(Credit: Elena Cherkashyna) On June 21, Pretty Yende was detained at the French airport on her way to the Théâtre des Champs Elysées for the fourth performance of a new critically acclaimed production of “La Sonnambula.” She was returning from Milan where she been processing documents and when she arrived back in France, police officers took her to a cell {…}
(Photos: Gillian Riesen; Intermountain Opera Bozeman; Jason Dick) Montana, where Grizzly Bear wade in chilly rivers fed by snowmelt from mountaintops and gobble up Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout. Fly-fishers do much the same but with gentle whips of line. It’s “The Treasure State,” whose motto is “Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver).” The treasure nowadays is the grandeur of the Rocky {…}
In 2017 Cecilia Violetta López took audiences by storm when she performed Desdemona with LoftOpera. She was an artist on the rise who had so much to offer with her artistry, and has since become a leading soloist with such companies as Opera Idaho, Austin Opera, Madison Opera, and Opera Orlando. López has also become a huge advocate for Latin {…}
(Credit: Zen Grisdale) The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) is actively creating new life in the digital realm of opera by evolving the genre’s traditional standards and exploring alternate creative interpretations to share with audience members at a broader level through a new series called “music video remake” films. The aesthetic concept underlying OAE’s recent film which features bass-baritone {…}
A few months back, I spoke with members of the MET Orchestra Musicians about their concert series and the state of affairs within the organization. But what of the 80-member world-renowned Met Chorus that delivers show-stopping performances and put the grand in grand opera? Members of this elite group of musicians are dedicated professionals who sing in 15-20 productions per season, {…}
Baritone Keith Phares, renowned as a master of a wide repertoire ranging from Mozart through to today’s most prominent composers, has been recognised as “an authentic contemporary-American-opera divo” in the media. Recently, in this year’s Grammy Awards, he shined as nominee for Best Opera Recording for his soloist role in Carlisle Floyd’s “Prince of Players.” This was a recording of {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer) In Gramophone’s Opera recording of the year, Handel’s “Agrippina” with Erato Records, there are many shinning vocal performances, including those by Joyce DiDonato, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Franco Fagioli, and Luca Pisaroni, to name but a few. Luca Pisaroni wows the listener in the role of the bumbling Emperor Claudio. Pisaroni is perhaps best-known these days for his work {…}
On March 25, María José Siri made history at the Ópera de las Palmas in Spain by becoming the first woman to give an encore at the opera house. The soprano was not only taking on her first performances in the role of “Adriana Lecouvreur” but was also making her house debut at the prestigious Spanish theater. The production was {…}
(Photo credit: Frances Marshall) “At Home With… ” is a series collaboration between OperaWire and photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio, combining original photography with insightful interviews. Between New York City and the stunning scenery of England’s Surrey Hills, a rumble like a temblor traveled across the Atlantic. On the Surrey side was the renowned bass, Brindley Sherratt. After the {…}
Soprano Angel Blue has become an operatic sensation. She recently had a stellar turn as Bess in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-20 season opener of “Porgy and Bess”. This year the recording won a Grammy for Best Opera Recording, with Angel Blue giving the acceptance speech onscreen. A natural on camera, she has also launched and hosted an online chat show {…}
(Photo Credit: Victor Santiago) Francesco Meli is one of the world’s leading tenors and has performed some of the most demanding Italian repertoire at every major international opera house. During the pandemic Meli has remained visible thanks to many online concerts performed both from his home and from the concert hall. He has also been busy in the recording studio {…}