Q & A: Elisabeth Teige on Finding Balance As A Dramatic Soprano, Her Family Life & Greatest Inspirations

(Credits: Patricia Varela) Young Norwegian soprano Elisabeth Teige has established herself as one of the most sought-after dramatic sopranos of her generation. She has appeared in the number of dramatic roles including Senta in “Der Fliegende Holländer,” Leonore in “Fidelio,” Cio-Cio-San in “Madama Butterfly,” Irene Wagner’s “Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen,” Elsa in “Lohengrin,” and the title character of Puccini’s {…}

Dec 22, 2019

Q & A: Tenor Javier Camarena on Why ‘Il Pirata’ Has Been the Most Challenging Role of His Career

(Credit: Javier del Real) Mexican tenor Javier Camarena really needs no introduction. As one of the foremost tenors in the world, he has become a fixture at all the major opera houses. However, he has forged a particularly unique one with the Teatro Real de Madrid where audiences have witnessed some of his biggest triumphs. He performed the now legendary {…}

Dec 21, 2019

A Heroic Tenor’s Journey – How Zoran Todorovich Continually Reshaped His Vocal Technique To Conquer Some of Opera’s Most Challenging Roles

(Provided by Zoran Todorovich ) Zoran Todorovich was never going to be an opera star. The tenor, who was born in 1961 during golden years of former Yugoslavia, grew up with a non-musical family. “I was very happy to have wonderful parents and to grow up in a family full of love,” he told OperaWire in a recent interview. “Growing {…}

Dec 20, 2019

Q & A: Sonya Yoncheva On Singing ‘Il Pirata’ & Her Upcoming Wagner Role

(Credit: Dario Acosta) Few sopranos have defined the last decade the way that Bulgarian diva Sonya Yoncheva has. Since her major victory at the Operalia Competition in 2010, Yoncheva has become a household headliner at all the major opera houses around the world. But what has arguably distinguished the soprano over these past few years has been her willingness to {…}

Dec 14, 2019

Q & A: Arianna Vendittelli On The Importance & Challenges Of Singing ‘Ermione,’ Interpretation & Career Development

Arianna Vendittelli’s career is one that most singers would dream of. She has an established reputation in the Mozart, Rossini and baroque repertoire, singing at the highest level in such roles as roles such as Fiordiligi, Zerlina, Cleopatra, Serse, Eurydice and many more. Moreover, she has been guided by such venerated artists as Ottavio Dantone, Riccardo Muti and Alessandro De {…}

Dec 10, 2019

Q & A: Catherine Foster On Vocal Stamina, Taking on Dramatic Roles By Wagner, Strauss, Puccini

Catherine Foster is known as one of the great of Brünnhildes of our time. She has performed the role six consecutive times at the Bayreuth Festival and continues to be in-demand for her interpretation. And while there is no denying that this might be her signature role, it is impossible to discount three other operas that she is also dominating {…}

Dec 8, 2019

Q & A: Baritone Simon Mechlinski on Growing Up With Opera-Singing Parents, the Wexford Festival Opera & Working With Giorgio Zancanaro

At last year’s Wexford Festival Opera I caught a recital by the largely unknown Polish baritone, Simon Mechlinski, and he made quite an impression. At the end of festival he received the Gerard Arnhold Bursary, an award made to a singer who is considered to have outstanding potential. This year he returned to Wexford and gave another recital, in addition {…}

Dec 7, 2019

Cantor-Tenor – Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen on His Burgeoning Career & Important Jewish Tradition

(Credit: Dario Acosta) Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen’s family fully expected him to pursue a career in Public Policy when he went to Princeton University. But that wasn’t the path he would take. Instead he got his B.A. in History and studied Voice as well, when he realized just how deep music and he were deeply intertwined. The music bug that had {…}

Nov 30, 2019

Q & A: Baritone Tomaš Kral on Why Baroque Music is His Greatest Passion

(Credit: Barbara Dietl) Czech-born vocalist Tomaš Kral has a virtuosic baritone with a warm timbre which he uses to remind the modern-day audiences of the charm of early music, its purity of spirit, and the peace it brings. Audiences have had the opportunity to experience these aspects of Kral’s artistry through his performances with such as Collegium 1704, Collegium Marianum, {…}

Nov 28, 2019

Q & A: Soprano Nina Stemme on the Privilege of Singing Wagner & Being a Vocal Storyteller

Swedish soprano Nina Maria Stemme has been broadly regarded as one of the greatest living dramatic sopranos. What’s fascinating when you look at her career trajectory is seeing that the repertory for which she is best known seemed like a far cry during those early stage. She made her onstage debut in the mezzo-soprano role of Cherubino in Mozart’s opera {…}

Nov 23, 2019

Q & A: Soprano Leah Hawkins On Met Opera ‘Porgy and Bess,’ Maria Callas’ 7 Deaths & the Importance of Trust

(Credit: Columbia Artists) On Sept. 23, soprano Leah Hawkins, a member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, took part in the historic opening night performance of Gerswhin’s “Porgy and Bess” with the esteemed New York company. the Metropolitan Opera. While she was not one of the major headliners in a cast that feature Angel Blue, {…}

Stage Spotlight