Q & A: Chicago Opera Theater Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya on Future Goals, Conducting and the Future of Opera

Lidiya Yankovskaya, the new Music Director of Chicago Opera Theater (COT) is a musical unifier and explorer. Her goals for the future at COT include presenting a variety of underrepresented repertoire, supporting and promoting the best of new operatic works being created in our current “golden age of American opera,” and bolstering COT’s current education and community engagement initiatives. Yankovskaya {…}

Oct 2, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 HD Preview: Sondra Radvanovsky & Joyce DiDonato Star in ‘Norma’

The Metropolitan Opera’s famed Live in HD series kicks off this weekend with a broadcast performance of Bellini’s “Norma.” The performance, which takes place on Oct. 7, 2017, will feature Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role with Joseph Calleja as Pollione, Joyce DiDonato as Adalgisa, and Matthew Rose as Oroveso. The production is directed by Sir David McVicar. Carlo Rizzi {…}

Oct 2, 2017

La Fenice 2016-17 Review – Cefalo e Procri: Solid Production Concept & Team Revives Underdeveloped Work

For the final new production of the 2016-17 season, La Fenice presented Krenek’s chamber opera, “Cefalo e Procri,” consisting of a prologue and three scenes. Written in 1934, for the 3rd International Festival of Contemporary Music at the Venice Biennale and premiered at the Teatro Goldoni, to a libretto by Kuefferle, it received only a lukewarm reception and promptly disappeared {…}

Oct 2, 2017

Artist of the Week: John Osborn Takes on ‘Fra Diavolo’ in Rome

“Fra Diavolo” is a rarely performed opera and yet it has a great deal to offer for the tenor that decides to take on its major challenges. Well, this week, tenor John Osborn will be the man to step into the role of Auber’s opera at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma with a cast that also features Roberto de Candia, {…}

Oct 2, 2017

Opera At Florham to Honor James Morris & Susan Quittmeyer At Gala Performance

The Opera At Florham will celebrate its 35th anniversary this fall. The organization has scheduled a gala performance for Oct. 15, 2017, with the intent of honoring such stars as bass-baritone James Morris and mezzo-soprano Susan Quittmeyer. Midge Woolsey of PBS and WQXR will be hostess. There will be performances by soprano Maria Natale, tenor Fanyoung Du, and baritone Ricardo {…}

Oct 2, 2017

Hispanic Heritage Month 2017: 11 Male Singers Who Have Become Icons In Opera

It is Hispanic Heritage month! The Latin American community has, particularly in recent years, been a major boon to the opera world, providing it with great singers and composers, and a number of great operas. As the third part of this weekly series, we will look at some of the most popular male Hispanic singers currently dominating the operatic world. Rolando {…}

Oct 2, 2017

Opera On Tap Announces Release Of ‘The Parksville Murders’

Opera on Tap has announced the release of Episode 1 of the world’s first virtual reality horror opera, entitled “The Parksville Murders.” The company announced that the opera will be released on Oct. 20 exclusively on Samsung VR and the episode will be featured exclusively on the Samsung VR app on Gear VR with Controller powered by Oculus and at {…}

Oct 2, 2017

CD / DVD Releases (Week of Oct. 2): Juan Diego Flórez, Marina Rebeka, Diana Damrau Among Slew of Major Releases

A week after superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann released his latest album, the other major stars of the opera world will unveil their latest recordings. It’s a big week with too many incredible choices. Here we go. Mozart Juan Diego Flórez’s first album fully dedicated to Mozart is conducted by Riccardo Minasi and features music from “Idomeneo,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “Don Giovanni,” {…}

Oct 2, 2017

Vienna State Opera 2017-18 Live Stream: Prokofiev’s ‘The Gambler’ Heads Worldwide

Prokofiev’s “The Gambler” is next up on the Vienna State Opera’s livestreaming service. The performance, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and run through around 10:15 p.m. Audiences from around the world will get an opportunity to experience the opera from the comfort of their respective homes. This season’s new production will be directed {…}

Oct 1, 2017

Carnegie Hall 2017-18 Review: José Carreras Retires with Gusto

A farewell is never easy. If you’re José Carreras, though, you can take to the stage at the end of your star-studded 40-year career and say goodbye with such ease and vitality as you did at the very, humble beginning. Making one last lap around the globe, the 70-year-old leukemia survivor handcrafted a selection of pleasingly romantic Spanish and Italian {…}

Sep 30, 2017

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017-18 Review – Orphée et Eurydice: Collaboration With Joffrey Ballet Showcases Neumeier’s Vision in a Season Opener to Remember

Collaboration is a word not used much in these hyper-polarized political times. For arts organizations facing some hard realities, it is becoming a vital part of their future. It was this cultural backdrop that brought Lyric Opera of Chicago together with the famed Joffrey Ballet for the company’s season opener of Gluck’s “Orphée et Eurydice,” seen Wednesday in the run’s {…}