As is the case with a number of major opera houses around the world, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden is presenting Puccini’s “La Bohème.” And is often the case with all of these major companies, there are so many performances of this beloved opera, 25 in total spread across the fall and summer, that it can be tough to {…}
After a relatively quiet weekend in the USA, the opera world starts coming back to life in this second week of September. The New York City Opera continues its season-opening run of “La Fanciulla del West” on Friday and Sunday. OPERA San Antonio’s production of “Macbeth” kicks off for two performances on Friday and Sunday and will star Greer Grimsley {…}
This weekend a number of companies open their 2017-18 season featuring some of today’s biggest stars while other companies open new productions. Austria The Vienna State Opera’s continues its season with “Chowanschtschina” starring Ferruccio Furlanetto, Christopher Ventris, Herbert Lippert, Andrzej Dobber, Ain Anger, and Elena Maximova. The company also presents “Le Nozze di Figaro” with Carlos Álvarez, Dorothea Röschmann, and Adam {…}
The Vienna State Opera kicks off its live streaming service with a performance of Mussorgsky’s “Khovanschina” on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. The performance kicks off at 6:30 p.m. local time and stars Ferruccio Furlanetto, Christopher Ventris, Herbert Lippert, Andrzej Dobber, Ain Anger, and Elena Maximova. Michael Güttler conducts. This is only the second performance of the season, with subsequent showcases {…}
Opening in September, the International Center for the Performing Arts will give visitors the chance to look into the life’s work of revered opera and film director Franco Zeffirelli. Located behind the historic Palazzo Vecchio, the center will offer access to not only thousands of books on art, history, music, but courses on stage design as well as concerts and {…}
Houston Grand Opera looks to be back in business after suffering great damage from Hurricane Harvey. Per the company’s Instagram Account, “Like many of you, our recovery from Hurricane Harvey has been challenging. While we are not back in our home at the Wortham yet, we were able to restore our website and officially put our single tickets on sale {…}
The Atlanta Opera has announced the six members of the 2017-2018 Atlanta Opera Studio following a successful inaugural season in 2016-17. The Studio will feature three returning and three new artists, selected from 300 applicants and nearly 150 live auditions. Tomer Zvulun (General & Artistic Director), Lauren Bailey (Director of Artistic Administration), Rolando Salazar (Interim Chorus Master/Music Administrator), and Wade Thomas (Artistic {…}
Through the mid-20th century, there were a number of major tenors dominating the opera scene, often pushing some truly incredible talents out of the main focus. While tenor Giuseppe Giacomini, born on Sept. 7, 1940, was never relegated to the sidelines, the greatness of his career might have been overshadowed by other legendary successes. Here is a look at the {…}
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu possesses a warm, plush timbre that is distinctively unique ― one note and it’s apparent it’s Gheorghiu. Also possessing dramatic abilities that rival Hollywood’s most respected actresses and the Romanian soprano has secured a place as one of the most established singers in history. Born on Sept. 7, 1965, Gheorghiu is perhaps most celebrated for her interpretations {…}
In a contemporary landscape overrun with new operas featuring white, cisgendered men in the title roles, it’s refreshing to consider Opera Philadelphia’s newest commission, “Elizabeth Cree.” This chamber opera, composed by Kevin Puts with a libretto by Mark Campbell, adapts Peter Ackroyd’s macabre murder mystery, “The Trial of Elizabeth Cree.” The story, set in late 19th century London, follows Elizabeth Cree, {…}
“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 features Joe Wright’s incredible {…}