The past week was flooded with major news on the international stage. Here is a look back at some of the big headlines, in case you missed them. Major Premieres This week saw a plethora of premieres. The Berlin Staatsoper showcased “Manon Lescaut” which was showcased on online; the same happened for the Bayerische Staatsoper which showcased “Lady Macbeth of {…}
Maurisz Kwiecien and Peter Mattei will replace Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the Metropolitan Opera’s revival production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” On Thursday the Russian baritone announced his withdrawal from all opera performances for the foreseeable future. He stated, “It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from opera performances for the foreseeable future. I have been experiencing balance issues associated {…}
Audiences worldwide will get a chance to witness Kaija Saariaho’s “L’Amour de Loin” on Saturday as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s hugely popular Live in HD series. The performance is the third in this season’s series. The famed company kicked off its series with Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” and followed it up with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” “L’Amour de Loin” is {…}
The weekend is upon us and opera fans around the United States are likely looking at how to approach the forthcoming days ahead. Because of the holiday season, there are not many options out there as most companies have taken the month off to recoup and prep for January, when most make a return with a big showcase. That said, {…}
Monica Bellucci and Ana Maria Martinez have created a role together in the newly released third season of Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle.” Martinez recorded an aria for the show written by composer Nico Muhly based on a Long Island tragedy and that recording is now the dub for Bellucci’s performance. The Italian actress was cast in the series to play {…}
With the announcement of Dmitri Hvorostovsky cancelling opera productions for the foreseeable future, opera stars reacted to the news. Among the stars that took to social media included Sondra Radvanovsky, Rolando Villazon, Piotr Beczala and Yannick Nezet-Seguin. The Russian baritone announced earlier on Thursday that he would cancel opera productions. He stated, “It is with great sadness that I must {…}
“You could research my family as far back as the 1600’s and you wouldn’t find anyone anywhere involved in music,” declared mezzo soprano Antonella Delli Carpini during a recent chat with Opera Wire in anticipation of her upcoming performance as the mother in Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” at Opera Breve. But now she is the first. And it {…}
The New York City Opera has just added four performances to its upcoming run of Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide,” citing popular demand. The opera was originally scheduled for performances from January 6 through 12, but four additional presentations have from Jan. 13-15. The opera will be directed by legendary director Harold Prince, best known for his work on Broadway where he {…}
Jonas Kaufmann has canceled his recital debut in Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo Opera stated, “For health reasons that have lasted 3 months, Mr. Kaufmann is forced to cancel the December 12 date. The artist expresses his great regret at having to do so.” The company continued, “The Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Mr. Kaufmann’s management are looking for an alternative {…}
The second performance of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Salome,” starring Patricia Racette, takes place on Friday, Dec. 9. The first performance featured the Met role debut for Racette, a portrayal that earned her universal acclaim. Eric C. Simpson of the New York Classical Review wrote that “ the veteran soprano had a career night Monday, showing she still has an enormous {…}
Dmitri Hvorostovsky has announced that he will withdraw from all upcoming opera productions. The Russian baritone said in a statement via Facebook “It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from opera performances for the foreseeable future. I have been experiencing balance issues associated with my illness, making it extremely difficult for me to perform in staged productions.” However, he {…}