On Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, audiences around the U.S. will get a chance to check out Minnesota Opera’s production of “Doubt.” The showcase, which kicks off at 9 p.m. EDT, will feature the production of Douglas J. Cuomo and John Patrick Shanley’s adaptation of the 2005 Broadway play (which was also the basis for the 2008 film). The production was {…}
OperaVision will present a performance of Puccini’s most renowned opera “La Bohème” live from the Komische Oper Berlin on Jan. 27, 2019. The opera’s cast will feature Nadja Mchantaf as Mimì, Vera-Lotte Böcker as Musetta, Gerard Schneider as Rodolfo, Günter Papendell as Marcello, Philipp Meierhöfer as Colline, and Dánierl Foki as Schaunard. Jordan de Souza conducts in a production by {…}
On Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, the Metropolitan Opera will revive its double bill of “Iolanta” and “Bluebeard’s Castle.” The former work will receive its eighth performance at the Met on Thursday in just its first revival with the company. However, the history of “Bluebeard’s Castle” and its 31 performances with the company is intriguing. The work itself is rather brief {…}
On Jan. 22, 2019, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will present Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” in cinemas around the world. The production will be directed by directed by Stefan Herheim whose previous work with the company includes “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” and will feature Aleksandrs Antonenko as Gherman; the Latvian tenor has previously performed in such operas as “Otello,” {…}
Plácido Domingo is undeniably one of the major forces in the history of opera. Born on Jan. 21, 1941 in Madrid, Spain, he spent much of his youth in Mexico. He was very much involved in Zarzuela from a young age as his parents started their own company dedicated to the art form. He studied at the National Conservatory of {…}
The New Philharmonic will open its 2019 with Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus.” Under the direction of Maestro Kirk Muspratt, the operetta will star Katherine R. Weber as Rosalinde, Jesse Donner as Eisenstein, and Mikaela Schneider as Adele. Other members of the cast include Ashley Sipka, Brittany Hebel, Matthew Greenblatt, Sam Handley, Michael La Tour, James Judd, and Aaron Wardell. The {…}
The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale has named Richard Egarr the next music director. Egarr will become the second Music director for the orchestra in its 40-year history. He will succeed Nicholas McGegan and will begin his work in the position during the 2020-21 season. In a press statement, executive director Courtney Beck said, “I am delighted to name Richard Egarr as Philharmonia’s new Music Director. {…}
Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta” and Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” will return to the Metropolitan Opera as a double after a successful run a few seasons ago. On first look, it seems like a strange combination with the composers’ styles rather different overall. It takes a truly strong maestro to move from Tchaikovsky’s lush lyrical qualities to Bartók’s challenging harmonic structures. Hungarian maestro Henrik {…}
Many young singers, especially in the baroque repertoire, tend to choose dependable crowdpleasers when making their debut CD. “Lascia ch’io pianga” and “Ombra mai fu” appear with such ubiquity it seems almost sinful not to include them. Polish wunderknabe countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński’s first major release for Erato/Warner Classics courageously breaks the mold. There are so many exotic rarities and {…}
Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble previewed its upcoming “Princess Maleine” by librettist Bea Goodwin and composer Whitney George at a private event on Jan. 17, 2019. The event revealed sections from the opera’s libretto as well as one of the titular character’s arias, sung by Elyse Kakacek, who will originate the role. In this very brief preview of the work (which is {…}
Wilhelm Schwinghammer is one of today’s leading German basses. Throughout the past few years, he has performed at the Bayreuth Festival, Teatro Real de Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Wiener Staatsoper and the Hamburg Staatsoper as a studio member. He is a great exponent of the operas of Wagner, Strauss, Mozart, and Verdi, as well as the works of Puccini {…}