The Grammy Awards have announced the 2018 nominees selecting a diverse group of operas and performers. In the category of Best Opera Recording the John Adams’ “Doctor Atomic ” recording starring Aubrey Allicock, Julia Bullock, Gerald Finley & Brindley Sherratt and produced by Friedemann Engelbrecht was nominated alongside Mason Bates and Martin Campbell’s “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” The recording {…}
Wexford Festival Opera has announced the three main evening operas for the 68th Festival in 2019. The festival announced that “Der Freischütz” by Weber, “Adina” by Rossini, in a co-production with Pesaro, and “Don Quichotte” by Massenet will be the works performed throughout the festival. The Festival will open on Oct. 22, 2019 and run for 13 consecutive days, closing on {…}
It’s hard to find the right voice for the Bel Canto repertoire. A great Bel Canto singer needs flexibility, bright high notes, immense breath control, and impeccable phrasing. And of course, a singer needs to have great command of expression, otherwise, the music can easily fall flat. Many singers attempt to put all this together, but few actually have the complete package, {…}
POP, the acronym for Los Angeles’ youthful Pacific Opera Project has a number of meanings. It can stand for Pop-up Theater (Pacific Opera Project’s productions can take place in a variety of venues and even at short notice). It can also mean “popular” (POP makes opera accessible for audiences whose principle interest might simply be an affordable night out). Over {…}
Pietro Mascagni was a composer of great talent, even if today he remains in the opera conversation because of one great work. He was born on Dec. 7, 1863, in Tuscany. He began his musical studies at age 13 and by 1880, not yet 20, Mascagni had composed a number of works. His first cantata, “In Filanda” premiered in 1881. {…}
On Dec. 7, 2018, the Teatro alla Scala will open its 2018-19 season with a new production of “Attila” by Davide Livermore. The company lined up a cast that features veterans and rising stars and a star conductor. One of the stars in the lineup is none other than Ildar Abdrazakov, who will sing the title role for the first {…}
The weekend is here and as we get closer to the holiday season new productions are opening. Among those are a number of world premieres. The Teatro alla Scala is also set to open its season with a new production of another popular Italian work. Here is a look at what we think you should check out. Die Weiden – Wiener {…}
Remember when we said last week that this month would feature one particular opera rather heavily? Well, it’s that time of the year. And since it is the holiday season, we are going to give a few more companies the benefit of the doubt with works being presented more than once. Cendrillon – Lyric Opera of Chicago Massenet’s take on {…}
Set among the blasted heaths and mists of ancient Scotland, “Macbeth” is indeed a tale of murder most foul, in which an assassin’s dagger is never far from someone’s back. The bodies pile up; King Duncan is first to meet his end, murdered in his sleep by Macbeth, followed by Banco, Macduff’s wife and his children’s murders. It is all {…}
Fort Worth Opera has announced that soprano Jennifer Rowley will headline the company’s Southern Soirée Gala. The gala slated for May 4 at The Stonegate Mansion, will be part of the 2019 Fort Worth Opera Festival. The soprano will be joined by two of the stars of the 2019 Festival at this elegant spring Gala; they are international tenor Daniel Montenegro {…}
“Every artist needs to go through difficult times. It’s important because it lets us remember who we are and the things we can and cannot do,” soprano Kristine Opolais told OperaWire in a recent interview. Over the past few years, the Latvian artist has found herself questioning her own artistic identity and ending her marriage. She’s struggled with figuring out {…}