Q & A: Soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn On Her Career Path & Upcoming Metropolitan Opera Debut In ‘Porgy And Bess’

(Credit: Shirley Suarez) British soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn is currently preparing for a career milestone: her Metropolitan Opera debut, in James Robinson’s new production of “Porgy and Bess.” She will take to the stage for the Oct. 13, 2019 performance, opposite Eric Owens. An increasingly sought-after specialist in the Italian repertoire, a few of her recent roles include the title roles of “Manon {…}

Sep 21, 2019

King of the Opera House – How Director General Umberto Fanni Is Transforming the Royal Opera House Muscat

(Credit: © KHALID ALBUSAIDI / Provided by Royal Opera House Muscat) He was artistic director all over Italy with such organizations as the Teatro Licirco Di Caligari, the Arena di Verona, the Teatro Lirico di Trieste, and Teatro Comunale Odea di Lumezzane. But now Umberto Fanni is thousands of miles away leading as the General Director of the Royal Opera {…}

Sep 15, 2019

Q & A: Opera Memphis General Director Ned Canty on Equity in the Arts & 30 Days of Opera

(Opera Memphis/ Ziggy Mack) Committed to bringing opera to modern audiences in a meaningful and accessible manner, Opera Memphis is underway with a number of artistic initiatives which bring together matters of race, equity, and music. Currently halfway through its 30 Days of Opera program, the company has taken its passion to local venues and markets throughout the city of {…}

Sep 12, 2019

Q & A: Enrique Mazzola On Being Lyric Opera Of Chicago’s New Music Director

(Credit:©Jean-Baptiste Millot Photograph) For the past 10 years, Enrique Mazzola has become one of the leading Bel Canto conductors in the world and a leading specialist in French works. He is the Principal Guest Conductor at Deutsche Oper Berlin and has served as Artistic & Music Director of the Orchestre National d’Île de France. But now he is set to {…}

Sep 11, 2019

Q & A: Gil Rose On Resurrecting Saint-Saëns’ ‘Henry VIII’

(Credit: Kathy Wittman) Boston’s Odyssey Opera has revealed that it will be “crossing the pond to merry old England” for its seventh season, which will feature a plethora of rarely performed Tudor-themed operas by a variety of composers. The company’s Founder and General-Artistic Director, Gil Rose, recently shared some insight with OperaWire on the upcoming season, particularly its exciting opener: a quasi-premiere {…}

Sep 9, 2019

Q & A: Tenor Xabier Anduaga On Winning Operalia & His Return To The Donizetti Opera Festival

On July 26, 2019, Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga (along with fellow competitor Adriana Gonzalez) achieved one of opera’s most coveted distinctions as he joined the circle of Operalia 1st Prize winners. The Operalia competition has been transforming talented young singers into stars of the opera scene since 1993, with winners frequently becoming headliners at top venues across the globe. This {…}

Sep 8, 2019

Life on The Road – Opera Couple Sara Duchovnay & Clay Hilley Open Up About The RV Lifestyle

(Credit: Kaleigh Rae Photography) The opera lifestyle is one of the most complex and challenging. Working singers are constantly on the road and generally have little time to truly establish a homebase where they spend most of their time with families and loved ones. If anything, the idea of a homebase can be fleeting with many singers and their families {…}

Sep 3, 2019

Q & A: Tenor Joshua Dennis On Huang Ruo, Poul Ruders, & Realizing the Life-Changing Effects of Positive Affirmations

(Photo credit: Simon Pauly) Today tenor Joshua Dennis is on a roll. A look back at his 2018-19 season reveals a whopping seven productions across such U.S. cities as New Orleans, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Saint Paul, and Santa Fe in repertory ranging from classic romantics such as Verdi and Gounod to world premieres with modern masters like Joel Puckett {…}

Sep 1, 2019

Q & A: Bass David Steffens On German & Austrian Musical Culture, Small Roles, & His Passion For Strauss

(Credit: Mattias Baus) Today Bavarian vocalist David Steffens is enjoying his busy summer in Salzburg – a place where he also spent his student years. This time he is a part of Salzburg Festival, performing in three productions total and therefore visiting the stage of the Salzburg Festspiele almost daily. David Steffens started performing in this festival at the year {…}

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