Every opera career has a different path. Not everyone wins competitions, not everyone starts at the top opera houses or young artist programs, and not everyone begins at the same age. And that is very clear for Angel Blue, who has taken unconventional paths to becoming one of the most promising young artists in opera. “I am definitely open and {…}
It’s a big year at Caramoor for Will Crutchfield. For the last 20 years, Crutchfield has been a leader in reviving a number of Bel Canto works at the festival through his program “Bel Canto at Caramoor.” It is a program that has showcased some rarities and has shown the conductor’s expertise in the repertoire. However, this year Crutchfield is {…}
Eerie strings. Witches and a young protagonist constantly facing exclusion and a deep sense of fear. Throughout its two-plus hours, “Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch’s Accuser” plays on themes of oppression, fear, and marginalization with a score will haunt you long after. But audiences for this new opera by Lisa Bielawa won’t encounter these eternal themes in the traditional {…}
How do you balance a career in opera with a high-profile presence in musicals and cabaret? While crossover is frequent among many artists, it is rare to see a singer split his or her time between opera and musicals. However, that has not been a problem for Polish-Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot, as his work in opera has been met with critical {…}
Heartbeat Opera wants to be a gateway drug. At least that is how Co-Artistic Director Louisa Proske views many of the initiatives that her opera company has undertaken since its inception just a few years ago. Not only does the company offer unique adaptations of some of the great operatic masterpieces this spring, but it offers other “hybrid events” in the fall, {…}
Does experimentation work? That is a question most artists ask in a time when the art world is insecure and ticket buyers are disappearing. However, for smaller opera companies, that seems to be their means of thriving, and this week Amore Opera will take a stab at experimenting with an unknown work, Donizetti’s rarely performed “La Zingara.” “We want to {…}
Imagine doing a rehearsal in one city until 10 p.m. and then having to fly to another city, to do another rehearsal for another opera, just 12 hours later. Well, that is what John Chest faces right now, as the baritone takes on Benjamin Britten’s “Billy Budd” in Berlin and John Harbison’s “The Great Gatsby” at the same time. The {…}
Neeta Helms is the founder and owner of Classical Movements, a premiere concert tour company for the world’s great orchestras and choirs, creating meaningful cultural experiences through music in 145 countries. During her 25 years with Classical Movements, Helms has worked with some of the most prestigious orchestras and concert artists in the world. She has traveled to 80 countries {…}
When audiences headed to see Rossini’s “Otello” this past March at LoftOpera, many were looking forward to seeing the rare bel canto opera and its famed three tenor roles. But when all was said and done, the consensus seemed to be quite surprising – soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez owned the run. Here at OperaWire, we singled out her work as {…}
