Great Performances will feature “Birgit Nilsson: A League of Her Own” on PBS as part of Women’s History Month on March 22, 2019. The documentary tells the story of the famed soprano through narrations and interviews with some of opera’s great figures. Among those features are Plácido Domingo, Jonas Kaufmann, Marilyn Horne, Nina Stemme, Antonio Pappano, Christa Ludwig, Barry Tucker, {…}
On March 23, 2019, the Vienna State Opera will showcase the double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” Audiences who are unable to go to the theater will still get a chance to see the opera via the Vienna State Opera’s live stream service. The cast of “Cavalleria Rusticana” will feature Elina Garanca, Yonghoon Lee, and Paolo Rumetz. In “Pagliacci,” {…}
Audiences can check out the “Der Rosenkavalier” performance on March 21, 2019, from the Vienna State Opera via the company’s live stream service. The performance will star Adrianne Pieczonka as the Marschallin, Peter Rose as Baron Ochs, Stephanie Houtzeel as Octavian, and Chen Reiss and Sophie. Adam Fischer conducts the classic Otto Schenk. The stream kicks off at 6 p.m. {…}
The Staatsoper Stuttgart has partially announced its 2019-20 season. While the full line up of revivals, dates, and cast has not been announced, the company revealed six intriguing new productions and a number of stars making role debut and house debuts. Here is a first look before the full reveal. The first new production of the season will be a five-act “Don {…}
On March 16, 2019, Sir Thomas Allen gave his final performance at the Royal Opera House. The Royal Opera House announced via social media that the famed baritone gave his final performance with the house in “Così Fan Tutte.” In a social media message, the company said, “Sir Thomas Allen coming off stage after last night’s performance of ‘Così fan tutte’ {…}
Opera in the Heights (OH) is set to present “Madama Butterfly” in a co-production with Pacific Opera Project. The opera translates its original Italian libretto into Japanese and English and will feature Japanese-American singers in the Japanese roles. OH Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Eiki Isomura, who conducts all performances, has adapted the libretto for the Japanese-speaking characters, and Pacific {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2019-20 season, which is undeniably one of the biggest there is. It includes eight new productions to go along with a plethora of revivals. New Productions Jonas Kaufmann and Marlis Petersen headline a new production of Korngold’s “Die Tote Stadt” with Simon Stone directing. Kirill Petrenko conducts the production which also stars Andrzej Filonczyk, Jennifer Johnston, {…}
Verdi’s “Attila” had its world premiere on March 17, 1846, and was loved by the public, earning productions all over Italy. However, it waned in the 20th century, falling out of favor and only receiving revivals when used as a vehicle for famed basses who have gravitated toward the complex title role. The opera’s world premiere cast included bass Ignazio {…}
Quebec-native Marie-Nicole Lemieux, C.M., C.Q., is one of the highest-rated contraltos in the world, performing regularly at Covent Garden, Theater an der Wien, Barcelona’s Liceu, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, and singing alongside such luminaries as Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo. Name a world-class orchestra or maestro, and Lemieux has more than likely worked with them at some point in her {…}
Readers looking for a thought-provoking, feel-good book about the powers of arts education and music’s spiritual force: look no further than “The Spirit of This Place: How Music Illuminates the Human Spirit (The University of Chicago Press).” Written by Houston Grand Opera Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, a self-professed lover of writing, the book is a collection of 36 {…}
Christa Ludwig is one of the German mezzo-sopranos of all time. Born on March 16, 1928 in Berlin, Ludwig had music all around her from a young age. Her father was a tenor and her mother was a mezzo who was performing under Herbert Von Karajan at the Aachen Opera; she proved to be the young Christa’s first voice teacher. {…}