Mozart is arguably the world’s most renowned composer. He created a plethora of amazing works of classical music in a rather short time, dying well before his 40th birthday. Mozart’s operas are a major touchstone of his compositional legacy and are undeniably among the most studied and loved of his works. Their history is full of fascinating patterns and trivia. {…}
Feeling gloomy today? Or perhaps on the ultimate high? It’s all very operatic. The world of this famed art form is full of intense emotions with major characters taking painstaking time to delineate what they are feeling and how intensely. These powerful solo are amazing ways to connect with each of us on a truly immersive and visceral level, allowing {…}
They say art reflects life and so often the experiences we engage with in artistic form are those that help to shape our world view. The beauty of art is how it is able to traverse a wide range of perspectives, giving us not only different ways of seeing humanity, but also different ways to feel about it. Bel Canto {…}
Happy New Year! This is a time of excitement, introspection, and probably a dose of anxiety as we all figure out how we might want to live this next chapter in our lives. There are so many directions our lives can take at a given moment with our priorities constantly shifting. So here’s an opera quiz where you can see {…}
Is there any opera that says New Year’s Eve more than Strauss’ “Fledermaus?” It is an opera about exploring the different roles we play to hide from the people we actually are. This is at the core of the operetta’s chief protagonist. Which one best represents how you live and what you will bring into 2019 and beyond?
Tosca. Mimí. Rodolfo and his bohemian friends. Musetta. Suor Angelica. Manon Lescaut. Gianni Schicchi. Turandot. Cio-Cio San. The list goes on and on when it comes to Puccini’s iconic characters. Each and everyone is crucial to the composer’s output and the way that he gives them each unique voices are a part of the reason for his transcendence. In honor {…}
Beethoven, born around Dec. 17, 1770 (he was baptized on that day), was one of the greatest composers of all time. His musical and artistic legacy is ripe with symphonic music and great chamber works that endure to this day. However, he only wrote one opera – “Fidelio.” This work is often cited as a flawed masterpiece with some sloppy {…}
Pietro Mascagni, born on Dec. 7, 1863, had an extensive career as an opera composer. Despite that, we remember him today for “Cavalleria Rusticana,” an enduring masterpiece about revenge and betrayal. The work is undeniably a fixture of the canon because of its incredible music, yet it was revolutionary because of the perspective it took on its characters. No longer {…}
La Divina, born on Dec. 2, 1923, sang just under 50 roles over the course of her career. From Carmen to Medea to Tosca, she approached each role with the dramatic prowess which truly earned her the title that we so lovingly reference to this day. In musical circles, Callas has always been and will always remain a topic of {…}
Donizetti, born on Nov. 29, 1797, is one of the major figures of the bel canto era. He is remembered today for a plethora of operas that retain firm standing in the operatic repertory. His music is renowned for its melodious nature but one of the overrated aspects of his works is that they feature rich and iconic characters. We {…}
As far as opera composers in the English language go, Benjamin Britten is arguably the greatest there has ever been. Born on Nov. 22, 1913, Britten would go on to compose many of the staples of the modern opera repertoire. “Peter Grimes” is widely considered one of the greatest works in the repertory, while “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Billy {…}
