Q & A : Mezzo-Soprano Jamie Barton On The Challenges of ‘Der Ring Des Nibelungen’ & Verdi vs. Wagner

This interview was conducted in collaboration with Francisco Salazar. Everyone knows what Jamie Barton can do. And if you don’t… The mezzo-soprano has firmly established herself over the past few years as one of the finest singing actresses on the planet, stealing scenes and garnering show-stopping applause with her incredible instrument and dramatic interpretation. She’s pulled off some historic feats {…}

May 25, 2018

Q&A: Adela Zaharia On Winning Operalia & Her U.S. Debut At The LA Opera

It has been a whirlwind year for Adela Zaharia. The Romanian soprano won the Operalia competition in 2017 and since then her profile has risen. She made a surprising debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper, where she returns this summer for a new production. She was also featured as an ensemble member at the Deutsche Oper de Rhien, returned to the {…}

May 21, 2018

(Exclusive) Q & A: Kyle Albertson On His Heroic Wotan Debut In Dallas

On May 18, 2018, bass-baritone Kyle Albertson had one of the most surprising experiences of his career. Albertson, who is currently covering the role of Wotan at the San Francisco Opera, was asked on short notice to sing a concert performance of the role with the Dallas Symphony. After saying yes, Albertson took the first flight to Dallas and arrived {…}

May 13, 2018

Q&A: Pablo Heras-Casado On The Spanish Premiere Of ‘Die Soldaten’

Madrid’s Teatro Real is set to present the first-ever performances of Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s “Die Soldaten” in Spain. The occasion will see Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, the theater’s Principal Guest Conductor, in the pit with a distinguished cast and Calixto Bieto directing. Zimmermann’s only opera is one of the most challenging and extraordinary pieces in the 20th-century and when Oper {…}

May 7, 2018

Q & A: Guido Loconsolo On Specializing In Mozart, Figaro & Opera Naples

Guido Loconsolo is one today’s leading bass-baritones singing all over the world in every major opera house. His career has seen him perform many leading roles from Baroque composers, Verdi, Puccini, and Mozart, a composer he specializes in and wants to continue singing. This week he makes his Florida debut performing at Opera Naples under the direction of Ramon Tebar. {…}

May 4, 2018

Q & A: Soprano Francesca Aspromonte On Her New CD, Singing Baroque Music & The Future

This week Italian soprano, Francesca Aspromonte, a rising star in the early music scene, will see the release of her first solo CD, “Prologue.” At the age of only 27, she is standing on the threshold of a glittering career, with critics running out of adjectives to describe her performances. Aspromonte made her professional debut as La Musica in Monteverdi’s {…}

May 4, 2018

Double Bill – Soprano Sara Duchovnay & Mezzo Claudia Chapa On Balancing Careers As Singers & Entrepreneurs

The double bill of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and Michael Ching’s “Buoso’s Ghost” is currently enjoying a successful run at Opera Delaware, where it will finalize its run this coming weekend. Two of the performers taking part in the production are soprano Sara Duchovnay and mezzo Claudia Chapa, who also have a unique connection through Shoperatic.com, a peer-to-peer online fashion marketplace {…}

May 2, 2018

Erasing the Slate – The ‘Tabula Rasa’ Team On Creating A Brand New Jazz Opera

“Tabula Rasa.” Many know the term to mean “blank slate,” but a more proper definition might be “erased slate.” That’s the idea behind composer Felix Jarrar and librettist / director Brittany Goodwin’s “Tabula Rasa,” which has its world premiere on May 4, 2018, as part of the New York Opera Fest, started. The concept of reformulating ideas to create new and {…}

Apr 29, 2018

From West To East & Back – Bass Christopher Job on His Historic Roots in LA, Singing At the Met Opera

Christopher Job has seen it all. The bass-baritone has worked with many of the world’s greatest artists, all while building up a unique career singing smaller roles at the Metropolitan Opera while performing bigger ones with other companies. The California native recently had an opportunity to perform with the LA Philharmonic on its 100th-anniversary concert. It was a major homecoming {…}

Apr 21, 2018

From Refugee To Mimì – Soprano Elizabeth Caballero On Her Journey From Cuban Outcast to Opera Star

“La Bohème” is arguably the most popular opera in the world. It is full of intense intimacy, universal emotions, and ultimately allows us to revel characters that we, at some point, have known and experienced. For soprano Elizabeth Caballero, that Puccini classic is almost akin to a leitmotif in her life. On March 2, 2018, one of her greatest artistic {…}

Apr 10, 2018

Q & A: Jessica Pratt Explores the Great Challenges & Pleasures of ‘Lucia Di Lammermoor’s’ Mad Scene

“Lucia di Lammermoor” is one of the important canonical works and most divas are measured by their abilities to manage the great challenges of this bel canto opera. One of the foremost performers of the opera today is Australian soprano Jessica Pratt, who has sung the work in over 20 productions and 80 performances with such companies as Teatro alla {…}

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