I am going to be rather forward with you. This analysis of Wednesday’s “Don Giovanni” at the Metropolitan Opera will kick off on a positive note before turning a bit sour in tone. But lo and behold, after that, I am going to return to my boyish enthusiasm for what I experienced at the opening of this revival run. The {…}
The weekend will bring a wide variety of repertoire from rare Wagner and Rodgers and Hammerstein to Mozart and Rimsky-Korsakov. And as always the biggest stars including Sonya Yoncheva, Ailyn Pérez, Kate Lindsey, Aida Garifullina and Nadine Sierra will be on stage performing signature roles. Argentina Wagner’s “Das Liebesverbot” takes center stage at the Teatro Colón. The opera will see Lise {…}
Hibla Gerzmava will make her Canadian debut this June, as a special guest when Show One Productions presents her in concert with the Moscow Virtuosi and its famed founder/conductor Vladimir Spivakov at Roy Thomson Hall. Gerzmava, who has become an important star in the opera world will perform arias from Bellini’s “Norma,” Verdi’s “I Masnadieri” and Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur.” According {…}
If there was one event that opera lovers couldn’t miss this week, it was the return of Dmitri Hvorostovsky. The baritone was joined by Anna Netrebko and her Husband Yusif Eyvazov in a sold out concert that included some of the greatest hits in opera and a number of Russian selections. The performance was a big hit and Hvorostovsky showed his {…}
The Royal Danish Opera has announced its 2017-18 season with a varied repertoire. The opera season opens on Sept. 9, 2017, with a new production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starring Johan Reuter in the title character. David Kempster alternates with Reuter as Paolo Carignani conducts the run. The following production will be Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” with Elizabeth Llewellyn in the title {…}
April 28 marks the anniversary of the world premiere of Giacomo Meyerbeer’s “L’Africaine,” his final opera. While he was a titan in his day, Meyerbeer has struggled to find footing in the modern operatic culture and many of his works, including “L’Africaine” remain obscure and unknown. And yet there are some unique features about this work that make it a {…}
Opera season is in full swing in the United States and Canada with a ton of offerings across the continent. Here is a look at the big highlights. East Coast The Metropolitan Opera will showcase “Der Rosenkavalier” on Friday before giving “Der Fliegende Holländer” Saturday afternoon and “Don Giovanni” on Saturday evening. OperaWire will attend the Friday performance with a {…}
How many years does it take to bring together the stars of opera, rock ‘n’ roll, Broadway, country and classical music? 15 years exactly. This May 12th, the 170-year-old Mormon Tabernacle Choir will release its album, “Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Friends.” The group dubbed “America’s Choir” features stars of classical music such as; Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, and Yo-Yo Ma. Broadway {…}
For years Natalie Dessay dominated the operatic scene with her charisma, acting chops, and virtuosic voice. But in 2013, the French soprano quit the operatic scene and dedicated herself to recitals, plays, and musicals. The soprano has been outspoken for her displeasure of the opera world and her critics have noted that she no longer had a voice to sing {…}
Endrik Wottirch has died at the age of 53. The Wiener Volksoper announced the news that he suffered a heart attack. Wottrich was born in Celle, Germany and went on to earn a diploma in violin studies at Juilliard and became a member of the Berlin Staatsoper through the 1990s. He would make his stage debut in 1992 as Cassio in {…}
The English National Opera has released its schedule for the 2017-18 season which features nine operas between September 2017 and April 2018. The season includes four new productions and six revivals. Verdi’s “Aida” is the first opera of the season kicking things off on Sept. 28 and running all the way through December. Latonia Moore and Morenike Fadayomi alternate the {…}