“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 “To All the Boys {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of San Francisco Opera) The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of new productions and stars. Here is a look. Productions The first production of the season will be Beethoven’s “Fidelio” celebrating the composer’s 250th anniversary. The new production will be directed by Matthew Ozawa with Music Director Designate Eun Sun Kim conducting {…}
Composer and Holocaust survivor Harry Bialor will present his opera “The Uprising of the Warsaw Ghetto” on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020 at Yeshiva of Flatbush in Brooklyn, New York. This will be the second performance of the work, which had its world premiere on Oct. 27, 2019 at the Yeshivah High School Auditorium. This staged version will be conducted by {…}
(Credit: Dutch National Opera & Ballet) The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has named young Italian conductor Jader Bignamini as its 13th music director. As music director, Bignamini will have much free reign — overseeing auditions, crafting programming and shaping a big-picture vision. Bignamini will be formally introduced as the DSO’s new maestro at 5:30 p.m. today in Beacon Park, where he’ll {…}
(Credit: Miguel Lorenzo / Mikel Ponce) Richard Strauss’ “Elektra,” one of the most audacious and darkest operas in the entire repertory, is a massive undertaking for any opera company. In the case of the Palau de Les Arts, the Robert Carsen production of the gripping opera was presented with great intensity further amplified by the appearance of Irene Theorin in {…}
(Credit: Bruno Fidrych) Famed Polish Composer Krzysztof Penderecki has canceled his appearances with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, according to the official notice on the institution’s website. Penderecki was slated to conduct two concerts on January 25 and January 26, 2020. As a result, conductor Maciej Tworek will take over the musical direction of a program that includes Penderecki’s Viola Concerto (version {…}
Giorgio Battistelli has been named Artistic director of the Festival Puccini di Torre del Lago. Giorgio de Ghingaro, il sindaco di Viareggio, and Maria Laura Simonetti, the president of the Fondazione Festival Pucciniano, announced the news which also revealed that Alberto Veronesi will become music director. In a press Battistelli said, “In this new role that I take charge of {…}
The Ópera de Oviedo has announced its 2020-21 season celebrating its 73rd year. The season will open with the company premiere of two famed French works: Ravel’s “L`heure espagnole” and Puolenc’s “Les mamelles de Tirésias.” Performance Dates: Sept. 6, 8, 10 & 12, 2020 Bellini’s final work “I Puritani” returns to the stage bringing vocal fireworks from its soloists. Performance {…}
(Credit: Elena Cherkashyna) The Opéra National de Paris has canceled the fifth scheduled performance of Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” at the Opéra Bastille, per an official statement on the company’s website. The cancellation comes as a result of a strike notice against the French government’s pension reform. The strike has caused the opera house to cancel a number of {…}
Opera Parallèle is set to present Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie’s “Harvey Milk” on May 15-17, 2020 at YBCA in San Francisco. The performance marks the 25th anniversary of the world premiere of the opera, which will be showcased in an all-new version as part of Opera Parallèle’s 10th anniversary. Moreover, the performances will also celebrate the 90th birthday of {…}
(Credit: Uwe Arens) The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is set to present a concert staging of “Elektra” on March 18 and 21, 2020 at Pool and Birmingham. The concert, which will be led by Kirill Karabits, Chief Conductor of the orchestra, will feature British soprano Catherine Foster in the title role. “I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Bournemouth Symphony {…}