Vast Imagination – Directors Shawna Lucey & Michelle Ainna Cuizon on Bringing their Vision to Opera San José & the Opera World at Large

(Photo credit: Louis Chan / David Allen) What does the future look like for female directors in opera? Opera San José, the opera company in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, now entering its 41st season, gives OperaWire a look at two young trailblazers: the current CEO and General Director, Shawna Lucey, and Michelle Ainna Cuizon, presently in residence and {…}

Nov 14, 2024

Q & A: Rachel Fenlon on Her Debut Album ‘Winterreise’ & Accompanying Herself

(Credit: © Clara Evens) On Oct. 11, Rachel Fenlon made history with her debut album on Orchid Classics, becoming the first ever to sing and accompany herself in Schubert’s masterpiece “Winterreise” on recording. Fenlon has self-accompanied herself at prestigious festivals and venues such as Fundación Juan March, the Oxford Lieder Festival, Festival de Lanaudière, Martha Argerich Festival Hamburg, Ottawa Chamberfest, National {…}

Nov 7, 2024

Q & A: Vasilisa Berzhanskaya on Her Opera Career Path & What Keeps Her Curious in Life

(Photo Credit: Lena Fainberg) Born in Russia, mezzo-soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya is a graduate of the Russian Gnesin Academy of Music in Moscow and a former member of the Youth Opera Program at the Bolshoi Theatre. Her repertoire encompasses roles of the Italian bel canto of Rossini and Bellini, Mozart, Baroque music such as Vivaldi and Purcell, and roles from Russian {…}

Nov 6, 2024

Q & A: Vincenzo Costanzo on His Opera Career & Living a Creative Life

(Photo: Michele Monasta) Vincenzo Costanzo is one of the most promising and highly regarded young tenors on the world opera scene. Born in 1991, he joined the children’s voice choir of the San Carlo Theater in Naples at the age of six, where he made his debut as a soloist at only 11-years-old in a contemporary opera. From a very {…}

Nov 3, 2024

Q & A: Yuval Sharon on His New Book ‘A New Philosophy of Opera’ & the Upcoming Ring Cycle

(Credit: Casey Kringlen) Over the years, Yuval Sharon has amassed an “unconventional body of work” that has challenged opera norms. He is the founder and co-artistic Director of The Industry in Los Angeles and the Artistic Director of Detroit Opera. He has published reviews and has directed operas at the Bayreuth Festival, Komishce Oper Berlin, Curtis Opera Theatre, and the {…}

Oct 31, 2024

Q & A: Regents Opera’s Ben Woodward & Caroline Staunton on Putting on Wagner’s full Ring Cycle Independently in London

(Photo Credit: Frances Marshall, Marshall Light studios / Sara Porter) The Ring Cycle is a massive undertaking, one that requires an opera company with a built-in infrastructure to do it. But it is also the peak of opera production and one that every director / manager dreams of doing. So despite, the massive challenge it entailed, Regents Opera’s artistic director {…}

Oct 25, 2024

Q & A: Kitty McNamee on Her Directorial Debut at the LA Opera

This week the LA Opera is set to revive a production of “Roméo et Juliette.” The production was first created in 2005 and has not been performed since 2011. Now as the company prepares for the revival, famed choreographer Kitty McNamee will be making her directorial debut reviving the production. McNamee choreographed the production when it was first premiered and {…}

Oct 24, 2024

Q & A: Ekaterina Bakanova on ‘Manon’ and Her Favorite Roles to Perform

(Photo credit: Enrico De Luigi) Soprano Ekaterina Bakanova is a Russian born opera and oratorio singer. Italian by adoption, she famously made her Royal Opera House debut in “La Traviata,” with just a few hours notice, after Sonya Yoncheva became ill in 2015. She has since performed in many of the renowned opera houses in the world. She is the {…}

Oct 23, 2024

Q & A: Soprano Adriana Kučerová on Her Role as the Vixen and the Political Problems Facing Opera in Slovakia

(Photo: Lukáš Kimlička) Having recently reviewed a marvelous production of “The Cunning Little Vixen” by the Slovak National Theatre Opera in Bratislava, OperaWire decided to take the opportunity to interview the vixen, played by soprano Adriana Kučerová. One of the stars of the Slovak National Theatre Opera, Kučerová has an established international reputation and has performed widely in leading opera {…}

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