“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment we will take a {…}
Premiering on April 12, 1930, “From the House of the Dead” is the final opera composed by Leos Janacek. Adapted from the novel of the same name written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, this opera is distinct from others composed by Janacek as it does not deal with themes of love. This work explores isolation and the past deeds of men held {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced the 2018-19 season. The season will feature five staged productions and a number of concert opera performances. Let’s dive in. The season kicks off with Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” which will get its opening night performance on Oct. 18, 2018. Aris Argiris stars in the title role with Lina Johnson as Gilda and Adam Smith as the Duke {…}
Yusif Eyvazov will sing the role of Cavaradossi in the Metropolitan Opera’s upcoming revival of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The Metropolitan Opera announced, via Twitter, that Eyavzov would replace Marcelo Alvarez for performances starting on April 21 through May 4. Eyvazov will now be joining his wife Anna Netrebko with whom he performed earlier this season during the opening night of “Andrea {…}
Spring has sprung and special opera performances are launching at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM), while catering to an opera-in-brief community outreach program that takes the audience on a quick but enlightening journey through a specific opera. Back in 2010, MSM partnered with Anthony Amato, an avid maestro, producer, educator, and nonprofit entrepreneur, in order to create a concept {…}
“Don Carlos” or “Don Carlo?” In French or Italian? Four acts or five? Three hours or four? Paris, Naples, Milan or Modena version? Pas de deux or pas de nul? Verdi’s longest opera is so full of revisions, rewrites, authorized or impious corrections, it is impossible to nominate a definitive score. The master music dramatist tinkered with this opera for 20 {…}
Monserrat Caballé and Sondra Radvanovsky are two of the most revered sopranos of their generation. Caballé was well-known for her expressive voice and her immense repertoire. Meanwhile, today Radvanovsky is dominating the Italian verismo, Bel canto, and Verdi repertoire showing her range and flexibility. Both sopranos also performed a number of unknown or rarely-performed operas. To celebrate their birthdays, which are one {…}
Barbara Hannigan has been names Principal Guest Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. She will succeed Kent Nagano and will take the position during the 2019-2020 season. She will lead the orchestra for three years. Hannigan is well-known as both a soprano and a conductor. She recently won the Grammy and continuously performs around the world. She is renown for {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has revealed future plans for the Metropolitan Opera. During an interview with the Washington Post, the Bulgarian soprano noted that she spoke with Peter Gelb about doing a Donizetti comedy at the Met. She noted, “I can’t take any more tragedies, dying all the time. I’m still young and I want to do something else. We have plans to {…}
The Teatro Real has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of repertory staples and rarities. The season will also include a number of superstars and modern classics. Here is a look at all the vocal highlights in the season. Productions The season opens with Gounod’s “Faust” with two different casts. Piotr Beczala and Ismael Jordi star in the title {…}
The Music Critics Association of North America is pleased to announce that its second annual award for Best New Opera has been given to composer David Hertzberg for “The Wake World.” The opera, which received its premiere on September 18, 2017, was commissioned by Opera Philadelphia in a co-presentation with The Barnes Foundation and received rave reviews. In fact, all performances {…}