The sudden death of Pierre Audi in May this year lent a moving note to the presentation of the Birgit Nilsson Prize in Stockholm on October 21. The prize, which has been awarded every three years since 2009, now went to the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, where Audi had been artistic director since 2018 – a deeply fitting tribute to a man {…}
Earlier this summer, I returned to Cooperstown to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Glimmerglass Festival, a place that, quite simply, changed the course of my life. Standing once again on their majestic campus, I was inspired to reflect on my own journey as a performer and as a person, as well as the impact the Festival has had {…}
Following its win for “Best Musical Film” at the Cannes World Film Festival, John Aylward’s one-act opera film “Oblivion” will be performed and screened internationally this fall. First, Enigma Chamber Opera will present a live workshop performance of “Oblivion” at the Goethe-Institut Boston on Nov. 6. This event will feature live vocal performances alongside projected film excerpts, offering audiences a {…}
Photo Credits: Sabine Toepffer Almost every year, a multitude of operas are premiered, some of which never really get publicly highlighted as they should due to certain operas taking the limelight, funds, and critical attention. Thus, in this three-month series entitled, Opera History Flashbacks, we’ll be taking a look at three historically important years and the operas that were premiered {…}
(credit Yunchis Artyom5) This week the Metropolitan Opera’s “La Boheme” returns to the stage with a young cast of rising stars. Among them will be Juliana Grigoryan, who will sing her first lead role at the Metropolitan after debuting in 2024. The Armenian soprano will sing the role of Mimi, which she has already performed at the Ravenna Festival and {…}
This week, the Glyndebourne Festival is set to open its autumn festival, featuring several rising stars. Among those is Armenian baritone Aksel Daveyan, who is making his debut with the company. Over the years, the baritone has established himself as one of the most promising baritones of his generation. Over the years, he has appeared at the Zürich Opera in {…}
The Atlanta Opera Film Studio is set to release 18 new cinematic opera films. Past Atlanta Opera productions such as, “La bohème,” “The Anonymous Lover,” and “Das Rheingold,” have been developed from live performances into richly produced films which will be available to watch on the company’s streaming platform. Beginning Sept. 25, subscribers of the Film Studio will receive access {…}
Photo Credit: Hugo Thomassen/Nationale Opera & Ballet Striking a balance between innovation and tradition, the genre of opera films often toes the fine line between two ways of viewing both art-forms. When opera is treated as the subject it comes to life, playing the leading role, whereas when opera is perceived as the object its role becomes supportive, and life {…}
This week, the Teatro alla Scala is set to world premiere “Anna A.,” a new work by Silvia Colasanti. The work is conceived primarily for a young audience and tells the story of the poet Anna Akhmatova in 20th-century Russia. Narrated through a language that blends music and spoken word, the opera delivers a universal message about the conflict between {…}
