(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Marina Poplavskaya is one of the notable Russian sopranos of the early 21st century. Born on Sept. 12, 1977 in Moscow, Russia, she would perform in the children’s chorus of the Bolshoi Theatre an eventually became a soloist of the Novaya Opera Theatre in 1996. From there she would debut at the Bolshoi Theatre {…}
(Credit: Warner Bros) 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 features {…}
Anja Harteros has canceled the final performance of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” at the Wiener Staatsoper on Sept. 12, 2019. The company announced that due to illness Harteros would not be able to perform. As a result, Dinara Alieva will sing the role of Elisabetta. Alieva is a well-known soprano who has performed with the Bolshoi Theatre, Oper Frankfurt, Deutsche Oper {…}
The Opera Buffs will be showcasing a performance that features soprano Brooke Iva Lohman and bass-baritone Derrell Acon. The presentation is set for Oct. 20, 2019 at the home of Janet and Nick Ciriello in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. Lohman is a Southern California based soprano who has performed with such organizations as the Riverside Lyric Opera and Operazzi. With {…}
The Dresden Philharmonic is set to open its season with a unique program led by its new chief conductor and artistic director Marek Janowski. The program will include The Four Sacred Songs by Verdi and Luigi Dallapicola’s “Canti di prigionia.” The concert will include the MDR Radio Choir and soloist Iwona Sobotka. Sobotka is a well-known soprano who won the {…}
Madison Lyric Stage is set to showcase a concert “From Broadway to the Met” at the Guilford Performing Arts Festival in Madison, Connecticut on Sept. 27, 2019. The performance will feature members of the company’s Emerging Artists Program. The program will include a wide range of pieces from Broadway and the opera world. Marc Deaton and Jacob Boergesson will take {…}
Cecilia Bartoli has announced her upcoming album celebrating over three decades on the Decca Classics label. The mezzo-soprano will release a brand new album commemorating the life and career of the most famous opera singer of the 18th century: the castrato Farinelli. The new album will include arias by Farinelli’s older brother Riccardo Broschi and his teacher and mentor Nicola {…}
The LA Opera is set to open its 2019-20 season with Puccini’s “La Bohème.” The new production by Barrie Kosky will open on Sept. 14 with the Marina Costa-Jackson in the lead role, Saimir Pirgu as Rodolfo, Erica Petrocelli as Musetta, and Kihun Yoon as Marcello. James Conlon will conduct the production which also star Nicholas Brownlee, Michael J. Hawk, {…}
This week two new DVDs are set for release. There is also an intriguing choral CD that will include some world premiere recordings. Check it out! Il Barbiere di Siviglia Naxos is set to release a new production from the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris with Florian Sempey in the title role, Michele Angelini as the Count, Catherine Trottmann as Rosina, {…}
Christine Rice has withdrawn from the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” at the Royal Opera House. The company announced that due to personal reasons the soprano would not be able to sing the upcoming revival. As a result, Greek soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu will take over the role making her Royal Opera debut. Papatanisiu recently performed Donna Elvira in {…}
The shortlist for the Gramophone Awards 2019 has been announced. For the purposes of this article, we will focus solely on opera or vocal related awards. In the opera category, John Adams’ “Doctor Atomic” with the compose conducting was the first of three selections. Halevy’s “La Reine de Chypre” was the second nomination; this production featured the Orchestre de chambre {…}
