(Credit: Baus-La Monnaie /Catherine Ashmore- Royal Opera House/Javier del Rey-Teatro Real) This weekend will feature two productions of the epic “Don Carlo” in two different versions, a world premiere, a soprano taking on four roles in one opera, a Janacek work, and a star couple in one of Massenet’s greatest works. Here is what we recommend for the weekend. Macbeth {…}
The Hungarian State Opera has announced its 2019-20 concert season. For this article, we will only focus on concerts with operatic or vocal selections. The season will open with excerpts of Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito, ” Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5, and Rybnikov’s Symphony No. 6. The concert will feature violinist Haruka Nagao and conductor Gergely Kesselyák. Performance Date: {…}
On Nov 15. 2019, the Italian theatre company ONDADURTO TEATRO will debut in the world of Opera with the production of Donizetti’s “Pietro il Grande” at the Donizetti Opera Festival. The company ONDADURTO TEATRO is defined by its interdisciplinary approach to the creation of its shows, which range from nouveau cirque to physical theatre, from dance to gesture. For the {…}
(Credit: Michael Pohn/ Wiener Staatsoper) Paolo Rumetz made a surprise role debut at the Wiener Staatsoper on Sept. 19, 2019. The Italian baritone replaced Roberto Frontali who canceled the opening performance of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” due to illness. Rumetz sang his first Conte di Luna in his career with less than a days notice. The baritone is in Vienna for {…}
(Credit: Opera Theatre of St. Louis) “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” is set to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera. The New York Times revealed that the Terrence Blanchard opera, which had its world premiere at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis this past summer, could make its premiere during the 2020-21 season. It will be the first opera {…}
(Credit: Yusifeyvazov.com/Salvatore Sportato) The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its upcoming revival of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The company announced that Roberto Aronica has withdrawn from the role of Calàf due to personal reasons. As a result, Yusif Eyvazov will sing Calàf in the Oct. 3, 6, 9, and 12 while Riccardo Massi will sing the role in performances {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of Giant Pictures) The 30th Anniversary Edition of director DeWitt Sage’s award-winning feature documentary “Distant Harmony: Pavarotti in China” has been released on DVD and digital platforms for the first time. The 1988 documentary was released by Giant Pictures and recounts Luciano Pavarotti’s trip to China in 1986 where he performed “La Bohème,” conducted master classes and performed {…}
(Credit: Darya Yastrebova) The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced a replacement for Sabine Devieilhe in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The French company revealed that Anna Aglatova will take over the role of Susanna in James Gray’s upcoming new production of Mozart’s masterpiece. Aglatova is a Russian soprano who has performed at the Bolshoi Theatre, Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, Wiener {…}
(Credit: Apoorva Guptay) Zubin Mehta has come out in defense of Plácido Domingo. The legendary conductor spoke to El Pais in the Spanish press noting that his heart was broken. “I am saddened by what is happening to Plácido Domingo. He is great freind and the greatest singer of his time. Not even Caruso was able to reach such heights, {…}
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 “The Sum of {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to open “Manon” on Sept. 24, 2019. The work has been featured over 270 times in its history and remains a major staple of the standard repertory The main draw in the opera is the title role, one of the most challenging in all of opera, requiring not only a vocal master, but a strong {…}