Opera Meets Film: How Straub & Huillet’s ‘Moses und Aron’ Leaves Us to Our Own Interpretative Devices

Despite Arnold Schoenberg’s (1874-1951) widespread popularity as one of the most important ‘fathers of serialism’ and the person almost solely responsible for ushering in the age of dodecaphony (12-tone technique), his four operas are largely unknown. Despite this, it was Schoenberg’s fourth opera, “Moses und Aron,” which would transform opera forever. No longer constricted by the indulgent attitudes of Italian {…}

Aug 2, 2022

Artist of the Week: Nicola Campogrande

This week Festival Della Valle D’Itria is set to present its final opera of the season. It will world premiere “Opera Italiana” by Nicola Campogrande, a composer who is regarded as “one of the most interesting Italian composers of the young generation.” The new opera was written between 2008 and 2010 and was commissioned by Comitato Italia 150. The opera {…}

Jul 25, 2022

Artist of the Week: Catherine Foster

On July 25, the Bayreuth Festival opens with a production of “Tristan und Isolde.” The new production will be directed by Roland Schwab and will star some of the great Wagnerians in the world. Among the stars is Catherine Foster, who is bringing her acclaimed Isolde to the Bayreuth stage for the very first time. Foster made her debut at {…}

Jul 11, 2022

Artist of the Week: Eric Ferring

(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) This week the Santa Fe Opera is set to open a new production of “Falstaff” by Sir. David McVicar. The work will star many well-established names in the industry as well as several rising stars who have begun making names for themselves over the past few years. One of those rising stars is American {…}

Jul 5, 2022

Artist of the Week: Michele Mariotti

(Credit: ©Rocco Casaluci) This week the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence opened its 2022 edition featuring an array of repertoire and exciting productions. The festival will bring some of the most recognizable names in the operatic world as well as some of the best conductors and directors. On July 7, the company will open its new production of “Moïse et Pharaon” with Michele {…}

Jul 2, 2022

Top 10 Most Historic Opera Houses in the World

OperaWire is proud to partner with Appreciate Opera, a website founded by Alkis Karmpaliotis which highlights his passion for opera. Karmpaliotis, an OperaWire contributing author, focuses on his passion for opera and how to share it with newer and younger audiences. There are many opera houses across the world, and each one has its unique qualities and characteristics. There is {…}

Jun 9, 2022

Opera Meets Film: How Andrzej Żuławski’s ‘Boris Godunov’ Shows Past as Prologue

In January 1989, the Polish film director Andrzej Żuławski released his film “Boris Godunov,” a film that cost seven million dollars to create. It featured a live production of the monster opera conducted by the eminent Soviet cellist and conductor, Mstislav Rostropovich. The film would re-conceptualize the opera in a mise en abyme (self-reflection) style, layering the operatic performance inside {…}

Jun 7, 2022

Artist of the Week: Benjamin Appl

Over the past years, Benjamin Appl has become one of the great recitalists and lieder singers of his generation. He has performed many of the major song cycles in the repertoire and has made Schubert, in particular, a signature. OperaWire has raved about the baritone stating, that he is a “consummate artist” and one of the “foremost interpreters of German {…}

May 31, 2022

Artist of the Week: Aigul Akhmetshina

(Credit: Elisa Haberer) Aigul Akhmetshina is considered one of today’s promising stars in the opera world and has been hailed for her “immaculate voice” and “delicate timbre.” She made history when she became the youngest Belvedere Competition Winner who debuted at the Royal Opera House as “Carmen” at the age of 21. Since then she has made major debuts at the {…}

Special Features

Artist of the Week: Julie Fuchs