There aren’t any settings of Shakespeare’s famous “Romeo and Juliet” in the opera world more popular than Gounod’s. Part of the reason for that is the long-running success of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette,” which premiered on April 27, 2018. The opera in five acts is a fixture in the operatic canon, famous for its extensive love duets for both lead {…}
Kentucky-born soprano Judith Blegen, born on April 27, 1941, made a successful career dominated by her association with the Metropolitan Opera. She actually kicked off her career studying violin before switching over to voice at the Curtis Institute of Music and then went to Rome to continue her vocal studies. She would eventually kick off her career in Germany and {…}
Few singers had or have what Polish coloratura contralto Ewa Podles had – an expansive range. A three-octave range to be exact. Born on April 26, 1952 in Warsaw, Poland, Podles studied a the Warsaw Academy of Music and quickly established herself internationally at the age of 32 when she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of {…}
Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek, born on April 26, 1970, is one of the great singing actresses of the 21st century opera world. Westbroek studied at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague between 1988 and 1995 eventually making her professional debut at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1994. While she won some awards in her 20s, she made her major international breakthrough {…}
Premiering on April 25, 1926, Puccini’s final opera “Turandot” has always suffered a controversial legacy. The opera is a fixed repertory staple best-known for one particular piece of music. And yet, it would be hard to claim it the composer’s greatest work overall, as he died before its completion. Puccini famously struggled with writing its ending and upon his passing {…}
Fiorenza Cossotto is one of the great Italian mezzo-sopranos of all-time. Born on April 22, 1935, Cossotto attended the Turn Academy and made her opera debut in the world premiere performance of Poulenc’s now-iconic “Dialogues des Carmélites” at La Scala in 1957. From there she went on to have a prolific international career at such companies as the Met Opera, {…}
Leonard Warren, born on April 21, 1911, was one of the greatest American baritones in opera history. He is also widely remembered for one of the most tragic deaths in the artform. Warren grew up in the Bronx and worked in his father’s fur business early in his life. At 24, he joined the chorus of the Radio City Music {…}
Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande” is one of the great operas of all time. Premiering on April 30, 1902, the work was conceived as a major work of the 20th century. Debussy himself had fashioned the work with the idea of moving toward a new operatic ideal that he described as “No time, no place. No big scene […] Music in {…}
Italian soprano Barbara Frittoli was born on April 19, 1967, and carved out a solid career in the Italian repertoire. Frittoli, a Milan native, went on graduate from the famed conservatory in her city. Unsurprisingly, she would have a solid career at the famed Teatro alla Scala, where she worked extensively with Riccardo Muti in such operas as “Falstaff,” “Otello,” {…}
Catherine Malfitano is that rare career where the star soprano also becomes a prominent director. The New York native was born on April 18, 1948, to a violinist and a ballet dancer. In such a circumstance it is no surprise that Malfitano would have some sort of career in the arts. And sure enough, her early upbringing cemented that. She {…}
Of all of Meyerbeer’s greatest opera, “Le Prophète” likely reigns supreme above them all. The opera, which had its world premiere in Paris on April 16, 1849, features the richest and most complex characters of the composer’s oeuvre. While the work has never had the prominence of “Robert le Diable” or “Les Huguenots,” it is bound for a major revival {…}