Arturo Toscanini might be the most iconic conductor of all time. When people talk about conductors as dictators, the image of Toscanini is impossible to overlook. Born on March 25, 1867 in Parma, he started off his musical careers as a cellist. But fate would eventually have him perform as a conductor. During a tour of Rio de Janeiro with {…}
Gabriela Beňačková, born on March 25, 1947, is one of the most celebrated Slovakian artists of all time. She had a musical upbringing, dedicating her early years to singing, ballet, and the piano. In 1962, she went to study at the Bratislava Conservatory, followed by two years at the Conservatory in Zilina. Then she went to the Academy of Performing {…}
Jonathan Berger’s “Leonardo” is set to have its world premiere on April 6, 2019 at 92Y. The opera, which is the first such commission from 92Y, will feature the St. Lawrence String Quartet and baritone Tyler Duncan singing texts directly from Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks. The work will feature designs by Gabriel Calatrava with staging and direction from Kevin Newbury. {…}
Mario Sereni was one of the most underrated Italian baritones of his time. He was born on March 25, 1928 in Perugia, Italy. He studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome as well as the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. In 1953, his professional career kicked off with a performance at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, followed by his Met {…}
Rashaan Allwood is set to showcase his new opera “Bright Bottles” at the Edyth Bates Grand Organ Hall at Rice University on Sunday, April 14, 2019. The work is set in Texas and showcases the stories of a group of homeless women from Mexico. Allwood is a leading organist around the world and has noted that his biggest influences in {…}
The Met Opera will continue off its Live in HD series this March 30, 2019 with a performance of Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” The broadcast, which kicks off 11:55 p.m. Eastern time, will showcase Christine Goerke as Brünnhilde in her first Live in HD broadcast performance. Eva-Maria Westbroek, fresh off her recent HD appearance in “La Fanciulla del West” will appear {…}
Verdi’s final masterpiece “Falstaff” with start streaming from the Garsington Opera on OperaVision starting on March 28, 2019. Henry Waddington leads the cast in the title role while Mary Dunleavy appears as Alice Ford. The remaining cast members include Richard Burkhard, Yvonne Howard, Soraya Mafi, Oliver Johnston, and Victoria Simmonds, among others. Bruno Ravella directs while Richard Farnes conducts the {…}
The Festival Castel Peralada has announced its 2019 slate. The festival will feature a number of performances from many different musical genres, but the emphasis here will be on vocal performances or operas. Things kick off with the world prmeiere of “Dialègs de Tirant e Carmesina,” a new chamber opera with music by Joan Magrané and a libretto by March {…}
The finalists for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions have been revealed. The nine finalists are set to compete in the Grand Finals on the Met stage on March 31, 2019. The finalists include three tenors (Piotr Buszewski, Dashaui Chen, and Miles Mykkanen), three sopranos (Alaysha Fox, Meghan Kasanders, and Elena Villalón), one mezzo-soprano (Michaela Wolz), one baritone (Thomas Glass), {…}
Vocal longevity is a major concern these days for most singers. There was a time when people were entering their prime years in their late 30s or 40s. But the industry has changed and singers are, in many case, forced into the limelight at younger ages. Seeing an international operastar at age 28 was illusory 50 years ago. It’s becoming {…}
Fort Worth Opera has announced a new collaborative partnership with Mexico City-born artist Laura Anderson Barbata, for the world premiere of composer-librettist Rachel J. Peters’s dark comedy, “Companionship.” The renowned Brooklyn-based artist, performer, and author has constructed the world of baker Lesley Sinclair and her dysfunctional family for the upcoming work. In a press release, Barbata said, “I’ve been fortunate to work in {…}