The Salzburg Festival’s President Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler has spoken out regarding Kathryn Lewek’s stance against a journalist that used his review to criticize her physique. The review for Die Welt body-shamed Lewek for her appearance in Barry Kosky’s new production of “Orphée aux Enfers.” The soprano then used her own social media channels to call attention to the review and {…}
(Credit: Mattias Baus) Today Bavarian vocalist David Steffens is enjoying his busy summer in Salzburg – a place where he also spent his student years. This time he is a part of Salzburg Festival, performing in three productions total and therefore visiting the stage of the Salzburg Festspiele almost daily. David Steffens started performing in this festival at the year {…}
(Photo: Innsbrucker Festwochen/Rupert Larl) To mark the 350th anniversary of the death of the Italian composer, Antonio Cesti, the Innsbruck Early Music Festival decided to mount a production of his opera “La Dori, overo Lo schiavo reggio,” written for Archduke Ferdinand Karl of Further Austria, and premiered at the city’s court theatre in 1657. Cesti had a close relationship with {…}
The Maryland Lyric Opera has unveiled its 2019-20 season which currently features three productions. The company will kick things off with the season with a concert performance of “Il Tabarro” and “Cavalleria Rusticana.” The double bill will feature Mark Delavan, Jill Gardner, Susan Bullock, and Jonathan Burton will headlining in both works. Louis Salemno conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 14, 15, {…}
(Courtesy of Hilbert Artist Management) Markus Werba is set to replace Mariusz Kwiecień in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The company announced that after Kwiecień was forced to cancel the new production for personal reasons, Werba will take on the baritone role. Werba is a recognized baritone who made his Royal Opera debut in 2008 as Harlequin {…}
August 28, 1850 was the world premiere of Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” an opera that would catapult the master to his next phase. “Lohengrin,” for many, is his most Italian work, notable for how the famed composer utilizes differing structures from Italian opera and molds them to his musical and artistic means. The opera has a fascinating performance history, which is what {…}
Regina Opera Company will showcase a free concert at Sunset Park in Brooklyn on Sept. 15, 2019. The one-hour concert is free to all attendees and will feature soprano Jennifer Gliere, mezzo-soprano Maayan Voss de Bettancourt, tenor Paolo Buffagni, baritone Rockower, and pianist Maxine Feldman. The ensemble will perform music from opera and Broadway. Voss De Bettancourt previously performed with {…}
The Vienna State Opera has made a statement regarding Plácido Domingo’s future with the company. The company revealed that it will maintain its relationship with the famed singer and that his performances planned for October 2019 and June 2020 will take place. The company noted that it did not see any “legally tenable reason” to not fulfill its existing contracts {…}
There won’t be a ton of opera during Labor Day weekend, but that doesn’t mean that opera lovers can’t get their fix one way or another. So this weekend’s recommendations will buck the trend a bit with the recommendations. Opera Night – Fellini’s Café Every Monday night, the Fellini’s Café puts on its opera night with restaurant goers getting a {…}
The Manhattan School of Music has announced its fall 2019 performance season which will feature a number of orchestral, musical theater, and opera showcases. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the vocal and operatic performances. The first major vocal showcase will be Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Fleet Street.” The production {…}
(Credit: Royal Swedish Opera / SF- © Silvia Lelli/Teatro Municipal de Santiago) This weekend is filled with a number of classic works from the baroque era and classical period. There is also a highly anticipated Ring Cycle and the return of a one of the most celebrated singers of our time. Here is a look at what we recommend for the {…}