Opera Carolina closed its 2022-23 season with a fantastic production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.” At the rise of the curtain, the audience was transported to 19th-century Paris. Ercole Sormani’s intricate set design was outstanding. The detailed paintings on the multi-layered drapes showed the characteristics of a lavish parlor and countryside home; this mixed with Michael Baumgarten’s life-like light design created {…}
“Norma” is considered one of the most difficult soprano roles in the repertoire and for many singers, it is the pinnacle of the repertoire. But interestingly, Bellini’s masterpiece has also been performed by some mezzo-sopranos and this week, Vasilia Berzhanskaya, a mezzo, will add the demanding role to her growing Bel Canto repertoire. At the age of 29, the mezzo {…}
(Credit: Curtis Brown) On April 21, 2023, the Metropolitan Opera opened Puccini’s “La Bohème,” with libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, based on the novel “Scènes de la Vie de Bohème” by Henri Murger. While “Bohème” has been performed over 1,300 times at the Met, this particular production felt like a new dream come to life. The classic staging {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced a cast change for its production of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula.” The company said that Marco Ciaponi will sing the role of Elvino on May 1 replacing Maxim Mironov. Ciaponi Marco has performed at the Wiener Staatsoper and Deutsche Oper am Rhein as well as at the Opéra Grand Avignon, Opéra de Limoges, Opéra de Metz, {…}
This week audiences will get solo recital albums, an opening night performance at La Scala, and Disney classics with one of the great mezzos of her generation. Shara Nova’s Titration Grammy Award-winning choir The Crossing, led by Donald Nally, releases its 30th album “Titration,” on Navona Records. Premiered at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky, Montana in August {…}
Lincoln Center is set to present the world premiere of Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton’s “Search for Spring” on May 13, 2023. The new community choral experience will be performed outdoors at the Josie Robertson Plaza and will feature 800 individuals composed of five community choirs. The work aims to explore the emotional toll of climate change. “To begin {…}
The Mariinsky Theatre is set to celebrate the Mariinksy Theatre II’s anniversary with a gala concert on May 2, 2023. The concert will feature soloists Hibla Gerzmava, Ildar Abdrazakov, Denis Matsuev, Diana Vishneva, Roman Burdenko, Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar, Kimin Kim, Alexey Markov, Yulia Matochkina, Mikhail Petrenko, Renata Shakirova, Vladimir Shklyarov, Maria Shirinkina, Tatiana Serjan, Sergei Skorokhodov, and Konstantin Zverev. The company {…}
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Otello.” The company that the role of Desdemona will be performed by Zarina Abaeva replacing the originally announced Anastasia Bartoli. Abaeva has performed at the Perm Opera and Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, among others. Her repertoire includes the music of Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Poulenc, Offenbach, Bizet, and Verdi. The {…}
Kazuki Yamada/courtesy of CBSO The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has unveiled its 2023-24 season, and it’s full to the brim with opportunities to hear some of the world’s finest music and musicians. With over 12 months of programming, the Orchestra has something for everyone. The Orchestra will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the City of Birmingham Symphony {…}
California’s Pacific Opera Project has unveiled its 2023-24 season. The company will kick things off with “Hansel and Gretel” at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Performance Dates: August 4-6, 2023 Next up is “The Barber of Seville” starring Meagan Martin, Jonathan McCullough, Andrew Potter, Sergio Gonzalez, and E. Scott Levin. Kyle Naig conducts. Performance Dates: August 25, 2023 {…}
The Sarasota Opera will host the Second National Schmidt Vocal Competition Finals, June 2-4, 2023, with the top three winners from each of the 14 regional competitions receiving a $10,000 prize. The Schmidt Vocal Competition is an annual event for US high school students in which more than 400 singers compete each year for more than $650,000 in cash prizes {…}