It’s a big year at Caramoor for Will Crutchfield. For the last 20 years, Crutchfield has been a leader in reviving a number of Bel Canto works at the festival through his program “Bel Canto at Caramoor.” It is a program that has showcased some rarities and has shown the conductor’s expertise in the repertoire. However, this year Crutchfield is {…}
Since its inception in 1983, the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition has featured over a dozen victors in differing categories. The Singer of the World title has been awarded since 1983, but the Song Prize didn’t start until 1989. As is usually the case with these competitions, some victors go on to major international careers while others have solid {…}
When Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” premiered on June 10, 1865, it changed the world of music and art forever. Not only did it feature some of the most breathtaking music ever committed to a score, but it changed the way music could be written. The celebrated “Tristan” chord, which shattered the musical concept of a stable key, was only the {…}
For those who missed the Metropolitan Opera Council Grand Finals Concert, WXQR is transmitting the recorded version on June 10. The concert will showcase the arias that the finalists sang at the concert back on March 19, 2017. Maestro Nicola Luisotti led the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the event was hosted by soprano Renée Fleming. Soprano Amber Wagner, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, {…}
Hearing of opera singers passing on their art to future generations is quite rare. Just do the thought experiment – how many opera singers do you know that had children pursuing the same career. Well, count Kang Wang among that list. The Australian tenor will showcase his talents and incredible story at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition {…}
Who says opera singers can’t be fun? That is exactly what Paulo Szot has been showing audiences this past week as he pays homage to Broadway. In his seventh appearance at 54 Below, Szot showcased his comedic and dramatic sensibilities in a cabaret performance. Music director and pianist Billy Stritch began the program with a jazz piece; then Szot entered, walking through {…}
Opera Australia has announced that its 60th Anniversary year ended with an outstanding financial and artistic result. The company announced in a press release that it had made strong gains that resulted in a $3.0 million surplus. Chairman David Mortimer AO noted, “The 2016 financial outcome is a remarkable turnaround year-on-year for the Company and a tribute to Chief Executive {…}
The George London Foundation has announced the singers that will be taking part in its 2016-17 season events. This upcoming season will feature three recitals with six of the great young stars in the opera world. Of those six four have won the George London Awards over the course of the last eight years. The first of this series kicks {…}
From a birthday to a debut to tech rehearsals to just some vacationing, opera’s biggest stars were keen to share their experiences via Instagram. Here is a look at the current lives of five different opera stars. Nadine Sierra sent out a ton of love to the city of Paris, praising its culture, architecture, food and people, as she continues her {…}
As part of the New York Opera Fest in alliance with the New York Opera Alliance, Vertical Player Repertory Opera will debut “Phaedra” this Saturday, June 10, 2017. This fully staged production will start at 8:00 pm EDT at 334 South 5th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The plot of the opera revolves around Phaedra, the main character, stumbling under Aphrodite’s {…}
Another light weekend in North America’s Opera World with only a few companies putting on shows. Opera Theater of Saint Louis continues its run of Gordon’s “The Grapes of Wrath” on Friday. The next day the company puts on Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito.” The company closes out the weekend with “Madama Butterfly.” Portland Opera puts on its lone performance {…}