Jessye Norman, Régine Crespin, Jamie Barton, Florence Quivar, Juan Diego Flórez Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week
By David SalazarThose who want some operatic classics will not be disappointed this week as we recommend six works from the canon from some of the best opera companies around the world. But we also have four other recommendations that are remarkable in their own right and present unique experiences for viewers around the world. We even have a voice competition final.
Without further ado, here are our picks for the top 10 operas to stream this week!
Love Letters to Atlanta – The Atlanta Opera (NOW)
The Atlanta Opera has released three “Love Letters to Atlanta,” a new video series featuring Jamie Barton, Kevin Burdette, and Morris Robinson performing their favorite songs in places woven into the fabric of Atlanta’s musical history. Barton interprets “Georgia on My Mind,” while Burdette performs “If Ever I Would Leave You.” Finally, Robinson’s song of choice was “The Impossible Dream.”
La Bohème – Teatro Regio di Torino (Feb. 1)
The Teatro Regio di Torino will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the world premiere of Puccini’s most popular (and arguably greatest) opera with a performance conducted by Daniel Oren and starring Maria Teresa Leva, Iván Ayón Rivas, Paola Antonucci, Massimo Cavalletti, Alessio Cacciamani, Tommaso Barea, and Matteo Peirone.
Werther – Opernhaus Zürich (Feb. 2)
This is all about Juan Diego Flórez taking on a role he was clearly born to sing. While one might not initially think of the Peruvian tenor as the right fit for this particular repertory, this very performance from 2017 begs to differ. Flórez is joined by Anna Stéphany in the role of Charlotte, Audun Iversen as Albert, Mélissa Petit in the role of Sophie, Cheyne Davidson as Le Bailli, and Martin Zysset as Schmidt. Cornelius Meister conducts the Philharmonia Zürich in the production by Tatjana Gürbaca.
The stream can be viewed here.
Dialogues des Carmélites – Metropolitan Opera (Feb. 3)
The Met Opera is kicking off its Black History Month celebration with two weeks of opera starring Black artists. And while there is no doubt that every single performance on offer is historic and legendary in its own way, we simply could not pass up the chance to recommend this showcase of not only of the greatest operas ever written, but also a broadcast that has yet to be featured in this series which has been ongoing since March 2020. This 1987 performance stars such legends as Maria Ewing, Jessye Norman, Betsy Norden, Régine Crespin, and Florence Quivar, conducted by Manuel Rosenthal.
Il Pirata – Teatro di San Carlo (Feb. 5)
Sondra Radvanovsky stars alongside Celso Albelo and Luca Salsi in the first performance of the Bellini Opera with the company. Antonino Fogliani conducts what is sure to be a vocal tour-de-force by all involved.
Concert of Arias – Houston Grand Opera (Feb. 5)
Opera singers are athletes, but perhaps the comparison between sports and the art form isn’t quite as apparent as it is in the competition scene. So this week, we want to spotlight, for the first time in this weekly feature, the Houston Grand Opera’s famed final round of its annual competition. This should give audiences a different kind of operatic thrill as they listen to a wide range of artists, marvel at their skills, and then wonder at who might take home the top prizes. The competition will feature sopranos Alaysha Fox and Brittany Logan; mezzo-sopranos Hannah Shea and Emily Treigle; countertenor Key’mon W. Murrah; tenors Aaron Crouch, Eric Taylor, and Ángel Vargas; and baritone Luke Sutliff performing two arias apiece alongside pianist Kirill Kuzmin.
Soprano Tamara Wilson will be the final’s host and the panel of judges will include HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers and HGO Artistic Advisor Ana María Martínez, with guest judge OPERA San Antonio General Director E. Loren Meeker.
Il Triticco – Royal Opera House (Feb. 5)
The Royal Opera House will stream its 2011 production of Puccini’s triptych starring Lucio Gallo, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Aleksandrs Antonenko, and Ermonela Jaho, among others. This production was conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano and is undeniably one of the finest recordings of the Puccini trilogy to date.
A Celebration of American Composers – Academy of Vocal Arts (Feb. 6)
For those seeking out a more intimate style performance, then the Academy of Vocal Arts is offering up a celebration of American composers featuring up and coming artists. Mezzo-soprano Chelsea Laggan will perform selections from “Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson” by Aaron Copland,” while bass Eric Delagrange will take on songs by Charles Ives. Audrey Ballarò will interpret five songs by Gian Carlo Menotti, and baritone Titus Muzi will present Selected Ballads by such artists and composers as Paul Bowles, Richard Hundley, Clifford Shaw, and Gene Scheer. Finally, soprano Kara Mulder will close out the program with a performance of “Three Songs, Op. 45” by Samuel Barber.
Lohengrin – San Francisco Opera (Feb. 6-7)
This is for the Wagner fans out there and specifically, Wagner lovers in the U.S. This particular opera has not been performed all that regularly in the U.S., so this stream is a unique experience to re-engage with the iconic and sublime music of Wagner’s Lohengrin.” Brandon Jovanovich stars in Wagner’s “Lohengrin” in the 2012 production, which also stars Camilla Nylund, Kristinn Sigmundsson, and Petra Lang. Luisotti conducts.
Sabine Devieihle in Concert – La Monnaie / Du Munt (Feb. 7)
For those seeking out a concert experience, soprano Sabine Devieihle will lead a program alongside conductor Raphaël Pichon and the La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra. The program will include several pieces by Mozart, including the famed Queen of the Night aria “Der hölle Rache” from “Die Zauberflöte,” as well as several arias from other operas. The concert will also feature Mozart’s “Haffner” symphony and the German dances.
