Dmitri Hvorostovsky has announced that he will withdraw from all upcoming opera productions. The Russian baritone said in a statement via Facebook “It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from opera performances for the foreseeable future. I have been experiencing balance issues associated with my illness, making it extremely difficult for me to perform in staged productions.” However, he {…}
The Teatro alla Scala inaugurated its 2016-17 season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in its original two-act version. The cast included rising star Maria Jose Siri and American tenor Bryan Hymel. Spanish baritone Carlos Alvarez rounded out the cast with Riccardo Chailly in the pit and Alvis Hermanis directing a new production. After the conclusion of the performance, the stars received {…}
On Dec. 8, Opera Breve will open its 2016-17 season with “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” The rarely-staged Menotti opera is a special work as it was the first opera made in the U.S for TV. OperaWire had the opportunity to interview Gary Ramsey, who is playing the role of King Melchior. The baritone was a late bloomer, coming into {…}
On Dec. 7 Pablo Heras-Casado and Alex Olle will be live on Facebook to answer questions about the upcoming production of Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Hollander” at the Teatro Real de Madrid. Heras-Casado and Olle will talk about Wagner’s early work and what audiences should expect from the new production. They will also answer questions from audience members asked on Facebook, {…}
Opening Nights are always special at Teatro alla Scala as it reigns in a new season and brings out some of the most famous celebrities in Italy. It also provides star studded casts and some of the richest performances in the whole season. As a result, this occasion can sometimes be difficult to get into. For some it may be {…}
Few will ever overlook Verdi’s “Nabucco.” While the venerable composer undoubtedly surpassed his third opera, “Nabucco,” based on the biblical story, put the composer on the map in a way in a number of ways. It was his first breakthrough, coming at a time when the then 28-year-old was still reeling from the death of his entire nuclear family and {…}
Jamie Barton will host the Metropolitan Opera’s Facebook live series on Dec. 7. The American Mezzo Soprano will answer questions provided by fans through Facebook and Twitter about her upcoming role in Verdi’s “Nabucco.” Barton will sing the role of Fenena alongside Placido Domingo and Liudmyla Monastryka before changing gears for a new production of Dvorak’s “Rusalka.” The Metropolitan Opera {…}
After a long and distinguished career Angela Gheorghiu will make another important debut at the Teatro Colon in Argentina. The Romanian soprano will bring her acclaimed interpretation of Cilea’s masterpiece “Adriana Lecouvreur.” The esteemed soprano will be joined by Alessandro Corbelli, Nadia Krasteva and Leonardo Caimi. Gheorghiu has been acclaimed for the title role in “Adriana Lecouvreur” ever since she {…}
The Grammy Nominations have been announced with many of today’s biggest stars shortlisted. In the Best Opera Recording category Pentatone Music led the field with two nominations as the record label was shortlisted for James Conlon’s recording of John Corigliano’s “The Ghosts Of Versailles.” The recording stars Joshua Guerrero, Christopher Maltman, Lucas Meachem, Patricia Racette, Lucy Schaufer and Guanqun Yu. The Los {…}
Nikolaus Harnoncourt would have turned 87 today if not her his passing earlier in 2016. The venerated maestro, well-known as one of the pioneers of early music and historically informed performances. His was an intellect that was constantly in search of experimentation and just listening to a few minutes any of the dozens of recordings he left behind will be {…}
Mozart was a huge hit throughout his short career and his great success has continued in 2016 in the form of 1.25 million international CD sales of Deutsche Grammophon’s “Mozart 225: The Complete Edition” in a whopping five weeks since its release. The boxset, made up of 200-CD’s and encompassing every single work ever created by the composer, was released {…}