Q & A: Serbian Soprano Aleksandra Jovanović On Her Big Breaks In Berlin, Vienna, & Paris

(Credit: Aleksandra Jovanović) Young Serbian soprano Aleksandra Jovanović‘s career has exploded in 2019 with invitations for major international debuts at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper and Opéra de Paris. She has also had renowned performances in recent major competitions. In 2018 she was awarded third place at the international competition “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,” which was followed by {…}

Oct 10, 2019

Q & A: Craig Colclough On His Metropolitan Opera Debut & Singing ‘Macbeth’

Those following the opera world and its biggest news items know what happened on Sept. 28, 2019. In the midst of a tumultous week in which the Met Opera’s “Macbeth” featured major cast turnover, there was still one big twist set to take place without much audience anticipation – a new baritone was to make a surprising debut in the {…}

Oct 9, 2019

Sardinian Flavor – Tenor Piero Pretti On Maintaining Vocal Versatility & The Complexity of Pinkerton

One day, as a 16-year-old, tenor Piero Pretti, was invited by Fabrizio Ruiu to audition for a polyphonic choir. That moment would have tremendous implications for the Sardinian tenor. Not only would Ruiu, a close friend from childhood, become the best man at his wedding, but this audition would change Pretti’s life forever. “I fell in love with it,” he {…}

Oct 6, 2019

A Student Of Life & Opera – Soprano Anita Hartig On Navigating The Challenges of The Modern World As An Opera Star

(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Metropolitan Opera House, the Royal Opera House Muscat, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Vienna State Opera, the Opernhaus Zürich, the Opéra National de Paris, the San Francisco Opera, and the Teatro Real de Madrid. These are just a few of the many theaters where 36-year-old Romanian soprano Anita Hartig has performed over the last three {…}

Oct 5, 2019

A Mozartian Master – Legendary Bass-Baritone Ruggero Raimondi On Directing Mozart At The Maryland Lyric Opera

(Credit: Opera Online) The Maryland Lyric Opera began with the mission of enabling the next generations of singers to have the opportunity to learn and perform alongside experienced opera professionals who have spent years developing their craft in front of the public on the world’s stages. Now in its fifth year, the company has performed fully staged as well as {…}

Sep 29, 2019

Q & A: General Director Francesca Campagna On Cultivating a New Vision for The Center of Contemporary Opera

Recently named General Director of Center of Contemporary Opera (CCO), Francesca Campagna represents a positive shift towards greater international and personal awareness within the opera community. She is the first female in CCO’s history of 37 years to be selected for this role and also the first immigrant. Her career’s journey spans over more than a decade and has been {…}

Sep 24, 2019

Q A: Serena Sáenz On The International Opera Studio, Dancing, & Her Fitness Routine

(Credit: Maxine Robertson) Young Spanish soprano Serena Sáenz is currently a member of International Opera Studio in Berlin at the Staatsoper unter der Linden where she is currently performing roles of Pamina and Papagena in Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute,” she has debuted in “Siegfried”as Der Waldvogel. She is also preparing roles of Zerlina in “Don Giovanni,” Frasquita in “Carmen,” {…}

Sep 22, 2019

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 {…}

Interviews