(Photo: Anastasiya Taratorkina) Prior to the performance of Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne’s rarity “Phèdre” at the Badische Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Operawire met up with one of its stars, the young Russian soprano Anastasiya Taratorkina, who was performing the role of Oenone. Although only in her third year as a professional singer, she is already building a reputation as a fine singing actress {…}
(Photo: S Ghini.) Naxos released a CD entitled “Tre Liriche,” featuring songs by Ottorino Respighi performed by the Italian contralto Alessandra Visentin with the New York Chamber Orchestra under the direction of maestro Salvatore Di Vittorio. The title of the CD refers to three songs, “Notte,” “Nebbia” and “Pioggia,” which have never been performed or recorded with a large orchestra, {…}
(Credit: Julia Wimmerlin) Olga Kulchynska is currently starring in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The soprano made her Met debut six years ago and has already performed over 20 times with the company in “La Bohème” and Turandot.” This season, she will get her first Met Live in HD with her interpretation of Susanna in Mozart’s {…}
(Photo: Beata Nykiel) Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina is universally hailed as one of the most exciting opera singers in a generation. Called “The New Netrebko” by renowned critic David Mellor, she is the “Carmen du Jour” and is in demand by opera houses around the world. She sings with a rare, coloratura mezzo voice. A luminary of the Jette Parker {…}
(Photo: Craig Gibson) Freddie De Tommaso is an Anglo-Italian tenor from Tunbridge Wells who received universal acclaim in 2021 when he stepped up to rescue an ailing Bryan Hymel, substituting his Cavaradossi halfway through the Royal Opera House’s performance of “Tosca.” The Times described the occasion as a “had to be there moment.” He repeated the role for his Metropolitan {…}
Pene Pati is having a breakout season, making important debuts at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera. The tenor has been hailed for his “extraordinary gift for producing a golden thread of sound” and his “round and sunshine-filled voice.” He has won numerous awards around the world including the Opus Klassik Newcomer of the Year Award, Best {…}
(Credit: Olivia Kahler) Alasdair Kent made a name for himself performing in opera houses around the world, but his upcoming role as Frederic in West Australian Opera’s “The Pirates of Penzance” marks his principal debut in his home city of Perth, Western Australia. The role is one of many exciting firsts for the singer this year, who following his performance {…}
In February, soprano Fotina Naumenko was nominated for a Grammy for her album “Bespoke Songs.” The album was dedicated to showcasing contemporary vocal chamber music, featuring four world premiere recordings of newly-written musical works for soprano voice and mixed instrumental ensembles, with lyrics by female authors. Naumenko is a singer who performs art song, oratorio, opera, choral, chamber, and new {…}
(Photo: © Marigona Qerkezi press) Kosovo soprano Marigona Qerkezi gave her first performance at the age of six, in Ljubljana. She has performed on many international stages and has won scholarships from Croatia, Italy and Russia. She is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the first prize at the Leyla Gencer Opera Competition and a special prize from the {…}
Atom Egoyan‘s “Seven Veils” is an ambitious film. Set in Toronto, it follows Jeanine, a theater director doing a revival of “Salome” at the Canadian Opera Company. As she digs deeper into the production, created by her former mentor, Jeanine is faced with some of her past traumas uniting “reality” with the theatrical. The film delves deep into Jeanine’s psychology {…}
(Photo: FreddieF) This year’s International Händel Festival in Göttingen kicks off on May 16th and will run until May 25th. The festival will present a range of events dedicated to the composer, including lectures, concerts, recitals, and readings, along with the eighth edition of its Händel competition. The centerpiece of the festival will be five staged performances of the composer’s {…}