James Morris and Sherrill Milnes were both born on Jan. 10, though Milnes is 12 years older than his American colleague. The two shared the stage on several occasions with Milnes taking on leading baritone roles and Morris championing the leading bass parts. Their voices usually aren’t categorized in the same manner, Milnes being a baritone and Morris a bass-baritone. {…}
Italian soprano Herva Nelli, born on Jan. 9, 1909, may not be a major household name the way other sopranos of the early 20th century have become, but she surely had an adventurous and prolific career that kicked off in the United States. Born in Italy, her family moved to the States when she was but 10, eventually studying at {…}
Salome is widely considered one of the most challenging roles in the soprano repertoire. It’s not only a vocal tour de force but a chance to showcase a soprano’s dramatic force. This week, Swedish soprano Malin Byström returns to the Royal Opera House making her house role debut as Strauss’ “Salome” after stunning critics and audiences in the role at the {…}
When the Vienna State Opera kicks off its production of Bellini’s “I Puritani” on Jan. 4, the work will feature a soprano that few people have heard of in recent years – Venera Gimadieva, alongside a cast that includes Adam Plachetka, Jongmin Park, and Dmitry Korchak. Gimadieva is no outsider to be sure. The 33-year-old Russian soprano trained at the {…}
With 2018 beginning there is so much to look forward to as many of the greatest stars will take on new roles while others will reprise signature parts in new productions alongside star-studded casts. The following is a look at some of the most anticipated new and revival productions that are all likely to create buzz and conversations around the {…}
For many, 2017 was a year to celebrate with many triumphs. It was also a tough year for arts institutions fighting sexual harassment scandals and numerous political issues. And it was also a year that saw many beloved artists and celebrities’ lives come to an end. The opera world was particularly devastated by the loss of many major stars, some of {…}
It’s popular to make year-end lists, and I saw between 30-35 performances during the calendar year. Much of what I saw was terrific and, of course, there were many more outstanding performances that I didn’t see. These are the five that I will remember the most from what I saw; they are not necessarily the best but will remain in {…}
June Anderson, born on December 30, 1952, authored one of the unique opera careers of the 20th century. The lyric soprano seemed destined for the path often taken, but wound up moving in diverse directions with regards to repertoire. This very aspect was revealed in her becoming the first non-Italian to ever win the prestigious Bellini d’Oro Prize. She sang {…}
Piotr Beczala is one of the world’s premier tenors. Born on Dec. 28, Beczala has become one of the go-to leading men around the world, amassing a plethora of diverse roles and an enviable repertoire to boot. He straddles Italian opera as well as he does German or Polish or Russian or French. Speaking of said repertory, he has also {…}
