On Jan. 25, 1817 Rossini premiered one of his most famous works, “La Cenerentola.” The opera, which is based on the classic tale of Cinderella, has become a vehicle for tenors and mezzos to showcase their virtuosic abilities and it has also been a work that has inspired many directors to explore the fairy tale in very eccentric ways. However, it is {…}
The LA Opera may not offer as many operas as some companies in terms of quantity. However when it comes to quality, the company still knows how to bring together some of the most exciting performers in the industry. Here is a look at five stars who need to be seen in the 2017-18 season. Placido Domingo: Nabucco in Verdi’s {…}
The 2017-18 season announcements just keep on coming in. After Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence announced their upcoming schedules, the Paris National Opera has finally unveiled its hotly anticipated season. In sum there are a grand total of 21 operas to see, including nine new productions. Opening Night “The Merry Widow” kicks off the proceedings on {…}
Every major discipline has its proverbial “Mount Everest,” the pinnacle achievement. The moment of “arrival” in which the person can feel a sense of accomplishment that few others, or only the true greats, have accomplished. In the soprano operatic repertoire, Bellini’s “Norma” is often viewed as that proverbial peak due to its taxing and wide-ranging nature. Lili Lehmann, one of {…}
The Aix-en-Provence festival has announced the schedule for 2017, which will feature one new production after another with many of opera’s greatest singers. Pinocchio – July 3-16 The festival will kick off with the World Premiere of Phillippe Boesmans’ “Pinocchio” on July 3, 2017. The opera will feature Chloé Briot in the title role with Stéphane Degout as the troupe {…}
For decades Marcello Giordani was a fixture at the Metropolitan Opera, taking on many of the classics of the operatic canon as well as some lesser known works. He made his debut in 1993 as Rodolfo in “La Bohème” and has gone on to sing over 200 performances. The tenor, who is celebrating his 54th birthday on Jan. 25, also {…}
Meryl Streep has been nominated for her 20th Academy Award. The announcement, made on Jan. 24, signaled the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences’ appreciation for her work in “Florence Foster Jenkins.” With the nomination Streep extended her own record to 20 nominations, the most by an actress in the history of the Academy Awards. Streep will compete against a distinguished group of {…}
At age 14, Riccardo Frizza decided he wanted nothing to do with opera. The catalyst? Bellini’s “I Puritani.” “I was studying in the conservatory and they took us to see ‘I Puritani,’” the famed conductor told OperaWire in an exclusive interview. “I thought it was so boring. It was a mistake to take me to see that first before any {…}
On Jan. 24, 1835 Bellini premiered his final opera, “Puitani.” Despite being beloved for its beautiful melodies and incredible coloratura challenges, the opera is also known for its ludicrous story line. This season the Metropolitan Opera is presenting the work with an all star cast and a new diva. The Met has always used the opera as a showcase for {…}
For those who missed the Silver Gala from Baden Baden on New Years Eve, Arte will present it on March 19, 2017. The concert, which rung in the New Year starred Sonya Yoncheva and Piotr Beczala and was condcuted by Yoncheva’s husband Domingo Hindoyan. The concert was divided into two parts. The first included popular arias and duets from opera {…}
Jonas Kaufmann recently made his big return to the opera world after a long hiatus and he’s releasing major news on a daily basis. The latest news features the tenor performing at the famed Vienna Opera Ball on Feb. 23, 2017. This would mark his first invitation to the annual event, which is one of the major social events of {…}