Maria Guleghina and Salvatore Licitra were always great friends and onstage partners. They also celebrated birthdays one year apart. With Guleghina born on August 9 and Licitra on August 10, it is no surprise that we continue to find links between these two great artists and that in some ways, their legacy is joined. Of course, the two had incredible {…}
Bryan Hymel, born on August 8, 1979, is one of the exciting artists living and breathing today. The American tenor, whose lyric voice makes him perfect for the French repertoire and some dips into the Italian, is one of the most sought-after around the world, putting his mark on such operas as “Les Troyens” and “Guillaume Tell.” He doesn’t have {…}
It’s that time of the year when opera seasons return and when some of the biggest stars grace the world’s most prominent stages. In the case of United States, there will be a number of world premieres as well as rising stars and established stars who have some fascinating performances planned for this year. With hundreds of different shows, OperaWire has curated {…}
In 2008 a new star graced the stage of the Salzburg Festival in “Roméo et Juliette,” showcasing dramatic power and promising to become the next big star in the opera world. All eyes were on Nino Machaidze who many believed would follow a specific route in the lyric repertoire. However, after nine years of an immensely successful career, Machaidze has {…}
Erich Kleiber is widely considered one of the great conductors of the mid-20th century. Born on August 5, 1890, he was in love with Wagner’s art from his childhood, playing piano transcriptions from such works as “Lohengrin” and “Tristan.” He would go on to a legendary career, particularly in the world of opera, where he had a truly profound impact. {…}
Many of the great opera singers have the luxury of leaving behind essential recordings. But some of them, unfortunately, don’t get that same opportunity, their voices often getting lost in history. This is not necessarily the case for the great Gabriela Tucci, born on August 4, 1929. The versatile singing-actress made a big name for herself singing across some of {…}
“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 Lars Von Trier’s {…}
Gundula Janowitz, born on August 2, 1937, is one of the most famous sopranos of the 20th century, spanning a wide range of German repertoire and making her name well-regarded in oratorios, lieder, and other concerts. While she had a major association with a wide range of great conductors and the greatest opera houses in the world, there is one {…}
Theo Adam was one of the all-time great Wagnerian artists, dominating the opera stage between the 1940s and 90s. Born on August 1, 1926, his career featured quite an extensive repertoire, with Adam not only singing all the major Wagner roles for bass-baritone, but also making success incursions into Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, and many other composers. But for many Adam {…}
