“La Bohème” is arguably the most popular opera in the world. It is full of intense intimacy, universal emotions, and ultimately allows us to revel characters that we, at some point, have known and experienced. For soprano Elizabeth Caballero, that Puccini classic is almost akin to a leitmotif in her life. On March 2, 2018, one of her greatest artistic {…}
“Lucia di Lammermoor” is one of the important canonical works and most divas are measured by their abilities to manage the great challenges of this bel canto opera. One of the foremost performers of the opera today is Australian soprano Jessica Pratt, who has sung the work in over 20 productions and 80 performances with such companies as Teatro alla {…}
On April 9, 2018, audiences will gather at London’s Coliseum for the International Opera Awards to honor those who come from across the globe to make opera what it is today. Among them will be Armenia soprano Anush Hovhannisyan, who is coming off a massive success in 2017 when she was among the contestants for the BBC Cardiff Singer of {…}
Tenor Andrea Carè is a man on the rise. Over the last few years, his star has risen with his interpretations of some of opera’s most potent tenor roles garnering high praise and interest. It all started for him in 2001 when he started his vocal studies at the Conservatorio “Giuseppe Verdi” in Turin. In 2005, he won the Teatro {…}
Nine house debuts in one season. That’s a pretty daunting task for any artist, especially when considering the pressures that come with each individual one of those contrasting environments. But imagine making those house debuts while making role debuts. It’s one thing to try out a new opera in a familiar place, but to do it where you have no {…}
There’s a big conversation going on in the world of opera (and at large) about the need for women to come to the forefront of the creative process. Not only managing opera houses or in a leading role, but also in creating new and refreshing works that tell new and inciting stories. More people like Marisa Michelson, who aside from {…}
“It might be good to have opera in ‘country music’ country.” Former Knoxville Opera Board Member Brenda Maupin recalls the thinking of Edward Zambara, the late bass-baritone and University of Tennessee Voice Department Chair. In 1976, with help from the city of Knoxville and opera lovers on the Greater Knoxville Arts Council, he founded Knoxville Civic Opera and became its {…}
Since winning the international singing competition ‘As. Li. Co’ in Milan, things have only been on the rise for baritone Franco Vassallo. He’s turned into one of the foremost intepreters of the bel canto repertoire of Donizetti and Bellini, as well as many Verdi, and has sung at La Scala Milan, the Vienna Staatsoper, and the Metropolitan Opera New York. {…}
Next Sunday, March 25, New York audiences will get to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event as Harry Bicket and The English Concert takes the stage of Carnegie Hall with a superstar cast. While the likes Luca Pisaroni, Jane Archibald, and Iestyn Davies are likely to have everyone’s attention before the showcase, it is another artist that could also steal some of {…}