his generation. The tenor was competing for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was also part of the class that was filmed in the movie “The Audition.” His strength and intensity and his strong stage presence made him a sensation with the judges and {…}

Jun 26, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Valentina Carrasaco Directs A New Vision Of Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ At The Rome Opera

This week the Rome Opera opens a new production of Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Caracalla with an intriguing young cast. However, what will be most excited to see is Argentine director Valentina Carrasco´s vision for the work. The Latin American director will bring her Latin flare to the famed Bizet opera in her first production, which will feature a Dia {…}

Jun 19, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Jonas Kaufmann Reaches For Mount Everest In Highly Anticipated ‘Otello’

Jonas Kaufmann is quite frankly the most famous tenor in the world. Ever since his breakout, audiences have followed Kaufmann’s career transition from the lyric repertoire to the most dramatic pieces in the tenor fach. And this week Kaufmann adds what most consider the Mount Everest of all tenor roles, “Otello.” It is considered the most difficult role by tenors {…}

Jun 12, 2017

Artist of the Week: Kirsten Chambers Rises to the Top in New York City Opera’s ‘Angels in America’

Rising stars take different paths. Some win competitions, others work their way up, while others get lucky by making a last-minute debut. Kirsten Chambers is having the season of her life, starting with a Metropolitan Opera debut that made headlines when she replaced Patricia Racette as Salome earlier this fall. Now, following a series of debuts, including one at Carnegie Hall, Chambers is {…}