The Florida Grand Opera is set to open its 2020 slate with a production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The famed opera will open on Jan. 18, 2020 in a gala performance that will celebrate the company’s 79th anniversary. The opera will be conducted by Ramón Tebar and directed by E. Loren Meeker. In the title role, audiences will get a {…}
American Lyric Theater will shine a spotlight on new opera via the InsightALT Festival on Feb. 22-23, 2020 at The Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City. The festival will present three new operas in development under the Composer Librettist Development Program. The first of these works is “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant,” a comic mystery {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) Few sopranos have defined the last decade the way that Bulgarian diva Sonya Yoncheva has. Since her major victory at the Operalia Competition in 2010, Yoncheva has become a household headliner at all the major opera houses around the world. But what has arguably distinguished the soprano over these past few years has been her willingness to {…}
(Credit: Hans Jorg Michel / Luzerner Theater) This weekend, numerous opera companies around the world will feature major repertory staples in a mix of modern productions. Here are our recommendations for operas to see. Semele – Komische Oper, Germany Philipp Meierhöfer, Sydney Mancasola, Karolina Gumos, Terry Wey, Stuart Jackson, Ezgi Kutlu, and Georgina Melville star in Handel’s classic opera. Konrad Junghänel conducts {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera / Karen Almond) The holiday season is in full swing with most opera companies closing their doors. But there are still a few companies that are celebrating the season with their own unique offerings. Here are the top six operas to see this weekend with your family and friends. Amahl and the Night Visitors – Greensboro Opera, {…}
(Credit: Arielle Doneson / Nicolas Phan Facebook / Jiyang Chen) Tenor Nicholas Phan has co-curated “Emerging Voices” with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. The event kicks off on Jan. 13, 2020 and runs through the 24. The event features a total of six concerts as well as a number of world premieres by such composers as Nicolas Bacri, Iva Bittová, {…}
Famed soprano Renée Fleming is set lead the second year of her SongStudio at Carnegie Hall starting on Jan 13-18. Fleming will mentor 10 aspiring singers including Natalie Buickians, Meghan Kasanders, Anneliese Klenetsky, Kady Evanyshyn, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Eric Finbarr Carey, Randy Ho, Dominik Belavy, Johnathan McCullough, and Laureano Quant. There will also be mentorship for 10 collaborative painists include {…}
This week, two debut albums will dominate the headlines. There is also a DVD release of an acclaimed production. Here are our recommendations. Overture Ben Bliss has released his new album “Overture” on streaming platforms including Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and Google Play among others. The new album features music from Bernstein, Donizetti, and Mozart, among others. Street Scene Bel {…}
“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 Pietro Germi’s “Divorce {…}
The Opéra de Paris has canceled the final performance of Bellini’s “Il Pirata” due to the national strike. In a statement the company noted, “The Paris Opera apologizes for this cancellation. Given the right of employees to declare industrial action up until the scheduled performance time, the Opera was not able to inform the audience earlier and apologizes for this {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced a one-night only cast for its upcoming production of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” The theater announced that Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna will sing both “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” in a performance on August 8, 2020. The performance will mark Roberto Alagna’s debut at the Arena di Verona and it will mark {…}