Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges’ first love was basketball. “It was something I was quite great at, and could see myself going far in,” the Lakewood, Washington native revealed to OperaWire in a recent interview. But eventually, something else took over her life as she grew older and she knew that she had to leave her first love behind to pursue her {…}
“Maria de Buenos Aires” is virtually synonymous in the modern day with Colombian soprano Catalina Cuervo. She has performed the Astor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer work more than any other singer in its history, appearing in 16 productions to date and over 60 performances. From her formative years in Colombia, Cuervo knew that she wanted to be on an opera {…}
What is it like to crossover from opera to rock music? Better yet,what it is like to fuse both genres into one score? That was the challenge mezzo-soprano Yajie Zhang had to face for the new opera “Orfeo” by Fay Kueen Wang and Zou Shuang. A classically trained performer, Zhang has steadily risen the ranks of the opera world performing {…}
Elīna Garanča is, for many, THE mezzo-soprano of this generation. With her movie star looks and acting chops to match. she has performed at all the major theaters, showcased an extensive array of repertoire and recorded award-winning albums. She has made a specialty of lyric mezzo roles such as Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier” or the title role in “Carmen,” but {…}
When Meili Li completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, he became the first Chinese counter‐tenor to have received a conservatoire education. Since completing his studies, Li has gone on to perform a wide range of repertoire that includes Renaissance lute songs and vocal ensemble music to 20th and 21st-century contemporary operas and songs. He has also become one {…}
The Lady Gaga of opera. A fashion Icon. An intense singing-actress. A glamorous personality. These are just some of the great descriptions that have also been placed upon star soprano Carmen Giannattasio. These are also some of the reasons for her rise in the opera world since her Operalia win in 2002. Sixteen years after that breakthrough, the soprano begins a {…}
It’s not every day that New York audiences will get a chance to experience the Hungarian State Opera without heading across the pond. But in just a few weeks, starting on Oct. 30, 2018, they will get that very opportunity at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center as the company comes on tour with a number of operatic {…}
Christian Van Horn is one of today’s rising stars in the opera world, the bass making major role debuts and opening new productions at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company and the Metropolitan Opera. This year, he became the third bass-baritone to win the Richard Tucker Award and the first of his voice type since 2003. Van Horn’s {…}
Baritone Levente Molnar is one of Hungary’s great artists and in just a few weeks, he will be showcasing the treasures of his country when the Hungarian State Opera performs at Lincoln Center. He has established a career all around the world, appearing in Zurich, Munich, Tokyo, London, Taiwan, and Freiburg, among others. Molnar, who previously performed at the Metropolitan {…}
Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas is no stranger to Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” The Mexican tenor, who takes on the role at the Los Angeles Opera for the first time this season on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2018, has performed the role all around the world. He has appeared as the Spanish prince in Vienna, in Munich, and in Zurich, among other cities. {…}
The title role in Puccini’s “Tosca” is quite possibly the biggest diva in all of opera. The role requires stamina, vocal prowess and an incredible singing actress who can convey all the complex emotions the character faces throughout the evening. It’s a role that every soprano dreams of and one that can elevate a career to stardom. It’s a role {…}