(Credit: Michael Poehn) OperaVision is set to stream “Die Fledermaus” from the Vienna State Opera on Oct. 25, 2019 as part of its inaugural World Opera Day celebrations. The performance, which takes place on Johann Strauss Jr.’s birthday, will be conducted by Franz Welser-Möst with a cast including Kurt Streit, Michaela Kaune, Alfred Šramek, Zoryana Kushpler, and Rainer Trost, among {…}
(Credit: NCPA Beijing) OperaVision is set to stream “Carmen” from the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2019. The famed Bizet masterwork will star María José Montiel in the title role with Warren Mok as Don José. Yuan Chenye will be Escamillo while Zhou Xiaolin will be Micaëla. Zhang Guoyong will conduct a production directed {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) On Oct. 20, 2019, Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” will return to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time since 2011. The revival will see the return of Mark Morris’ 2007 production. When the production first opened, James Levine led the production with a cast that included Maija Kovalevska, David Daniels, and Heidi Grant Murphy. That {…}
Sherezade Panthaki is one of today’s most recognized Baroque singers. An acknowledged star in the early-music field, she has performed with some of the most prestigious Baroque and early period orchestras, as well as with such prominent conductors as Nicholas McGegan, Masaaki Suzuki, Mark Morris, Nicholas Kraemer, Matthew Halls, Paul Agnew, and Lawrence Cummings. This weekend, Sherezade Panthaki returns to {…}
Written after Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy “The Bacchae,” “The Bassarids” is essentially a one-act opera with intermezzo. It was composed by Hans Werner Henze to an English libretto by Wystan Hugh Auden and Chester Kallman (who also jointly wrote the libretto for opera “The Rake’s Progress” by Igor Stravinsky). The opera had its world premiere in Salzburg on August 6, {…}
(Credit: Rokas Baltakys) In just a little over a year or so, Soprano Asmik Grigorian has jumped into the spotlight and remained at the forefront of the opera world. The big reason for the soprano’s rise to the forefront is her now iconic interpretation of “Salome” at the Salzburg Festival. “The Lithuanian soprano captivates the audience as much as she {…}
With the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s current production of “Luisa Miller” underway, local audiences will get a chance to check out a fascinating experience related to the famed work at the Siskel Center on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. The event in question is a screening of “In the Mouth of the Wolf,” a unique “lost” documentary that follows the 1963 {…}
Opera composers are among the most admired artists of all time. All of them had unique personalities and letters and quotes gathered throughout the years have illuminated us about who they were and how they thoughts. So for this week’s quiz we will take a look at some of the iconic quotes from some of those great composers. Some quotes {…}
“This is the greatest miracle of science and technology,” said lyric soprano Dr. Anne Walker in a recent chat with OperaWire. “I’m not sure where it’s going, but I know it’s not for nothing.” Though her destination may be uncertain, she has come from a place of feeling isolated and ashamed. Artistically Compromised Over 15 years ago, before she turned {…}
(Credit: Terrence McCarthy/San Francisc Opera) The San Francisco Opera is set to present Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut.” The company will present a revival of director Olivier Tambosi’s production reuniting soprano Lianna Haroutounian and tenor Brian Jagde for role debuts in yet another Puccini opera, after their last appearance together in San Francisco Opera’s 2014 “Tosca.” The stars will be led by former San {…}
The Opéra de Québec has announced the appointment of baritone Jean-François Lapointe as its new Artistic Director starting with the 2020-21 season. His first season will overlap with the current director Grégoire Legendre, who will retire in December 2020. This is a new direction for Lapointe’s distinguished career, as he has been active as a singer for the last 36 {…}