Q & A: Baritone Ben McAteer On His Current Role As Malatesta For INO’s Production Of ‘Don Pasquale’ & His Approach To Performing Opera

(Photo:Robert Piwko ) Only a matter of weeks ago, OperaWire reviewed Wexford Festival Opera’s production of Félicien David’s neglected opera “Lalla-Roukh,” in which the Northern Irish baritone Ben McAteer caught the attention with a beautifully sung and brilliantly acted performance in the role of Baskir. The review noted that he had “a real flairfor the comic, with his timing invariably {…}

Dec 15, 2022

In Less Than Five Minutes, Get To Know – ‘The Three Olgas’

One of the delights from this year’s Janáček Festival was the Brno Conservatory’s production of a work entitled “The Weeping Fountain.” It was a short opera, lasting approximately one hour, which explored the relationship between the composer and his daughter Olga Janáčeková, focusing on the letters she sent to him whilst spending time away from home in St Petersburg. The {…}

Dec 15, 2022

Q & A: Soprano Aleksandra Kurzak on ‘Tosca,’ Dream Roles & Performing with Roberto Alagna

Aleksandra Kurzak’s early singing career saw her perform as a specialist in lyric and coloratura soprano roles before moving into heavier roles in 19th-century Romantic and verismo operas. The 2004-05 season saw her have two hugely successful debuts, at the Metropolitan Opera House and the Royal Opera House. She has since sung many leading roles in opera houses throughout the {…}

Dec 14, 2022

Q & A: Rising Star Jiří Rajniš Speaks About Teatro alla Scala Debut & Growing up in Musical Family

Jiří Rajniš belongs to the youngest generation of operatic singers from the Czech Republic. From an early age, the baritone was exposed to music from his parents who were also opera singers. He then went on to study in the U.S. and became a member of the Junges Ensemble at the Semperoper Dresden. Over the last few years, he has {…}

Dec 9, 2022

In Less Than Five Minutes, Get To Know – Soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson

(Photo: Patrick Redmond) Soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson continues to notch up wonderful reviews for her performances across Ireland with Irish National Opera, Opera Collective Ireland, Blackwater Valley Festival and Wexford Festival Opera. At present, she is on tour with Irish National Opera wowing audiences with her Norina in the company’s riotous “Don Pasquale” OperaWire: What was the first opera you saw? {…}

Dec 8, 2022

Q & A: Carmen Topciu on ‘Carmen’ & Performing on Cockatoo Island

Romanian mezzo-soprano Carmen Topciu is in the midst of a run of “Carmen” with Opera Australia, following her acclaimed performances with the company in 2020. The production is being performed on Cockatoo Island. The evening begins with a ferry ride across the water to the world-heritage-listed sanctuary of Cockatoo Island. Audiences will be surrounded by layers of history and then {…}

Nov 20, 2022

Q & A: Francesco Meli on ‘Uniti Per Verdi’ & the Importance of Italy’s Composer

(Credit: Victor Santiago) On Nov. 21, Francesco Meli will perform at the Uniti per Verdi concert, which he organized with Riccardo Frizza with the help of the Società del Quartetto. As one of the great Verdi tenors of his generation, Meli has been an advocate to save the Villa Sant’agata and hopes that with this upcoming concert, the government and {…}

Nov 18, 2022

Q & A: Riccardo Frizza Talks about ‘Uniti per Verdi’ & the Cause to Save Verdi’s House

(Credit: Simone Falcetta) On Nov. 21, Riccardo Frizza will conduct the “Uniti per Verdi” concert which he organized alongside fellow colleague Francesco Meli. The concert, which received support from the Società del Quartetto, is taking place in order to create awareness and save Villa Sant Agata, Verdi’s home, which will be auctioned off by Verdi’s family disputes. The concert will {…}

Nov 17, 2022

Q & A: Annalisa Stroppa on ‘La Favorite,’ Bergamo & the Donizetti Opera Festival

(Credit: Michele Monasta) On Nov. 18, the Donizetti Opera Festival will open its 2022 festival with “La Favorite.” The opera is rarely performed but has been a showcase for many mezzo-sopranos in the history of opera. For this new production, Annalisa Stroppa will return to Bergamo and make her role debut as Léonor. The mezzo, who first sang with the {…}

Nov 16, 2022

In Less Than Five Minutes, Get To Know – Soprano Eva Urbanová

(Photo: Janacek Brno Festival) Over the course of her career, Czech soprano Eva Urbanova has done it all. She has performed at the world’s top opera houses, sang with the greatest singers, and worked with the greatest conductors and stage directors. However, as of yet, there is no sign of her slowing down. She has just completed a performance of {…}

Nov 15, 2022

Q & A: Jacques Imbrailo on ‘Don Giovanni,’ Oviedo & Wide-Ranging Repertoire

This week, baritone Jacques Imbrailo returns to the title role of “Don Giovanni” for his big debut at Ópera de Oviedo. The South African singer has performed the iconic role throughout his career with such companies the Perm Opera and Scottish Opera, among others. But his “Don Giovanni” isn’t the only thing he has in store for this coming season. {…}

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