Leontyne Price, Juan Diego Flórez, Pretty Yende, Jamie Barton Headline Top 10 Operas to Stream This Week
By David SalazarI’m going to kick off this week’s edition of the top 10 operas to stream by saying that it is probably among the most varied from a repertory standpoint. You have your Verdi, Mozart, Strauss, and Wagner, of course. But then you also have music by African American composers, a baroque opera, a modern operatic classic, and even a recital filled with a number of contemporary and 20th century composers.
So without further ado, here are our top 10 operas to stream this week!
Rod Gilfry in Recital – Vocal Arts DC (NOW)
Bass-baritone Rod Gilfry teams up with pianist Peter Walsh for a fascinating recital of French and American song that includes such works as Poulenc’s “Le bestaire,” Ravel’s “Don Quichotte a Dulcinée,” Lauridsen’s “Two Songs on American Poems,” Ives’ “The Housatonic at Stockbridge,” Debussy’s “Green,” as well as songs by Jake Heggie and Fauré. Additionally, Gilfry will present a series of songs arranged by himself, Matthew Aucoin, and Walsh.
Songs of Concealment – Pocket Opera (NOW)
Pocket Opera presents a recital featuring baritone Phillip Harris and pianist Tammy L Hall, performing songs by Jackeline Hairston. This is the first time that the company presents songs by an African American composer and female composer.
Die Tote Stadt – Komische Oper Berlin / OperaVision (NOW)
Komische Oper Berlin has announced that it will stream a production of Korngold’s “Die Tote Stadt” starring soprano Sara Jakubiak, tenor Aleš Briscein, and baritone Günter Papendell. The cast also includes Maria Fiselier, Georgina Melville, Adrian Strooper, and Ivan Turšić. Ainārs Rubiķis conducts the production by Robert Carsen, which was filmed on Sept. 30, 2018.
Nixon in China – Staatsoper Stuttgart (March 5)
The Staatsoper Stuttgart will stream John Adams’ “Nixon in China.” The opera features Jarrett Ott, Michael Mayes, Shigeo Ishino, Ida Ränzlöv, Fiorella Hincapié, Luise von Garnier, Matthias Klink, Katherine Manley, and Gan-ya Ben-gur Akselrod. André de Ridder conducts the production by Marco Štorman.
Apollo e Dafne – Haymarket Opera (March 5)
Haymarket Opera continues its digital season with a production of “Apollo e Dafne” headlined by soprano Erica Schuller and baritone Ryan de Ryke in the title roles. The opera was filmed at Chicago’s Resolution Studios with Creative Producer Chase Hopkins working alongside director Garry Grasinksi, amongst others. The Haymarket Opera Orchestra was conducted by Craig Tropeter.
Le Nozze di Figaro – Royal Opera House (March 5)
For those seeking out some star power mixed in with some comedy, then look no further than the Royal Opera House’s production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” The opera stars Erwin Schrott in the title role alongside Sophie Bevan as Susanna, Stéphane Degout as Count Almaviva, Ellie Dehn as Countess Almaviva, and Kate Lindsey as Cherubino. The David McVicar production was conducted by Ivor Bolton.
Strauss & Strauss & Co. – Gärtnerplatztheater Ensemble Munich / OperaVision (March 6)
The Munich-based ensemble makes its OperaVision debut with a unique program that features a wide range of operatic favorites by such composers as Richard Strauss and Oscar Straus, as well as Mozart, Tauber, Leoncavallo, Verdi, Lehár, Rossini, and Donizetti. Performers include Anna Agathonos, Mária Celeng, Daniel Gutmann, Juan Carlos Falcón, and Lucian Krasznec, among others.
Das Rheingold – San Francisco Opera (March 6, 7)
San Francisco Opera kicks off its month-long dissection of Wagner’s tetralogy with “Das Rheingold.” The opera will be presented in a 2018 production directed by Francesca Zambello via virtual platforms. The opera stars Greer Grimsley and Jamie Barton, among others.
La Forza del Destino – Metropolitan Opera (March 7)
The Metropolitan Opera will be celebrating Women’s Month with a week dedicated to some of opera’s most iconic divas. At the core of it all is a performance of “La Forza del Destino” led by Leontyne Price from 1984. She is accompanied by a star-studded cast that includes Giuseppe Giacomini, Leo Nucci, and Bonaldo Giaiotti.
La Traviata – Vienna State Opera (March 7)
Pretty Yende and Juan Diego Flórez team up for a production of Verdi’s iconic opera live from the Vienna State Opera. The cast also features Igor Golovatenko as Giorgio Germont. Giacomo Sagripanti will conduct the new production by Simon Stone.
