Gustav Mahler, born on July 7, 1860, is one of the greatest composers of all time. He was also one of the finest conductors the world has ever seen as well. Mahler’s career is monumental to be sure, with the composer spending a decade at the Vienna Court Opera, where he presented 33 news operas to the repertory for the {…}
Ever wonder what Mozart or Verdi might have thought about the changes that music took on nearly 100 years after them? It would certainly be interesting to see what they would have felt and how they might have connected to musicians of the last half-century. It would have been even more interesting to see what they felt of the direction {…}
Matti Salminen, born on July 7, 1945, is one of the great basses of the 20th and 21st century. The Finnish artist kicked off his career singing Finnish tangos in nightclubs to earn money to take voice lessons. His experience with Finnish tangos led him to publish a book on the subject. As a singer, he has enjoyed a career {…}
During the Cold War, it was rare to see an artist from the Soviet Union make a strong impression in the west. But Elena Obraztsova proved to be a major difference. Born on July 7, 1939, Obraztsova endured the siege in Leningrad during World War II and by the age of nine was singing at the Pioneers Palace in Leningrad. {…}
During the 2015-16 season, the Teatro alla Scala revived Verdi’s rarely performed opera “Giovanna d’Arco.” The opera, while never a standard piece of the repertoire, had a slight resurgence thanks to Renata Tebaldi and Monserrat Caballe in the mid 1900s. Other performers like Anna Moffo, Katia Ricciarelli, and Mariella Devia recorded the opening aria “Sempre all’alba.” But it was still {…}
It’s festival season and that means many stars are heading over to major companies to make role debuts, perform signature roles, or simply make important debuts with companies. Here is a look at what OperaWire recommends for this weekend. Nabucco – State Opera Stara Zagora, Bulgaria Maria Guleghina takes on her signature role of Abigaille alongside Romanian baritone Ionut Pascu and bass Ivailo {…}
It’s a busy weekend filled with a plethora of amazing choices for opera audiences around North America. The selections feature a wide-range of repertoire, from newer operas to classic repertory gems. Here are our top five for the weekend, in alphabetical order by company. The Magic Flute – Central City Opera The CCO opens its summer season with Mozart’s famed {…}
The Glimmerglass Festival has announced its 2019 season. Mainstage The festival will open with Hammerstein’s “Show Boat,” directed by Francesca Zambello and E. Loren Meeker and conducted by James Lowe. Eric Sean Fogel will be the choreographer to the musical and the production will be sponsored by Beth and Gary Glynn. Next on the lineup will be “La Traviata” directed {…}
“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 will look at two {…}
Finnish bass-baritone Tom Krause enjoyed a varied career that saw him transition from singing on all the major stages to teaching and judging at all the great artistic institutions. He actually intended on becoming a psychiatrist, but ultimately followed his interest in music by studying voice at the Vienna Music Academy. He made his operatic debut in Berlin in 1959 {…}
Baritone Gonzalo Montes will present “De España vengo” at the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo. The baritone will present a concert of popular Spanish and Colombian songs including Manuel de Falla, Fernando Obradors, Miquel Ortega, Federico García Lorca, Carlos Guastavino, Alberto Ginastera and Jaime León. Pianist Miquel Ortega Pujol will accompany Montes. Montes is a Colombian baritone and actor {…}