As a child growing up in growing up in Tel Aviv, soprano Natalia Tsvi loved to sing. She was part of the Neighbors of Chich as a teen, an ensemble with which she performed a lot of music, including classic covers and original musicals all over Israel. For tenor Gilad Paz, it was much the same. He grew up in {…}
(Credits: Charly Hel) OperaWire’s initial interview with Alagna was set to take place after his performance of “Don Carlos” in Paris. But two acts into the performance, he had to withdraw from the performance and also postpone the interview. “I’m sorry we have to postpone,” he warmly said that evening. “I’d better not use my cords today to keep it {…}
The winds of change are sweeping down the plains. Bring them on, say the directors of The Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Given the chance to re-invent itself with the opening of the Kauffman Center in 2011 and new production-facilities buildings shortly thereafter, the Lyric has grasped the opportunity with an impressive energy, wholly characteristic of the region’s revival. {…}
On Nov. 7, the White Light Festival in Lincoln Center will present the U.S. premieres of James MacMillan’s widely acclaimed “Stabat Mater” and “Miserere” as part of the 10th anniversary of the festival. Harry Christophers, music director and founder of The Sixteen choir, will lead both works alongside the Britten Sinfonia ensemble. It’s a big year for Christophers, who is celebrating the {…}
(Credit: Matthew Staver) Baritone Malcolm MacKenzie loves playing the bad guys. On his website he notes that Scarpia, the villainous police chief who sexually harasses Tosca before being murdered, is his favorite role. Another of his favorites is the conniving Iago and he was even the first man to take on the role of the vengeful Roger Chillingworth in the {…}
(Credit: Janine Guldener) The Berlin-based mezzo-soprano Bettina Ranch dreamed about a career as a singer since childhood. And while she started off her musical path as a violinist, she eventually made the switch, which has led her to a major vocal career greater than even her dreams could handle. She has been an ensemble member of the Aalto Musiktheater Essen {…}
(Credit: Matt Madison-Clark) Be careful around Zachary James. In his role as the cook in Prokofiev’s madcap “Love for Three Oranges” with Opera Philadelphia, he wielded a lethal ladle. If you were a fan of ESPN’s show, “Great Outdoor Games” you may have seen him handling an ax as a lumberjack, promoting the show in a television commercial. The New {…}
(Credit: Brittney Werner) If you visit New Orleans today, you can pop into the Napoleon House, the supposed location in which the former emperor would live out his days in North America. The music that you’ll hear while sipping your Pimm’s Cup in the 200-year-old house-turned-bar is classical. Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony is on repeat, after all, the maestro wrote it {…}
For five years, the Dallas Opera’s Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors has done something that few other major companies have done – champion women conductors. The program, the first ever designed to meet the needs of women opera conductors, has allowed participants an opportunity to engage in a wide-range of musical opportunities alongside some of the most {…}