Elīna Garanča, Michelle Johnson, Saioa Hernandez, Benjamin Bernheim, Marina Rebeka Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week
By David SalazarThere are a lot of unique experiences to be had via streaming in the opera world this week and we’re excited to share our top 10 choices.
A star soprano. Rising opera stars. The future of opera. A new work filmed in a major museum. Lots of Verdi and Mozart. All of these and more are on offer.
So let’s have a look.
Saioa Hernandez – Opéra Royal de Wallonie (NOW)
One of more exciting performances this week features the famed Spanish soprano performing a series of Verdi arias and verisimo works. The concert will include arias from “Tosca,” “Macbeth,” La Gioconda,” “Andrea Chenier,” “Madama Butterfly,” and “Un Ballo in Maschera.” There will also be music by “La Forza del Destino,” and “Carmen.”
La Bohème – Vienna State Opera (April 19)
For those seeking out more traditional repertory this week, you simply can’t go wrong with Puccini’s “La Bohème.” What makes this particular performance appointment viewing is the starry cast headlined by Marina Rebeka and Benjamin Bernheim. Speranza Scapucci conducted the performance.
Luisa Miller – Opera di Roma (April 20)
Immerse yourself in one of Verdi’s melodic gems, conducted by Michele Mariotti and starring Roberta Mantegna in the title role. The soprano will be joined by Michele Pertusi as Conte di Walter, Antonio Poli as Rodolfo, Daniela Barcellona as Federica, Nahuel Di Pierro as Wurm, and Roberto Frontali as Miller.
La Clemenza di Tito – Met Opera (April 20)
The legendary Jean-Pierre Ponnelle production was never more alive than in this 2012 production starring Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elīna Garanča, Kate Lindsey, Giuseppe Filianoti, and Oren Gradus, conducted by Harry Bicket.
Sarasota Opera: A Celebration – Sarasota Opera (April 23)
Those who want to check out some of the rising stars of opera cannot go wrong with this celebration by Sarasota Opera starring soprano Michelle Johnson and tenor Matthew Vickers as well as mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez, bass-baritone Stefano De Peppo, and the Sarasota Opera Strong Quartet.
Flight – Seattle Opera (April 23-25)
If modern operas are your jam, then “Flight” is definitely the opera you need to check out this week. Throw in the fact that it was filmed at the Museum of Flight and this will be a surefire hit. The work by Jonathan Dove and April De Angelis will star Randall Scotting, Sharleen Joynt, Joshua Kohl, Karen Vuong, Margaret Gawrysiak, Sarah Larsen, Joseph Lattanzi, Aubrey Allicock, Karin Mushegain, and Damien Geter.
Viswa Subbaraman conducts the work in a production by Brian Staufenbiel. Kyle Seago will direct “Flight” for the screen.
Verdi e La Fenice – Teatro la Fenice (April 24)
There’s admittedly a lot of Verdi this week among our recommendations, but if there’s one Verdi showcase you don’t want to miss it’s this one. Riccardo Frizza conducts a concert featuring Luca Salsi and Michele Pertusi in music from “Ernani,” “Attila,” “Rigol
Verlaine, Le Voyage Humain – Academy of Vocal Arts (April 24)
More interested in checking out the future of opera, then the Academy of Vocal Arts’ latest concert, focused on famous French writer Paul Verlaine’s work transformed into music, is just the thing for you. The concert, which will feature Reynaldo Hahn’s “Chanson d’automne,” and “L’heure exquise,” Poldowski’s “Cythere” and “Spleen,” Vierne’s “A une femme” and “Marine,” among other works, will feature soprano Aubry Ballaro, mezzo-soprano Pascale Spinney, baritone Benjamin Dickerson, and bass Peter Barber. They will be accompanied by Music Director Audrey Saint-Gil.
Daphne – Müpa Budapest (April 24)
In the event you want a rarer work by one of opera’s most iconic composers, then don’t miss out on R. Strauss’ “Daphne.” This performance from 2015 stars Polina Pasztircsák in the title role, Ric Furman as Apollo, Andrea Ulbrich as Gaea, Krisztián Cser as Peneios, and István Horváth as Leukippos. The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra and National Choir will be conducted by Zoltán Kocsis in a production by Csaba Némedi.
Don Giovanni – National Theatre Prague (April 24)
To close out the week we turn to Mozart’s most iconic work in a new production from the Estates Theatre in Prague, where the opera first premiered in 1787. German conductor and Mozart expert Karsten Januschke and Swedish-Norwegian director Alexander Mørk-Eidem, lead a cast comprised of baritone Pavol Kubáň in the title role, Jana Sibera as Donna Anna, Alžběta Poláčková as Elvira, tenor Richard Samek as Don Ottavio, Miloš Horák as Leporello, Lukáš Bařák as Masetto, Lenka Máčiková as Zerlina, and Zdeněk Plech as Il Commendatore.
***Some of these performances may be region-blocked (only accessible to people connected to a network in a specific country). But you can gain access by using a VPN. For find out more, click here.
