“Don Carlo,” which premiered on March 11, 1867, is arguably Verdi’s most complex concoction. The work features five major characters, all of them imbued with tremendous complexity, some more than others. Among them we see a confused prince trying to find purpose in his life; a rebel ready to risk all for his cause; a queen troubled by the conflict {…}
Premiering on March 11, 1851, “Rigoletto” is one of Verdi’s most popular operas, opening with great acclaim which cemented its place in the operatic repertoire. The libretto, written by Francesco Maria Piave, is adapted from Victor Hugo’s play “Le roi s’amuse,” which had been banned in France for its scandalous depiction of a womanizing monarch. Despite the many troubles posed {…}
The Boston Lyric Opera has announced its 2018-19 season which will feature four works centering on the themes of rebellion. First up is Rossini’s perennial masterwork “The Barber of Seville.” The opera is set to star Matthew Worth, Daniela Mack, Jesus Garcia, David Crawford, Steven Condy, Michelle Trainor, and Alex Lawrence under maestro David Angus. Rosetta Cucchi directs the production. {…}
Janáček’s final opera, “From the House of the Dead (Z mrtvého domu),” is among the operatic canon’s most insular works. Set in a Siberian prison camp, the piece is uncharacteristic as an opera from several perspectives: it features just a single female voice – although originally a mezzo sang the tenor role; its setting is confined to the lugubrious complexion {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced a memorial concert for Dmitri Hvorostovsky. The concert will see artists of The Royal Opera and friends celebrate the achievements of the great Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who died in November 2017. The Russian baritone was one of the most remarkable and beloved artists of our time and was well-known at the Royal Opera {…}
Aprile Millo will return to the opera stage in October. The veteran soprano announced via Instagram that she will sing the title role of “Adriana Lecouvreur” at the Teatro Municpal in Rio di Janeiro. The soprano recently returned to the stage last summer in Italy and has since been performing all over the world. Millo first performed the role of {…}
Paul Plishka has announced he will retire. The beloved Metropolitan Opera veteran told the New York Times that after this Saturday’s performance of “La Boheme,” he will call it quits. Plishka, now 76, had announced back in 2012 that he would retire but that did not work out when his colleague John Del Carlo passed away. After 50 years and what will {…}
Verdi’s “Ernani” is one of his early masterworks that remains at the forefront of the repertory. The work, which premiered on March 9, 1844, isn’t performed nearly as some of the later and more popular works, but it is a massive showcase for the four lead singers, particularly the tenor. The work itself represented the first time that the “Verdi {…}
The New York Opera Fest has been announced and it will feature a ton of new productions and performances to behold. The showcase kicks off on May 1, 2018, with an opening night launch at Opera America and runs all the way until June 26. So here is a breakdown of what’s in store for audiences. As has been the {…}
For this week’s recommendations, we have two modern works coupled with three classic masterworks (or more like four with two in a double bill). Throw in a combination of small and big-name companies and this weekend’s recommendations run a wide and diverse gamut. Un Ballo In Maschera – Livermore Valley Opera First up on our list is the independent company’s {…}
After a number of adventurous choices last week, this weekend we’re sticking to some of the greatest hits in opera as this week will feature the greatest singers in the world. One simply cannot ignore when singers like Jonas Kaufmann and Bryan Hymel are performing major works. Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci – La Monnaie, Belgium Damiano Michieletto’s acclaimed production of the popular verismo {…}
