Back in 2007, baritone Thomas Hampson gave a Distance Learning Voice Master Class at the Manhattan School of Music. In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of that event, the American singer and the renowned conservatory are rejoining forces for the same program. In a press release on Monday, the Manhattan School of Music announced that its program, which counts among {…}
The Olivier Award nominations have been announced with numerous operas earning recognition. In the Best New Opera category, Jan Philipp Gloger’s production of Mozart’s “Così fan Tutte” for the Covent Garden has been nominated alongside Philip Venables’ “4.48 Psychosis,” which was staged at the Lyric Hammersmith and won a UK Theatre Award in October 2016. English National Opera’s “Lulu” and “Akhnaten” round out the nominees in {…}
Denyce Graves is regarded as one of the great mezzos of the 20th century. For years she dominated the stage in many leading roles and after her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1995, became a household name around the world. Born on March 7, 1964, the mezzo-soprano has built an extensive repertoire throughout her career and she continues to find interesting roles that {…}
Sonya Yoncheva revealed she might just be interested in singing “Carmen” During a Facebook Live at the Metropolitan Opera, the Bulgarian soprano jokingly said that she would be interested in performing the title role of Bizet’s “Carmen.” She joked and said that it would have to be “now.” But Yoncheva has performed several arias from the opera in concert most recently {…}
Kurt Moll has passed away at the age of 78. The German bass was recognized as one of the finest singers of the 20th century and was known for his work in the German repertoire. Before becoming a singer, Moll trained to become a professional cellist. At the time he was also in the school choir and the conductor encouraged {…}
Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” is one of the most popular operas in the Bel Canto repertoire and one that many coloratura sopranos have embraced on stage. On March 6, 1831, the opera had its world premiere with Giuditta Pasta in the title role. Pasta was known as a soprano sfogato which is designated to a contralto who is capable—by sheer industry or natural {…}
“I have always felt like the odd one out. The way I put my voice together. No one knows what to do with me. In terms of my height, I was a six-foot girl since I was 10-years-old. I have always been the outsider.” This was Elza Van Den Heever’s response to my question regarding how she relates to the {…}
This week sees the release of a world premiere recording as well as a DVD of one of Verdi’s most popular operas. It also sees another Verismo album. Check it out! Telemaco Simon Mayr’s “Telemaco” will be released by Naxos with members of the Bayersiche Staatsoper. Conducted by Franz Hauk, this marks the world premiere recording of the rarely performed {…}
Anja Harteros is one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of our time. Her repertoire ranges from Verdi, Puccini to Wagner. She has performed in all the greatest opera houses and her performances are often sold out. This week she debuts the role of Maddalena in Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier.” It is quite a surprise that Harteros has never taken on the {…}
Kiri Te Kanawa is one of the great sopranos of the 20th century, the New Zealander known for her sheer magnetism and elegance onstage. Te Kanawa, born on March 6, 1944, retired from the opera stage in the early 2000’s, making occasional cameos in ensuing years, but dedicating herself to a number of different projects and assignments. The Foundation Among {…}
For decades Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” was rarely ever performed. We would hear the famed “Friendship Duet” or get the occasional recording here and there, but seeing a staged performance was a thing of dreams. But now opera lovers can enjoy a live performance of Bizet’s often-ignored work from the comfort of their living rooms. Mind you, the Metropolitan {…}