English composer Benjamin Britten holds a reputation as one of the most prolific figures in 20th-century music. With a massive centennial celebration held worldwide just four years ago, his legacy is still preserved today as opera houses around the world continue to stage his legendary pieces. Britten was born on Nov. 22, 1913, and not a day has gone by where {…}
Sumi Jo has had a fascinating career. Born on Nov. 22, 1962, the South Korean soprano has not only established an international career singing at all the major opera houses around the globe, winning several major awards and competitions (including a Grammy), but she has also seen herself in contention for an Oscar. In fact, she’s had quite the career {…}
Rene Kollo (or René Kollodzieyski, as he was born on Nov. 20, 1937), was a renowned Wagnerian tenor. He took on every major leading role by the great composer, recording almost all of his interpretations to great acclaim with the best of conductors. His Siegfried was recorded with Wolfgang Sawallisch, his Lohengrin and Walther von Stolzing with Herbert Von Karajan, {…}
Agnes Baltsa is one of Greece’s gift to the opera world. Born on Nov. 19, 1944, the mezzo-soprano put together one of the most exciting opera careers in the 20th century. She actually started playing the piano at age six and moved to Athens at the age of 14 to concentrate on developing her voice. From there she climbed the {…}
Amelita Galli-Curci, born on Nov. 18, 1882, was one of the greatest singers of her era and continues to be revered as one of the finest of all time. And it isn’t hard to see why. Her technique was impeccable and to this day she remains one of the shining examples of exquisite vocal phrasing and overall polish. Just pop {…}
Daniel Barenboim, born on Nov. 15, 1942, is one of the world’s greatest conductors. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he would go to become a child prodigy as a pianist, taking on conducting in later years. Nowadays he is well-regarded for his wide-ranging musicianship, which has undoubtedly extended into the world of opera. His opera conducting debut came in 1973 {…}
Austrian soprano Leonie Rysanek may not have performed as many roles as other dramatic sopranos such as Birgit Nilsson or Kirsten Flagstad, but that has very little to do with her artistic abilities. Rysanek was meticulous in what she chose to perform, opting to nurture the key roles she established early in her repertoire rather than trying to tackle every {…}
Alexander Borodin is one of the great Russian composers of the 19th century. His output is legendary, the maestro creating a number of symphonies, a famed string quartet, and the tone poem “In the Steppes of Central Asia.” He also composed a number of operas, most famously “Prince Igor,” which he never finished. Born on Nov. 12, 1833, he would {…}
Kristine Opolais, born on Nov. 12, 1979, has built up quite a prominent career all around the entire world. Born in Latvia, she would go on to join the chorus of the Latvian National Opera, then slowly but surely make her way through some of the famed houses in Europe. Along the way, she has developed a wide range of {…}
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, born on Nov. 11, 1821, is one of the most influential writers of all time. His works, most famously “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov,” are best known for their psychological depth and some have gone so far as to call him one of the greatest psychologists of world literature. An ardent Christian, his works have been {…}
Friedrich Schiller is one of the great writers in history, his work focusing on major philosophy and a number of major dramas. Of course, his legacy is preserved in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the text to the final music set to Schiller’s poetry. Born on Nov. 10, 1759, his philosophical essays centered on ethics and aesthetics, two such works centering on {…}