Austrian soprano Leonie Rysanek may not have performed as many roles as other dramatic sopranos such as Birgit Nilsson or Kirsten Flagstad, but that has very little to do with her artistic abilities. Rysanek was meticulous in what she chose to perform, opting to nurture the key roles she established early in her repertoire rather than trying to tackle every {…}
Sasha Cooke is one the great exponents of modern music, creating some of the most memorable interpretations of 21st-century music in operas like “As One,” “Doctor Atomic,” “Everest,” and “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” This week she creates another role as the iconic Marnie in Nico Muhly’s new work based on the acclaimed novel by Winston Graham at the English National {…}
Alexander Borodin is one of the great Russian composers of the 19th century. His output is legendary, the maestro creating a number of symphonies, a famed string quartet, and the tone poem “In the Steppes of Central Asia.” He also composed a number of operas, most famously “Prince Igor,” which he never finished. Born on Nov. 12, 1833, he would {…}
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, born on Nov. 11, 1821, is one of the most influential writers of all time. His works, most famously “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov,” are best known for their psychological depth and some have gone so far as to call him one of the greatest psychologists of world literature. An ardent Christian, his works have been {…}
Friedrich Schiller is one of the great writers in history, his work focusing on major philosophy and a number of major dramas. Of course, his legacy is preserved in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the text to the final music set to Schiller’s poetry. Born on Nov. 10, 1759, his philosophical essays centered on ethics and aesthetics, two such works centering on {…}
Twenty-eight years ago, on Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came crashing down in a moment that will always go down in history for its political significance. The moment also had major musical significance as it showcased Leonard Berstein leading a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Bernstein controversially had the word “Freheit (freedom)” replace “Freude (joy)” in the text of {…}
Piero Cappuccilli is one of the great baritones of the 20th century. Born on Nov. 9, 1926, the Italian was noted for his rich and abundant voice, which was so perfect for the Verdi repertoire. The Trieste native made his official operatic debut in 1957 at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan as Tonio in “Pagliacci.” From there he would build {…}
Lamberto Gardelli, born on Nov. 8, 1915, in Venice, Italy, is one of the great Italian conductors in all of history. He dominated the repertoire of his native country, taking on the major repertory staples, and also placing a spotlight on the lesser-known operas. Among the composers that he championed in this respect was Giuseppe Verdi and it is thanks {…}
Joan Sutherland is considered one of the greatest sopranos of all time. Known as “La Stupenda,” Sutherland commanded the stage with her powerful voice, accurate intonation, thrilling high notes, and her impeccable coloratura. Throughout her career, she brought numerous roles to the forefront from a varied repertoire including the Bel canto, verismo, French, and baroque. The following are four roles {…}
