J’Nai Bridges To Star In Damien Sneed’s ‘Our Journey: 400 Years From Africa To Jamestown’ At Carnegie Hall

Composer and pianist Damien Sneed is set to showcase his new opera “Our Journey: 400 Years From Africa to Jamestown,” at Carnegie Hall on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. The world premiere performance will star mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and baritone Will Liverman alongside the Chorus Le Chateau and the Sphinx Virtuosi Orchestra. The opera highlights the challenges and difficulties that Africans {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Marina Monzó, Francesco Meli & Sabine Devieilhe Lead Top 8 Operas To See This Weekend Internationally – 10/11-13

Many companies will celebrate Verdi’s birthday this weekend. There will also be a number of baroque selections and two intriguing new productions of rarely performed works. Here are our recommendations for this weekend. Giovanna d’Arco – La Monnaie, Belgium In celebration of Verdi’s birthday, the Belgium theater presents a concert performance of Verdi’s popular early work. Salome Jicia takes on {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Dr. Vadim Zhuravlev On Russian Opera In A Post-Soviet Era

(Photo Credit: Jonathan Levin) On Oct. 9, 2019, Eurasia Festival presented “Russian Opera Today,” a seminar and discussion given by Dr. Vadim Zhuravlev. A noted figure in Europe’s performing arts world, Dr. Zhuravlev has served as Director of Artistic Programming at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, with his writings appearing in publications throughout Russia, Germany, and France. Translating for Dr. Zhuravlev was {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Sondra Radvanovsky, Joseph Calleja, Catalina Cuervo Headline Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend In North America

It’s time for another weekend of opera, with a wide range of impressive offerings coming from around the continent. This week’s selections include a number of repertory staples as well as some unique modern operas by living composers. Frida – Atlanta Opera, Georgia The Atlanta Opera closes out its production of “Frida” with two performances on Friday and Sunday. The {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Teatro Grattacielo 2019 Review: 25th Anniversary Concert

Established in 1994, Teatro Grattacielo’s mission has always centered spotlighting often-overlooked Italian operas between the years of the 1890’s and the 1930’s, with the hope of reintroducing them to the public’s consciousness. On Sept. 28, 2019, the company kicked off its 25th season with an anniversary celebration, presenting Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “La Boheme,” Alfredo Catalani’s “Loreley,” and Ottorino Respighi’s “The Sleeping {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Russell Thomas & Leah Crocetto Headline ‘Otello’ At Washington National Opera

The Washington National Opera is set to open the 2019-20 season with Verdi’s “Otello.” The season will open with Russell Thomas in the title role, a work he recently performed to great acclaimed at the Canadian Opera Company. He is joined by Leah Crocetto in the role of Desdemona. They both reunite after an acclaimed “Don Carlo” which OperaWire called, {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Cal Performances 2019-20 Review: Renée Fleming At Berkeley

(Credit: Andrew Eccles) Renée Fleming, a house prima donna assoluta, retired from the Met Opera at the height of her powers only a couple years ago, covered in glory while enjoying warm and enthusiastic public acclaim. Her final appearance on the Met’s stage as the Marschallin in the Robert Carsen production of Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” was given the exalted confetti {…}

Oct 11, 2019

Boston Lyric Opera To Premiere ‘Fellow Travelers’

Boston Lyric Opera presents the New England premiere of “Fellow Travelers.” The opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce’s is a political drama that follows a gay romance through the McCarthy-era “lavender scare.” The production is set to star Jesse Blumberg, Jesse Darden, Chelsea Basler, Simon Dyer James Maddalena, David McFerrin, Michelle Trainor, Vincent Turregano, and Brianna Robinson. The {…}

Oct 10, 2019

Metropolitan Opera 2019-20 Review: Turandot

(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, saw the third performance of Puccini’s “Turandot,” at the Metropolitan Opera this season. Set against the opulence of Zeffirelli’s 1987 production, the evening’s cast and ample chorus did much in bringing vocal and dramatic vitality to the forefront, with Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin making of the most of his particular gifts. A {…}

Oct 10, 2019

Gregory Kunde Replaces Roberto Alagna In Munich

Roberto Alagna has dropped out of Verdi’s “Otello” at the Bayerische Staatsoper this summer. The Munich theater announced that Alagna has dropped out of the two performances in July and as a result will be replaced by Gregory Kunde. Kunde is a recognized “Otello” who has performed the role at the Royal Opera, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro Real de Madrid, {…}

Oct 10, 2019

Catriona Morrison Replaces Sarah Connolly In Scotland

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has announced changes to the Saint-Saëns Symphony No3 Organ concerts next month. The orchestra announced that Catriona Morison will replace Dame Sarah Connolly as guest soloist in the first half of the concert. The organization stated that “Due to ongoing treatment for breast cancer, Dame Sarah regrets that she must withdraw from these concerts.” RSNO {…}