Everyone knows the composer. Verdi’s “Otello.” Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” Etc. But few pay attention to the writer, the person who actually provides these great geniuses with the text for their music. Eugene Scribe, born on Dec. 24, 1791, is one of the most notable librettist in all of opera, and yet he doesn’t quite come up in conversations {…}
Puccini, born on Dec. 22, 1858, has provided the entire world with some of the greatest operas ever conceived by mankind. With his lush melodies that pull on anyone’s heartstrings and his incredible sense of drama, the composer became the Italian heir to Verdi and essentially the end of the formal line of Italian tradition. After Puccini’s death in the {…}
Fernando Corena, born on Dec. 22, 1916, had a long-standing association with the Metropolitan Opera. In fact, he sang over 700 times with the company between 1954 and 1978. His first ever performance with the company was as Leporello in “Don Giovanni,” that debut coming on Feb. 6, 1954. On Dec. 30, 1978, he finished off his Met career in {…}
Conductor Fritz Reiner was one of the prominent maestros of the 20th century. Born on Dec. 19, 1988, he most famously led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for a great number of years. He worked with some of the world’s finest musicians, famously recording concertos with Jascha Heifetz, but was also noted for his work in the opera house. At the {…}
It has been three years since Lisette Oropesa last stepped on the Metropolitan Opera stage where she fostered the majority of her young career. For years since 2005 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Oropesa was the go-to for numerous comprimario roles and supporting roles. She sang such roles as Nanetta in “Falstaff,” Lay Sister in “Suor Angelica,” {…}
Beethoven only ever finished one opera – “Fidelio.” But this wasn’t the only work he attempted to create. In fact, the famed composer did intend to make a name for himself on the stage, but it never came to fruition outside of “Fidelio.” One other attempt was “Vestas Feuer.” With a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder,” Beethoven made his attempt at {…}
Bulgaria soprano Raina Kabaivanska was born on Dec. 15, 1934 and would go on to a prominent opera career that saw her sing with such companies as the Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera, the Budapest Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, the Dallas Opera, the Paris Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, among many other places. {…}
Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, born on Dec. 14, 1969, is one of the world’s most renowned Italian bass-baritones. Since his auspicious debut in the early 1990s, he has been a leading singer around the world, appearing at major opera houses under such conductors as Valery Gergiev, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Chailly, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, and Seiji Ozawa, among many others. He’s become one of {…}
It’s that time of year. That time where we look just before we look forward. We look back to remember all the good times of the year so that we can take stock of what we hope for in the new one. Every year in the opera world has its share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera {…}
