Through the mid-20th century, there were a number of major tenors dominating the opera scene, often pushing some truly incredible talents out of the main focus. While tenor Giuseppe Giacomini, born on Sept. 7, 1940, was never relegated to the sidelines, the greatness of his career might have been overshadowed by other legendary successes. Here is a look at the {…}
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu possesses a warm, plush timbre that is distinctively unique ― one note and it’s apparent it’s Gheorghiu. Also possessing dramatic abilities that rival Hollywood’s most respected actresses and the Romanian soprano has secured a place as one of the most established singers in history. Born on Sept. 7, 1965, Gheorghiu is perhaps most celebrated for her interpretations {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Joe Wright’s incredible {…}
These days Giacomo Meyerbeer is not the most well-known of opera composers. It is actually quite a sad statement to make as the composer, born on Sept. 5, 1791, was arguably the Steven Spielberg of his day. His operas were the toast of the town in Paris, known for their tremendous showmanship and memorable music. To be Meyerbeer was the {…}
Today, Karita Mattila is considered a legend and a consummate singer who has scored triumphs all over the world. Her repertoire has always been varied and unpredictable and that has made her an artist to always look forward to. Mattila is also one of those rare singers that has been able to reinvent herself as time has passed and she recently {…}
Christine Goerke is considered one of today’s most important dramatic sopranos, performing the most challenging music in the repertoire. Her emergence as the next great Brünnhilde has audiences excited, especially since she is slated to take it on all over the country. But it wasn’t always that way as she began her career with lyric roles and the switch only came {…}
Ramón Vinay was one of the greatest dramatic tenors of all-time, his dark and potent voice often cited as the shining example of what Verdi’s “Otello” should sound like. In fact, Carlo Bergonzi famously declared that Vinay’s was the only one he found suitable for the role of the tragic Moor. Vinay, born on August 31, 1912, in Chile, actually {…}
Amilcare Ponchielli, born on August 31, will always be remembered for one work of opera – “La Gioconda.” And some might add that not even these days the opera is as popular as to give him sufficient clout as one of opera’s legendary composers. In reality, the composer’s famous work has lost its status in recent years, and by extension, {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Pete Doctor’s “Up.” {…}
