Perpetuating the Legacy of a Dear Friend – Gastón Ormazábal on Creating & Developing the Hildegard Behrens Foundation In Honor of the Historic Soprano

It was 1980, and Hildegard Behrens was at the Metropolitan Opera singing “Fidelio” with Jon Vickers. Gastón Ormazábal was but a student at Columbia University, where he is today a Senior Research Scientist. The two were about to meet for the first time. Neither knew that they would develop a friendship that would transcend Behrens’ lifetime. As Ormazábal, now the {…}

Feb 8, 2018

Q & A: Composer Daniel Thomas Davis on Creating ‘Family Secrets: Kith and Kin’ With 7 Librettists

The year 2018 is shaping up to be a major one for composer Daniel Thomas Davis. On Feb. 15 and 16, he will witness the staged premiere of his 2015 opera “Family Secrets: Kith and Kin” and then, this weekend, his opera “Six. Twenty. Outrageous,” will also get its world premiere. The composer hails from North Carolina and has had {…}

Feb 6, 2018

Q & A: Kevin Puts & Mark Campbell On the Creation of ‘Elizabeth Cree’

Murder, mystery, and mayhem are on offer in “Elizabeth Cree” when it opens this Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Chicago Opera Theater. Set in 1880s Victorian London, the opera begins with the hanging of Elizabeth Cree for the murder of her husband, John. The story then circles back to the trial for that murder and Elizabeth’s own narrative of her {…}

Jan 25, 2018

The People’s Opera – New York City Opera General Director Michael Capasso On Diverse Programming Driving Renaissance

The New York City Opera, an institution that had been at the heart of New York City’s opera culture was dead. Its fate was unknown. That’s when Michael Capasso stepped in. He had already worked extensively as a stage director and had even founded his own company, the Dicapo Opera Theatre in 1981. So he was not new to taking {…}

Jan 19, 2018

Q & A: American Opera Initiative Director Robert Ainsley On Growing the Opera World & Challenges For Aspiring Composers / Librettists

Growing opera has become one of the essential missions of major opera companies. Fostering new talent, whether it be singers or composers, is now an active part of most opera companies’ structures. That is no different for the Washington National Opera and its American Opera Initiative. The program was initiated in 2012 with the goal to “stimulate, enrich, and ensure {…}

Jan 15, 2018

Continuing A Legacy – Former Met Opera Star Lucine Amara On The Future Of Opera Through the NJ Verismo Opera

What do you do once you have retired from singing? Some opera singers dedicate themselves to teaching while others begin directing. Others, still, begin young artist programs. For legendary soprano Lucine Amara, now 92, it’s about all of these as she has devoted her energy to building an opera company that gives an opportunity to young singers. For the past {…}

Dec 20, 2017

Q&A: Opera On Tap’s Anne Hiatt On Making A Horror VR Opera

Ever heard of a VR opera? Most opera lovers probably haven’t as it is a recent experiment that Opera On Tap has engaged in. The company recently released “The Parksville Murders,” an opera that combines music with film and VR. It experiments with voice, sound, and musical styles to create an engrossing and enriching experience. OperaWire sat down with Anne {…}

Dec 10, 2017

Christmas Spectacular – Tenor Rolando Villazón & Music Director Dr. Mack Wilberg on the Annual ‘Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir

Every single year, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir puts on the holiday performance of Utah. And a year later, audiences around the world get to revel in its beauty via PBS. This year’s showcase, scheduled for Dec. 15, 2017 on PBS and on Dec. 17 on BYUtv, is set to be no different. Since its inception in 2000, the “Christmas with {…}

Nov 24, 2017

The Masterpiece of French Opera – Conductor John Nelsons On His Lifelong Relationship & Warner Classics Recording of Berlioz’s ‘Les Troyens’

Back in 1973, 32-year-old conductor John Nelson took the stage at Carnegie Hall. He was leading his first-ever performance of Berlioz’s monumental opera “Les Troyens.” Little did he know at that moment that the piece could come to become one of the most important of his entire career. “I was a kid back then,” the conductor told OperaWire in a {…}

Nov 14, 2017

For the Love of Rossini – Maestro José Miguel Pérez-Sierra on Why Pesaro’s Genius is One of the Greatest Artists of All Time

Is Rossini one of the greatest composers of all time? A critical survey of his work would lead to a mixed answer here. Most would recognize his great achievements as a composer, though many in history also note that his efforts were evolved and superseded by composers that came later. His impact on history is fixed, but his impact today {…}

Nov 5, 2017

Q & A: 59 Productions Director Mark Grimmer on Working At Metropolitan Opera & Nico Muhly’s ‘Marnie’

One of the more interesting developments in the opera world is the convergence of the theatrical experience with the audiovisual arts. At the Metropolitan Opera, this has been particularly noticeable in such works as “Satyagraha” and “The Enchanted Island,” where video projections are an essential part of the operatic experience, not only creating the environment, but also commenting on it. {…}

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