Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Student Matinee’ To Bring 2,000+ Schoolchildren To Benedum

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 {…}

Apr 18, 2018

Latonia Moore, Mario Chang & Adrian Timpau To Be Featured In The Metropolitan Opera’s 2018 Summer Recital Series

The 2018 Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2018 Summer Recital Series. The company will once again bring free outdoor showcases, featuring rising young stars of the opera world to New Yorkers in all five boroughs. The series kicks off on June 11, 2018 at 8 p.m. at Central Park SummerStage and June 13, 2018 at 7 p.m. at Brooklyn Bridge {…}

Apr 18, 2018

Nicholas Phan To Release of New Solo Album ‘Illuminations’

Nicholas Phan’s new solo album for Avie Records “Illuminations” is set for release Friday, April 20, 2018. The release of the new album comes on the heels of Phan’s 2018 Grammy nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. “Illuminations” reunites the tenor with his long-time recital partner, pianist Myra Huang and also joins forces with the adventurous Brooklyn-based orchestral collective, {…}

Apr 18, 2018

Mariella Devia To Say Goodbye To Opera Stage With Major Prize

Mariella Devia will be awarded the “Premio Una vita nella musica 2018” this coming May. The soprano will be presented with the accolade on May 14, 2018, at the Sale Apollinee of Teatro La Fenice where she will be performing “Norma.” Devia has announced that after the “Norma” performances she will be retiring from the Opera stage and will dedicate her {…}

Apr 18, 2018

Carousel on Broadway 2018 Review: Renée Fleming Makes Triumphant Return to Stage

Who knows if we will ever hear Renée Fleming take to the opera stage to perform a recognized role again? Her departure from the Met Opera stage last May in “Der Rosenkavalier” seems, to this point, as the end of Fleming the opera star to make way for Fleming, a bigger star in a wider range of musical repertoire. Because {…}

Apr 18, 2018

Artist Profile: Catherine Malfitano, Soprano & Director

Catherine Malfitano is that rare career where the star soprano also becomes a prominent director. The New York native was born on April 18, 1948, to a violinist and a ballet dancer. In such a circumstance it is no surprise that Malfitano would have some sort of career in the arts. And sure enough, her early upbringing cemented that. She {…}

Apr 17, 2018

Hartford Opera Theater To Present ‘Speaking Her Truth: Three Vocal Works’

Hartford Opera Theater will present “Speaking Her Truth: Three Vocal Works” by Jessica Rudman. The new production by Kristy Chambrelli in collaboration with Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra will feature music by Jessica Rudman with a libretto by Jessica Rudman (Trigger) and Kendra Leonard (Lady Macbeth/Marie Curie Learns to Swim). The evening will be conducted by Dan D’Addio and will feature three different works. {…}

Apr 17, 2018

Teatro Malibran 2018 Review – Orlando Furioso: Revival of Vivaldi Success Is Rousing Success With Top-End Cast

As part of its 2017 programme, the Festival della Valle D’Itria presented a staging of Vivaldi’s opera “Orlando Furioso.” Embracing the performance traditions of the baroque period and resisting the temptation to make the work “relevant,” its director, Fabio Ceresa and his production team produced a splendid reading of the work, full of color, spectacle, and beauty. The musical direction, {…}

Apr 17, 2018

Three Chicago Premieres Headline Chicago Opera Theater’s 2018-19 Season

The Chicago Opera Theater has announced its 2018-19 season featuring exciting and rarely performed operatic gems. Here is a look at what the season will offer. Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta” makes its Chicago premiere with direction by internationally acclaimed and award-winning director Paul Curran and under the baton of COT’s own Staley Music Director, Maestro Lidiya Yankovskaya. Katherine Weber sings the title {…}

Apr 17, 2018

Manhattan School of Music 2017-18 Review – The Snow Maiden: Juliana Levinson & Castmates Deliver Rousing Showcase of Rimsky-Korsakov Gem

Audience members enjoyed a rare performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Snow Maiden,” in English, over the weekend. Translated by Alasdair Middleton for Opera North’s 2017 production, this opera was said to possibly be Rimsky-Korsakov’s best contemporary opera. In addition to its popularity in Russia, this specific opera contains remarkably poignant folklike melodies that gave life to the overall culture and complex {…}

Apr 17, 2018

Chicago Opera Theater 2017-18 Review – Il Pigmalione and Rita: A Double-Bill of Donizetti Pays Worthy Homage to His Genius

Seasoned operagoers are very familiar with Gaetano Donizetti, although most have only seen a paltry number of his works including the likes of “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Anna Bolena” and “La Fille du Régiment.” Donizetti is known as opera’s most prolific popular composer with over 70 operas to his name with many providing fertile unexplored territory. The innovative Chicago Opera Theater has forged {…}