It’s a big weekend in the opera world, with undeniably the biggest show coming from the biggest star around. Here is a look at five can’t-miss performances from around the North American continent (In alphabetical order by company). NJ Verismo Opera – Turandot Puccini’s final opera gets one performance in NJ with Zhanna Alkhazova in the title role, Philip Alongi {…}
Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande” is one of the great operas of all time. Premiering on April 30, 1902, the work was conceived as a major work of the 20th century. Debussy himself had fashioned the work with the idea of moving toward a new operatic ideal that he described as “No time, no place. No big scene […] Music in {…}
The Vienna State Opera has announced the 2018-19 season, which is incidentally the company’s 150-anniversary year. The season will include six new productions, including a world premiere production. Here is a breakdown of what’s to come. New Productions (In Order of Opening) Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” will be the first new production, starting on Oct. 14, 2018. David McVicar directs while {…}
Leonard Bernstein is the composer’s seminal theatrical work, a work that has suddenly become ever-present around the United States. Almost every major company or concert hall has mounted some iteration of the work in the last year or so to celebrate the composer’s centennial birthday. And this was the case at the legendary Carnegi Hall, which held a benefit concert {…}
Italian soprano Barbara Frittoli was born on April 19, 1967, and carved out a solid career in the Italian repertoire. Frittoli, a Milan native, went on graduate from the famed conservatory in her city. Unsurprisingly, she would have a solid career at the famed Teatro alla Scala, where she worked extensively with Riccardo Muti in such operas as “Falstaff,” “Otello,” {…}
The Vienna State Opera has announced the 2018-19 season, which will feature many of opera’s great stars. There are a ton of ensemble artists that are due for big years, including Olga Bezsmertna who is slated for a whopping nine roles this season. But here is a look at five other artists who are poised to be the must-see performers {…}
The Virginia Opera has announced its 2018-19 season featuring four productions. Here is a look at what the company has in stock for prospective audiences! The season opens with Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene” featuring Maureen McKay, David Blalock, Jull Gardner, and Zachary James. Dorothy Danner directs the new production conducted by Adam Turner. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 14, 2018 The season {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment we will take a {…}
Premiering in 1773, Jean-Phillipe Rameau’s first opera, “Hippolyte et Aricie,” was considered to be a ground-breaking and controversial work that would further inspire a continuation of masterpieces that Rameau would create in support of “modern” music. Modeled after Racine’s tragedy “Phèdre,” Rameau created a tragédie lyrique, that stirred perspectives surrounding a genre of French opera that began with Jean-Baptiste Lully {…}
Bryan Hymel has canceled performances of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette.” The Metropolitan Opera announced that Hymel canceled due to illness. As a result, Charles Castronovo will sing the role of Roméo. Castronovo returns to the Met after singing an acclaimed run of “Die Zauberflöte” earlier this season. He recently sang a run of “Roméo” at the Badishes Staatstheater and Don José in {…}
Pittsburgh Opera’s “Student Matinee” performance of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love” is set to bring 2,000+ schoolchildren to Benedum on Thursday, April 26. The performance, which will be shown from 10:30 – 1:00 p.m., will include Pittsburgh Opera’s full orchestra, top-quality singers, chorus, and production elements. The field trip will continue Pittsburgh Opera’s educational program to expand opera audiences. As noted in a press release, “Students {…}