Often attention is focused on the stars of the opera world, but below the stellasphere there exist thousands of other singers, directors, conductors, and musicians pursuing their careers. Some are fairly well established and make comfortable livings on the stage and in the concert halls, some struggle to maintain a full calendar, while others are winding down as retirement approaches, {…}
There are a ton of great Spanish artists throughout the history of opera. Juan Pons is one of them. Born in Ciutadella, Spain on August 8, 1946, Pons (or Joan Pons Álvarez as he was born), would really kickstart his career in the 1980s when he made his international debut at La Scala. That kicked off a career that featured {…}
The trailer to Paul Weitz’s “Bel Canto” has been released. The new film, based on the Ann Patchett’s novel, which was also turned into an opera, is inspired by the events of the Japanese embassy hostage crisis (also called the Lima hostage crisis) of 1996-1997 in Lima, Peru. The film stars Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabe, Sebastian Koch, Christopher Lambert, Ryo {…}
The mass movement of people that is taking place, from poor countries to the wealthier countries of the West, is causing social upheaval and human suffering on scale which has not been seen since the end of the Second World War. Millions of lives have been affected by this mass migratory flow, some positively, some negatively. Earlier this year, in {…}
Update: The version that will be performed is the “Standard Version.” The Pittsburgh Opera is set to open its 80th season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” Per a press release, the company will perform the second of five versions Puccini wrote of the work. The version that will be performed is known as the Brescia version in honor of the Italian {…}
Anthony Roth Costanzo leads the world premiere to an innovative showcase entitled “Glass Handel.” Per a press release from Opera Philadelphia ‘”Glass Handel’ is one of two innovative and thought-provoking world premiere productions that highlight O18, the second edition of Opera Philadelphia’s annual season-opening festival.” The new work will see Costanzo collaborate with producer Cath Brittan and avant-garde fashion/art company {…}
This week get will see two classic performances released as well as a rarely performed opera get a new DVD. There will also be a solo album by one of today’s rising bass-baritones. Here is a look at what’s in store. Cendrillon Naxos is releasing a new version of Massenet’s rarely performed work from the Theater Freiberg. Kim-Lillian Strebel takes {…}
Daniele Gatti’s lawyers have sent out a statement denying all allegations of sexual harassment. In the statement, Gatti denied all allegations and it said, “The Maestro has instructed his lawyers to protect his reputation and to take any action if this defamatory campaign against him should continue.” The statement comes days after the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra fired him from his {…}
This review is for the performance on July 14, 2018. Following a highly evocative night with “The Magic Flute” at the Estates Theatre, the Prague Summer Nights Festival put on the first of its two performances of “The Marriage of Figaro.” Whereas the work of the previous night illuminated the artists through its minimalist staging, Saturday’s performance saw the cast {…}
Undoubtedly the most successful musical ever written about Argentina was Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Evita,” which stormed into the Prince Edward Theatre in London in 1978. Ten years before, Astor Piazzolla’s “María de Buenos Aires” made a much more modest debut at the Sala Planeta in the Argentinean capital. Nominally a “tango operita,” this relatively short work is a much more fascinating {…}
The last time Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” was seen at Santa Fe Opera in 1999, the world was on the brink of a new millennium. Nineteen years later, this masterpiece finally saw a brilliant return to the Crosby Theater, in a new production by director Tim Albery and set and costume designer Tobias Hoheisel. Though “Ariadne auf Naxos” is now considered one {…}