Even before the curtain rose on this Los Angeles Opera production of Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” which I saw on March 7th, 2019, I was excited by what I had read in the program booklet. LA Opera Music Director James Conlon’s article, “Clemency, Forgiveness and Love” with its emphasis on Titus’s closing message that “I know everything, absolve everyone {…}
The Vienna State Opera will live stream a solo concert featuring baritone Leo Nucci and pianist James Vaughan on March 13, 2019. The program will feature arias from “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” “Gianni Schicchi,” “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “I Vespri Siciliani,” “Pagliacci,” “La Traviata,” “Il Trovatore,” “Don Carlo,” and “Rigoletto.” The stream kicks off at 8 p.m. {…}
Wagner’s “Der Ring Des Nibelungen” made its long-awaited comeback to the Met Opera on Saturday afternoon with a performance of “Das Rheingold.” The Wagner epic is always a major draw for audiences and the house was packed for the matinee performance which marked the return of the famed “machine” production by Robert LePage as well as a number of debuts {…}
Stephen Gould has canceled tonight’s performance of “Tannhäuser” at the Semperoper. The company announced that Klaus Florian Vogt will step in as the title character for Gould; Vogt will sing from the side of the stage, while Alexander Brendel performs on stage. Vogt is one of the most in demand heldentenors of his generation who recently performed “Tannhäuser” in Wiesbaden {…}
Minnesota-native conductor Joseph Mechavich is a truly versatile maestro. He’s known for his commitment to contemporary American opera. The conductor is a champion of Jake Heggie’s work, has led productions of John Adam’s “Nixon in China,” and Floyd’s “Susannah,” among many others. As of this writing, Mechavich just finished a run of “Dead Man Walking,” with the Atlanta Opera, and {…}
“Night Songs & Love Waltzes” was an evening of romantic era bliss for listeners and lovers of all ages that took place at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and featured Ted Sperling’s MasterVoices choir and guest artist soloists Nicole Cabell, Kate Aldrich, Nicholas Phan and Nmon Ford. The program included 19th-Century Romantic German Song alongside Ricky Ian Gordon’s “Life is {…}
On March 4, 2019, Joyce DiDonato’s Songplay tour brought her to Lincoln Center’s Appel Room for a night of opera classics and jazz standards. Joining her were the album’s collaborators, pianist and arranger Craig Terry, bassist Chuck Israels, drummer Jimmy Madison, with Lautaro Greco on the bandoneon, and Charlie Porter on the trumpet; these all-stars span a vast body of {…}
The 4th Annual Toronto Bach Festival will take place May 24 – 26, 2019 in celebration of one of the world’s most beloved composers – J. S. Bach. Music lovers “will be treated to back-to-back Bach, from the three main categories of his work – vocal music, solo keyboard music, and instrumental music,” according to the press release. John Abberger, founder and {…}
The Western Wind Ensemble will present “O Western Wind…,” its 50th Anniversary Gala Performance, on Mar. 23, 2019 at Merkin Hall. The Gala will honor founding member and countertenor William Zukof’s dedication to the company. Zukof will step down from his singing role later this year. Current members of the vocal sextet include sopranos Linda Lee Jones and Gayla D. {…}
Lorenzo da Ponte, born on March 10, 1749, would go on to become one of the great librettists in the history of opera. He was born Emanuele Conegliano, but when his father converted from Judaism to Catholicism to marry a Catholic woman, he took the name of Lorenza da Ponte. He studied at the Ceneda seminary and eventually moved to {…}
Verdi’s “Ernani” is one of the composer’s most recognized works from his early period. The opera had its first performance on March 9, 1844 and has managed to hold the stage since thanks to its varied melodic qualities for the four lead characters. In the context of Verdi’s oeuvre, this work is also the first to feature the composer at {…}
