Editorial: Why We Must Heed Peter Gelb’s Warning & Demand Continued Government Support For the Arts

During this weekend’s broadcast of “I Puritani,” Metropolitan Opera General Manager Peter Gelb was given the floor to talk about the company’s upcoming 2017-18 season, which was announced this past Wednesday. But instead of launching into his offerings, Gelb moved in a different direction, turning his attention toward the social-political challenges facing arts institutions. “I think it’s really important that {…}

Feb 19, 2017

Palacio De Bellas Artes Opens Its 2017 Season With ‘Lucia Di Lammermoor’ And Ramon Vargas

The Palacio de Bellas Artes will inaugurate its season on Feb. 19, 2017 with Donizetti’s “Lucia de Lammermoor.” The company will premiere a new production by Enrique Singer. Famed Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas will sing for the role of Edgardo for the first time in his native country, despite the fact that the role has been in his repertoire for years. It {…}

Feb 19, 2017

Peter Gelb Cancels A Major New Production And Announces Two New Productions For The Metropolitan Opera In Future Seasons

The Metropolitan Opera has cancelled plans to stage Damiano Micheletto’s version of Saint-Saens’ “Samson et Dalila.” According to the AP, Gelb said, “Michieletto is a very talented director, however, this production of ‘Samson’ just didn’t click with the Parisian public.” As a matter of fact the production was booed when opened last year at the Opera de Paris. Michieletto restructured {…}

Feb 19, 2017

On This Day: 5 Essential Roles in Vittorio Grigolo’s Career

Vittorio Grigolo is one of the most acclaimed tenors of his generation and has already been hailed as the successor to Luciano Pavarotti, his greatest qualities including his rampant energy and charisma on stage. On Feb. 19 Grigolo celebrates his 40th birthday and as a result OperaWire takes a look at some his most acclaimed roles The Duke in “Rigoletto” Vittorio Grigolo {…}

Feb 18, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Review – Rusalka: Mary Zimmerman, Kristine Opolais & Company Take Us On Dramatically Rich Journey To Find Operatic Identity

We acknowledge that OperaWire is late to the “Rusalka” party, but here is our review for the performance on Feb. 17, 2017, the fifth performance of this run. Antonín Dvorák’s “Rusalka” is the epitome of a metaphorical operatic identity crisis. The opera, which is a grim version of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” follows the story of a water {…}

Feb 18, 2017

Speranza Scapucci Replaces Semyon Bychov At The Vienna Opera Ball

Speranza Scapucci will conduct the Vienna Opera Ball on Feb. 23. The Italian conductor will fill in for the originally scheduled Semyon Bychkov, who is ill. The Italian conductor Scappucci gave her acclaimed debut to the Viennese Staatsoper last autumn and had been a solokorrepetitor at the Vienna State Opera for several years before she started her international career as a conductor. The {…}

Feb 18, 2017

On This Day: 35 Fun Facts About Isabel Leonard

Isabel Leonard turns 35 on Saturday Feb. 18. The singer’s stature has grown over the past few years as the artist, so beloved around the United States, has seen her profile grow ever greater around the world. She is coming off major turns as Adalgisa in “Norma” and Charlotte in “Werther,” which she is currently performing at the Metropolitan Opera. {…}

Feb 17, 2017

Weekend Preview (International) – 2/17-19: Jose Cura Stars as Wagner’s ‘Tannhauser’ and Anna Netrebko Continues In ‘Il Trovatore’

It’s the weekend and that means there is a lot to see around the world. For opera goers the houses will offer lots of Puccini, Verdi and Mozart. There will also be Rossini, Berg and Janáček for the most adventurous opera lovers. Check it out! Austria At the Wiener Staatsoper audiences will be able to hear two of the most popular {…}

Feb 17, 2017

Social Media Beat (2/13-17): Who Got Engaged This Week?

It was a huge week for a number of major opera singers this week, some receiving huge honors and others getting special Valentine’s Day treats. For Corinne Winters it was probably one of the biggest weeks of her life, the Soprano announcing her engagement to tenor Adam Smith and rocking her ring on Instagram. #heasked #isaidyes💍 happiest woman on Earth {…}

Feb 17, 2017

Weekend Preview (USA) – 2/17-19: Patricia Racette’s ‘Salome’ & Stewart Copeland’s ‘Invention of Morel’ Open

Prepare yourself for two high profile premieres this weekend on opposite sides of the country. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Opera lifts the curtain on “Salome” starring Patricia Racette in the role that she dominated at the Metropolitan Opera. Regarding her performance OperaWire wrote, “she dominated the stage in one of her greatest achievements on the Met stage.” Another major {…}

Feb 16, 2017

Breaking News: Roberto Aronica To Sing Final Performance of ‘Carmen’

Roberto Aronica will sing the final performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” on Feb. 18. He will replace Marcelo Álvarez, who is ill. Aronica stepped in for the previous Feb 7, 11 and 15 performances after Rafael Davila filled in for two performances including the opening night. Álvarez sang three performances of the run but opted out of finishing it. Aronica made his Met debut as Alfredo in {…}