Weekend Preview – USA (4/28-30): Opera Season In Full Swing Across North America With Joyce DiDonato, Sondra Radvonovsky & Adrianne Pieczonka Headline Major Shows

Opera season is in full swing in the United States and Canada with a ton of offerings across the continent. Here is a look at the big highlights. East Coast The Metropolitan Opera will showcase “Der Rosenkavalier” on Friday before giving “Der Fliegende Holländer” Saturday afternoon and “Don Giovanni” on Saturday evening. OperaWire will attend the Friday performance with a {…}

Apr 27, 2017

Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel Join Mormon Tabernacle Choir In New Album

How many years does it take to bring together the stars of opera, rock ‘n’ roll, Broadway, country and classical music? 15 years exactly. This May 12th, the 170-year-old Mormon Tabernacle Choir will release its album, “Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Friends.” The group dubbed “America’s Choir” features stars of classical music such as; Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, and Yo-Yo Ma. Broadway {…}

Apr 27, 2017

Recital Review: Natalie Dessay Marvels And Shows A Sensitive Side In Her Return To Carnegie Hall

For years Natalie Dessay dominated the operatic scene with her charisma, acting chops, and virtuosic voice. But in 2013, the French soprano quit the operatic scene and dedicated herself to recitals, plays, and musicals. The soprano has been outspoken for her displeasure of the opera world and her critics have noted that she no longer had a voice to sing {…}

Apr 27, 2017

Obituary: Endrik Wottrich Dies at 53

Endrik Wottirch has died at the age of 53. The Wiener Volksoper announced the news that he suffered a heart attack. Wottrich was born in Celle, Germany and went on to earn a diploma in violin studies at Juilliard and became a member of the Berlin Staatsoper through the 1990s. He would make his stage debut in 1992 as Cassio in {…}

Apr 27, 2017

Metropolitan Opera’s New Marnie Production Among Highlights Of English National Opera’s 2017-18 Season

The English National Opera has released its schedule for the 2017-18 season which features nine operas between September 2017 and April 2018. The season includes four new productions and six revivals. Verdi’s “Aida” is the first opera of the season kicking things off on Sept. 28 and running all the way through December. Latonia Moore and Morenike Fadayomi alternate the {…}

Apr 27, 2017

Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! Review 2017: A Small Production Packs A Mighty Punch

At the turn of the 20th century, Victor Herbert was widely regarded as a major composer making his mark with dozens and dozens of operettas. But the last century hasn’t always been kind to the Irish-American composer, many of his works getting largely ignored in the opera world. But for the last few years, the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! {…}

Apr 26, 2017

Vittorio Grigòlo to Release First Album in 3 Years

It has been three years since Vittorio Grigòlo has released an album. But after a long wait, one of the most popular tenors in the opera world will finally be releasing his first CD in years. Entitled “Verissimo,” the tenor hinted at his new release on Facebook in a video that featured him and bass Danilo Rigosa. They would not {…}

Apr 26, 2017

Kristin Lewis To Make Royal Opera House Debut

Krassimira Stoyanova has canceled her upcoming performances of Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” The Royal Opera House announced that due to illness the Bulgarian soprano had to withdraw from singing the role of Elizabeth of Valois. American soprano Kristin Lewis will now take over the run making her Royal Opera House Covent Garden debut. The soprano has been in demand for the past {…}

Apr 26, 2017

A War Memorial in Song – John Brancy & Peter Dugan On Honoring World War I Veterans In New Album

Almost 10 years ago, pianist Peter Dugan and baritone John Brancy met up at the Julliard School’s library, picked out some music and snuck into a dance studio to try out a few songs together. Little did they know that those sessions would be the beginning of an essential artistic collaboration. Fast forward 10 years and the duo is in {…}

Apr 26, 2017

Joyce DiDonato’s ‘Ariodante’ To Be Live Streamed By Medici

On Sunday, April 30, Medici Tv will live stream Carnegie Hall’s presentation of Handel’s “Ariodante.” Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sings the title role in the concert performance, which is part of her “Ariodante’ tour around the United States. It is also part of Carnegie Hall’s critically acclaimed annual cycle of Handel operas in concert. DiDonato is joined by a remarkable international {…}

Apr 26, 2017

Sondra Radvanovsky Headlines Palm Beach Gala

Sondra Radvanvosky will perform at Palm Beach Opera’s annual gala. The soprano will participate in the company’s largest annual fundraising event. The concert will be an intimate recital and is considered “a perennial highlight of the Palm Beach social calendar.” Palm Beach Opera’s Gala brings together opera lovers and community leaders to enjoy an extraordinary evening of music and song while {…}