This is a review for the final performance of the run, which took place on May 12, 2017. The first opera I saw during the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-17 season was Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde.” So it was only fitting that the last one I saw this season was “Der Fliegende Holländer,” the first to truly establish the composer as {…}
It was the day before the closing of the Metropolitan Opera’s season and Lincoln Center Plaza was packed like my previous rush hour transfer at Times Square. As dusk approached and the chandeliers began to glow, I made my way into, not the Met for the closing of “Der Fliegende Holländer,” but Koch Theater next door. Tonight was part of {…}
Aprile Millo returns to the stage this summer in July. The legendary soprano will give a recital on July 5 at the Teatro degli Avvaloranti with music from Strauss, Verdi, Puccini and Rachmaninoff. Millo will be joined by soprano Maria Vetere and tenor Joel Ricci. Vicenzo Scalera will accompany them on the piano. In her blog, Millo noted, “I also am so {…}
Giuseppe Filianoti returns to New York to give a masterclass. The Italian tenor will be at the National Opera Center giving a unique masterclass on singing on May 18 at 7 pm. Filianoti is an international opera singer who has conquered all the great theaters in the world. Recently he performed the title role of Tito in Mozart’s “La Clemenza {…}
SoBe Arts, in collaboration with the Colony Theatre in Miami, has started work on “Tesla” a Multidisciplinary opera about the life, innovations, and explorations of Nikola Tesla. Ideally, by September, the production will be recorded, videotaped, and edited for worldwide distribution. To finish this project, they have started a Kickstarter campaign page titled “TESLA, a Multidisciplinary Opera.” So far they have {…}
Mission statement: “We want to find those people out there that have never heard an opera, never sat inside of a concert hall, are intimidated by the mere mention of classical music and think it’s only for the rich white people, and we want to sing for them and blow their minds.” Well, consider mission accomplished. Opera On Tap NYC {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced that Uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrott and American bass Erik Anstine will sing the role of Leporello in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Both artists will make their first appearances with the San Francisco Opera as they will be stepping in for previously scheduled bass Marco Vinco, who has withdrawn from the production for health reasons. Schrott is {…}
Palm Beach Opera just announced their 2018 mainstage opera season. Every performance will be held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. The first production of the mainstage season, Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca,” will run from Jan. 26 through the 28th, 2018. Soprano Keri Alkema will play the lead role. Her previous works range from roles in {…}
Buzzing in conversation, an increasingly larger group of people sat around the circular West Side Community Gardens, their proximity one another as close as it was to the numerous flower beds growing around them. A wind octet and string bass were perched on the Northern side of the central circle with conductor Geoffrey McDonald waiting patiently as more and more {…}
Christopher Allen has won the Solti Conducting award. Penny Van Horn, Board Chair of The Solti Foundation U.S. and Elizabeth Buccheri, Artistic and Awards Committee Chair, announced that the Foundation’s eighth grant would be awarded to Allen, the Resident Conductor for Cincinnati Opera. “We are most pleased to announce Christopher Allen will receive this year’s Solti Conducting Award,” stated Ms. {…}
Renee Fleming spoke out about her rumored retirement from the opera stage. During an interview with PBS Night Hour, the diva said she would not be leaving the stage and said the New York Times’ article was “a very exciting headline” but in reality, she was saying goodbye to the Marschallin and to the bulk of the repertoire that she had {…}