A week ago we remarked that in the modern operatic canon, the works of Giacomo Meyerbeer are non-existent. That is even truer for Saverio Mercadante, a composer who was famous in his time but has not seen his works achieve anything resembling a revival. Baptized on Sept. 17, 1795 (the date of his “illegitimate” birth remains a mystery), he was {…}
Peter Allen was not simply “another voice” on the radio, but, rather, an exemplar of how to be a voice on the radio. Allen, who passed away last October and would have turned 97 on September 17, spent 29 seasons in The Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast booth as host of the Saturday matinée radio broadcasts (1975-2004). He filled the airwaves with {…}
Single tickets have gone on sale for the Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s annual gala concert on Dec. 10. This is its second season back home at Carnegie Hall after spending more than 25 years at Lincoln Center. Nadine Sierra, winner of the 2017 Richard Tucker Award, will be joined onstage by past winners as they perform works from Handel, Verdi, Donizetti, {…}
Orson Welles is one of the most fascinating figures of the past century, his art among the most influential of all time. But one of the things few people know about Welles is that he was as much concerned about process as he was about the final result. In fact, some of his films, most notably “F for Fake” examines {…}
After a successful premiere at the Cincinnati Opera last summer, “Fellow Travelers” is making it’s digital release on Sept. 15, before a physical release on Sept. 29. The new opera, written by Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce revisits the ‘lavender scare’ of the 1950’s McCarthy era, based on the 2007 novel by Thomas Mallon. The story of a love affair {…}
Elīna Garanča is one of the most famous singers of the modern opera world. Born on Sept. 16, 1976, the Latvian mezzo has gone from bel canto specialist to a dominant singing actress in the dramatic repertoire. Known for her vocal prowess and technical perfection (have you ever heard her struggle with any vocal line?), she is also an imaginative {…}
Samuel Barber’s “Antony and Cleopatra” was supposed to be an opera for the ages. But it was not to be. Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera for the opening of its new house at Lincoln Center, the opera’s Sept. 16, 1966, world premiere is widely remembered as a colossal failure, not only because the Franco Zeffirelli production was filled with one {…}
Marina Rebeka has announced her upcoming Rossini album. The new CD “Amor Fatale” features arias from “Otello,” “Maometto II,” “Semiramide,” “Guillaume Tell” and “La Donna del Lago.” Marco Armiliato conducts the Munchner Rundfunkorchester in this new album which will be released by BR Klassik. The album is set for release on Sept. 29 in Europe with no U.S. release set. {…}
The 7th annual Sphinx Medals of Excellence have been announced and mezzo soprano J’Nai Bridges been awarded the medal. Bridges has performed in operas with the San Francisco Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Vancouver Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and more. She also regularly performs as a soloist, including performances with Yo-Yo Ma and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, {…}
Andrea Bocelli has been hospitalized due to a horse accident. The accident happened near Pisa and was injured in the head. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he is recovering. The tenor sent out a message noting “My dears, I know you’ve been worried about me in those latest hours. I just want to calm you down and {…}
Conductor Bruno Walter, born on Sept. 15, 1876 as Bruno Schlesinger, was one of the finest conductors of the 20th century. His career was, in many ways, linked to the works of Gustav Mahler, but he also had an extensive repertoire and worked at a number of prominent opera houses including the Salzburg Festival, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the {…}