Those following the opera world and its biggest news items know what happened on Sept. 28, 2019. In the midst of a tumultous week in which the Met Opera’s “Macbeth” featured major cast turnover, there was still one big twist set to take place without much audience anticipation – a new baritone was to make a surprising debut in the {…}
One day, as a 16-year-old, tenor Piero Pretti, was invited by Fabrizio Ruiu to audition for a polyphonic choir. That moment would have tremendous implications for the Sardinian tenor. Not only would Ruiu, a close friend from childhood, become the best man at his wedding, but this audition would change Pretti’s life forever. “I fell in love with it,” he {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) The Metropolitan Opera House, the Royal Opera House Muscat, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Vienna State Opera, the Opernhaus Zürich, the Opéra National de Paris, the San Francisco Opera, and the Teatro Real de Madrid. These are just a few of the many theaters where 36-year-old Romanian soprano Anita Hartig has performed over the last three {…}
(Credit: Maxine Robertson) Young Spanish soprano Serena Sáenz is currently a member of International Opera Studio in Berlin at the Staatsoper unter der Linden where she is currently performing roles of Pamina and Papagena in Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute,” she has debuted in “Siegfried”as Der Waldvogel. She is also preparing roles of Zerlina in “Don Giovanni,” Frasquita in “Carmen,” {…}
(Credit: Shirley Suarez) British soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn is currently preparing for a career milestone: her Metropolitan Opera debut, in James Robinson’s new production of “Porgy and Bess.” She will take to the stage for the Oct. 13, 2019 performance, opposite Eric Owens. An increasingly sought-after specialist in the Italian repertoire, a few of her recent roles include the title roles of “Manon {…}
On July 26, 2019, Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga (along with fellow competitor Adriana Gonzalez) achieved one of opera’s most coveted distinctions as he joined the circle of Operalia 1st Prize winners. The Operalia competition has been transforming talented young singers into stars of the opera scene since 1993, with winners frequently becoming headliners at top venues across the globe. This {…}
(Credit: Kaleigh Rae Photography) The opera lifestyle is one of the most complex and challenging. Working singers are constantly on the road and generally have little time to truly establish a homebase where they spend most of their time with families and loved ones. If anything, the idea of a homebase can be fleeting with many singers and their families {…}
(Photo credit: Simon Pauly) Today tenor Joshua Dennis is on a roll. A look back at his 2018-19 season reveals a whopping seven productions across such U.S. cities as New Orleans, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Saint Paul, and Santa Fe in repertory ranging from classic romantics such as Verdi and Gounod to world premieres with modern masters like Joel Puckett {…}
(Credit: Mattias Baus) Today Bavarian vocalist David Steffens is enjoying his busy summer in Salzburg – a place where he also spent his student years. This time he is a part of Salzburg Festival, performing in three productions total and therefore visiting the stage of the Salzburg Festspiele almost daily. David Steffens started performing in this festival at the year {…}
For any fans who still believe classical music is confined to opulent concert halls, only to be enjoyed by the pillars of society, meet The Knights. Founded by brothers Colin and Eric Jacobsen, this adventurous 40-member chamber orchestra performs everything from Beethoven to Jimi Hendrix. Born into a musical family, with a father who played in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, {…}
(Credit: Ian McIntosh Photography) Joel Allison made his debut at the age of 12 as the treble soloist in Howard Shore’s “Lord of the Rings” Symphony. Today this Canadian singer of the new generation has been praised for the “beautiful, rich, ringing tone” of his bass-baritone voice. Allison is working as a recitalist, soloing with all of the prominent Canadian {…}