Hermann Prey always seems to have a smile on in any photo that you might find of him. The lyric baritone, born on July 11, 1929, grew up in Germany and studied voice at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. In the early 1950s, he started singing recitals and would make his operatic debut at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden before heading {…}
British bass Alastair Miles, born on July 11, 1961, is one of UK’s great artists, with The Guardian calling him the “finest British bass of his generation.” He actually got his career started as a flute player and a music teacher before embarking on a vocal career. In the early 1980s, he sang as a Lay Clerk in the Choir {…}
The Palau de les Arts has announced the six finalists, who could succeed General Director Davide Livermore. According to an article from Las Provincias, the six finalists are Paolo Pinamonti, the former director of the Teatro de la Zarzuela and the director of the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, and Stefano Pace, director of Teatro Verdi, and the former technical director {…}
The Brooklyn Art Song Society (BASS) has announced its 2018-19 season. Per a press release, the company’s new season will kick off with “American Iconoclasts,” a 5-concert survey of some of America’s most prominent composers. The composers to be honored in composers include Charles Ives (Oct. 5, 2018), Samuel Barber (Nov. 2, 2018), Ned Rorem (Jan. 4, 2019), Aaron Copland {…}
Entering into its third season, the Concerts at Saint Thomas has announced its line-up of performances. The season, which opens on Oct. 5, will see the inauguration of the new Miller-Scott Organ, which will be prominently featured throughout the season in a number of different concerts. Highlights of the 2018-19 season include Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,” Handel’s “Messiah,” and more, including {…}
In honor of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s 25 years on the United States Supreme Court, Cedille Records has launched their album “Notorious RBG in Song.” The album, which was released on June 8, 2018, touches not only on Justice Ginsburg’s professional life, but her family life as well. Soprano Patrice Michaels, who studied under Dominick Argento, has composed a song cycle {…}
This week, four rarely performed works get new releases. Naxos, Dynamic, and Opus Arte are pulling the stops on showcasing some of the greatest works in the repertoire that need more visibility. Here is a look. Le Comte Ory Naxos will release a new production of Rossini’s final comedy. The production from the Malmo Opera stars Leonardo Ferrando in the {…}
Jonas Kaufmann is THE tenor of the 21st century. Born on July 10, 1969, in Munich, he began his vocal training at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. During the time of his studies, Kaufmann sang smaller roles at the Bayerische Staatsoper. He graduated in 1994 with a promising career on the horizon. Then crisis struck in 1995 {…}
Dangerously close to the genre of farce, Verdi’s “Falstaff” almost lifts the burden of tough singing from its players. Centered on a large ensemble cast to which – with the exception of the titular protagonist – the vocal challenges are doled out almost equally, its arias are largely scant. Transferring the setting from 15th-century London to a fanciful, blown-up and {…}
Stephen Costello has long been one of the leading lyric tenors of his generation. His vocal beauty and stage presence have brought great acclaim and his vast repertoire has also shown his virtuosic power. This week Costello makes a major house debut, as well as a big role debut that will once again show the diversity that Costello has to {…}
Nic McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (PBO) have accomplished a plethora of amazing experiences together. McGegan, who has been the music director of the orchestra, since 1985, has made numerous recordings with the organization, particularly of early works including Handel’s “Messiah,” “Dido and Aeneas,” and the concertos of Corelli, among many others. But McGegan and his orchestra may have topped {…}
