On September 17, 2022, the newly renamed Detroit Opera, formerly Michigan Opera Theatre, mounted the first production of their 2022-2023 season. What Detroit Opera (DO) presented was nothing short of unique. Marketed as a “one-night miracle” by the Los Angeles Times, DO’s digitally enhanced retelling of Act three of Wagner’s “The Valkyries,” the second in his four-opera epic “The Ring {…}
Photo credit: James Elliott On Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, New York’s New Camerata Opera staged a double-bill featuring two French one-act operas, Lili Boulanger’s “Faust et Hélène” and Maurice Ravel’s “L’heure Espagnole.” The company, known for its fun and immersive productions, brought these relatively obscure works to the Irondale Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The venue is beautifully decrepit and {…}
Photo credit: ROH Salome © Tristram Kenton David McVicar’s production of Richard Strauss’ “Salome”, designed by Es Devlin, was first seen in 2008, and is receiving its fourth revival at Covent Garden with Bárbara Lluch at the helm. It opened the night following the death of Queen Elizabeth II – “Don Giovanni” the night before was cancelled in the circumstances {…}
(Photo: The Photography Shed) Situated in the shade of the Chiltern Hills on the outskirts of London lies The Vache, a country house dating from the 16th century, with extensive grounds covering 86 acres. In 2020, it became the venue for Vache Baroque, a late summer festival dedicated to the performance of baroque music, under the stewardship of Betty Makharinsky {…}
In March 2022, just a month after Russia’s unprovoked and illegal attack on Ukraine, Spotlight Artists Management presented a benefit concert to support Ukraine at St. John’s Church In the Village. There was much uncertainty regarding the outcome of the war. It was a time of heartbreak, but also of Ukrainian pride. As of this writing, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have the {…}
On Sept. 15, the Teatro Real de Madrid made history when it took the stage of Carnegie Hall for the first time in its history. The concert, which was titled “A Celebration of Spanish Music First Gala Concert,” was in truth a celebration of a culture and its fiery and passionate spirit. Falla & Albéniz The concert opened with Falla’s {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver) “I am fire and air; my other elements I give to baser life.” So sings Cleopatra in John Adams’ “Antony and Cleopatra.” The baser life about which Cleopatra sings is everything that is not she and everything that was not Antony. So Adams tells us in the latest from his roster of remarkable operas. San Francisco Opera {…}
(Photo: Frances Marshall) Opera Collective Ireland’s mission is to promote the country’s next generation of opera talent “by producing quality productions that provide valuable performance opportunities in major roles.” Since its establishment in 2011 many singers have passed through its doors and gone on to establish successful careers, with names such as Jennifer Davis, Sarah Richmond and Marie Flavin springing {…}
(Photo: Die Fotografen) The Innsbruck Early Music Festival’s Cesti Competition, now in its 13th year, continues to cement its standing as a prestige international singing competition for baroque specialists. The final, which took place in Innsbruck’s Haus der Musik in front of an enthusiastic audience, consisted of 10 singers from six countries, comprising two countertenors, five sopranos, two tenors and {…}