Jamie Barton is one of the fast-rising stars of the opera world. Born on Oct. 17, 1981, you might already call her an operatic superstar, her performances drawing the most enthusiastic raves from critics the world over. Her showcase at the Met in 2016-17 in Dvorak’s “Rusalka” was continually lauded as “scene-stealing” and she just seems unstoppable. In looking at {…}
Rolando Panerai was one of the great baritones of the mid-1900s. Born on Oct. 17, 1924, the Campi Bisenzio-born singer would add around 150 operas to his repertoire, an obscene number by any standards. As one might expect, he was a massive exponent of the Italian repertoire, particularly in the operas of Verdi where he sang everything from the great {…}
Debussy’s operatic gem “Pelléas et Mélisande” gets a live stream on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, as part of the Vienna State Opera’s season-long showcase of its productions online. The opera will be conducted by Daniel Harding with sets and direction by Marco Arturo Marelli. Peter Rose, Janina Baechle, Bernard Richter, Simon Keenlyside and Christiane Karg headline the cast. The production {…}
The European Center of Music (CEM), in partnership with a number of cultural and financial agencies, has begun a fundraising campaign to preserve and restore the home of famed composer Georges Bizet. The campaign is part of CEM’s goal of creating a heritage site dedicated to the artists of the Romantic era who lived within the vicinity of Bizet’s home, {…}
Opinions on regietheater can be quite divided although anyone with a negative one should have a level of understanding for what Oper Köln is currently undergoing. The company’s opera house, located in the center of the city in the square named for native son Jacques Offenbach, is currently being renovated. That has required Oper Köln to shift to several locations {…}
The last few years have been difficult for baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky and his beloved opera fans, including yours truly. A brilliant actor with a rich and layered voice, Hvorostovsky is a consummate artist if there ever was one. Even on days when his voice is not at its peak (as was the case at the recent Metropolitan Opera gala), he {…}
Over the last two years the Metropolitan Opera Guild has attempted something that few, if any, other companies have given a look at – podcasts. The increasingly popular form of media has seen tremendous growth over the last few years, becoming the go-to source for information and entertainment for busy morning commuters. Unlike videos or other forms of media, podcasts {…}
Over the past year, María José Siri’s career has skyrocketed from opening the Teatro alla Scala in a new production of “Madama Butterfly” to premiering a new production of “Manon Lescaut” at the Teatro Regio di Torino. This past month she was also called to make another high-profile opening at the Vienna State Opera in “Il Trovatore.” Since then she {…}
Following a wave of criticism over Music Theatre Wales’ all-white cast, London’s Hackney Empire venue has cancelled its premiere of “The Golden Dragon,” originally set for October 31, 2017. The theatre issued a statement on Thursday, saying: “The debate aroused by the non-Asian casting in The Golden Dragon compromises the Empire’s commitment and position as a champion of diversity and accessibility {…}
The Metropolitan Opera Guild will hold a luncheon to honor superstar soprano Renée Fleming on Dec. 7, 2017. The event will feature a massive list of superstars in attendance, including Martina Arroyo, Jamie Barton, Harry Bicket, Harolyn Blackwell, Stephanie Blythe, Wolfgang Brendel, Joseph Calleja, Kristin Chenoweth, Glenn Close, Philip Cokorinos, James Conlon, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Dwayne Croft, Loretta Di Franco, Rosalind Elias, {…}
Joyce DiDonato’s famed interpretation of Didon in Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” will get a CD release this fall. The new recording, which will be released by Erato features the full uncut score of the Berlioz masterwork, drawn from two concert performances that took place over the Easter weekend in April 2017 in the Strasbourg, France. The performance is led by conductor John Nelson {…}