Heartbeat Opera has announced the launch of its fifth season with the company’s annual Halloween Drag Extravaganza. This year’s show is titled “Dragus Maximus, a homersexual opera odyssey,” and will see three performances, the first taking place on Friday, October 26, at 8:00 pm. That will be followed up with showcases on Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 pm and 10:00 {…}
Two of opera’s biggest stars get the spotlight this week. On one hand, you get one of the great singing actresses of our time in a breakout role. Opposite her is one of the world’s best tenors singing reperotire we aren’t used to hearing from him. Salome Malin Byström takes on the title role of Salome in Strauss’ masterwork. The {…}
On Sept. 20, San Francisco Opera Lab Pop-Ups is set to showcase “Battle of the Divas” at The Great Northern in San Francisco. The contest will be officiated by The Queen of the Nigh,t with the audience helping her decide the victor. “Battle of the Divas” will be hosted by director and San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Aria Umezawa and {…}
The Pacific Opera Project is set to join forces with The Occidental College Glee Club for its upcoming production of Verdi’s Lla Traviata.” The two will collaborate on two performances scheduled for Oct. 27 and 28, 2018 at Occidental College’s Thorne Hall; the two organizations last worked together in 2016 for “The Rake’s Progress,” which was largely deemed a success. The upcoming {…}
Lyric Unlimited, the branch of the Lyric Opera of Chicago will present “Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt,” as its opera for young people. The work, which was created by composer John Musto and librettist/director Eric Einhorn especially for children between ages seven and 12 and their families, is an operatic adventure which explores the crossroads of science and creativity from {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) The 20th century opera diva, a larger-than-life singer that everyone wanted to see, regardless of their like or disdain for her qualities, is not really a concept one would associate with the modern opera world. Unless you are Anna Netrebko. The Russian soprano IS the diva-par-excellence of the modern opera world, her every stop a major event. {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has canceled her upcoming recital at the Teatro Alla Scala. The soprano announced the news via social media stating, “Sonya Yoncheva is very sorry not to be able to leave Berlin to perform the recital at Teatro alla Scala scheduled for September 18 she was very much looking forward to. Sonya will be back at La Scala in {…}
In his time, Saverio Mercadante, baptized on Sept. 17, 1795, was a well-known and well-liked composer. We don’t live in his time. The Italian maestro, born in Altamura, was even given the approval of Rossini and it was under the guidance of the Italian genius that Mercadante really started dedicating himself to writing operas. Rossini even invited him to Paris {…}
The Lithuanian National Opera has appointed the Italian conductor, Sesto Quatrini, as its Artistic Director and as its Principal Conductor as of this month. During its 2108-19 season Maestro Quatrini will conduct “La Bohème,” “I Capuleti e I Montecchi,” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” as well as a Gala Concert. Although this season’s operas had already been scheduled before he {…}
Baroque opera’s popularity is growing every year. You’ve felt it. I’ve felt it. I think everyone in the opera world is feeling it. Everywhere you look, major companies are putting on more works by Handel or Monteverdi. And if those big names aren’t producing them, then you are starting to see smaller companies take on the responsibility of presenting some {…}
“Tosca” is probably the greatest diva in the opera canon. The role is so iconic that most sopranos dream of performing it at some points in their respective careers. The work combines rich music with one of the most suspenseful acts in all of opera. It gives opportunities to sopranos to show off their vocal fireworks as well as their {…}