Ping, Pong & Pang – How Atlanta Opera’s Widely Traveled ‘Turandot’ Production Remains Fresh For Veteran Cast Members

Atlanta Opera is gearing up for a revival of Puccini’s “Turandot,” the iconic opera featuring arguably opera’s most iconic melody. The company, which is reviving the production by French Canadian duo Renaud Doucet and André Barbe, will feature a cast that includes tenor Gianluca Terranova and Marcy Stonikas as Turandot. Finding Deeper Meaning From Another Vision Reviving the production will {…}

Apr 24, 2017

Monica Dewey Wins Hilde Zadek Competition

Monica Dewey has won the 10th International Hilde Zadek Vocal competition. The 27-year-old American soprano won the 10,000 € grand prize in the Glass Hall of the Wiener Musikverein. Dewey, who is from Atlanta, was also successful in four other special categories, including the special prize of the Cologne Opera and the Media Jury Prize. Second prize went to baritone {…}

Apr 24, 2017

New Music By Verdi To Be Published Online

Verdi was one of the most prolific composers in the history of opera. Spanning five decades, the composer created two dozen operas among other compositions. And yet he left many works unfinished and abandoned, most famously his “Re Lear.” For years no one has known anything about that work, but that might just change with the announcement that 5,300 pages {…}

Apr 24, 2017

CD/DVD Releases -Week of April 24: Enrico Caruso Rediscovered On RCA

Two vastly different CDs come out this week. One comes from a violinist exploring operatic repertoire through diverse arrangements while the other one comes from a legendary singer who is considered the greatest in the history of opera. There is also one Mozart selection that will likely appeal to DVD collectors. Alexandre Da Costa Goes To The Opera The acclaimed {…}

Apr 24, 2017

Artist Of The Week: Rolando Villazón Delivers Comic Timing Directing ‘Don Pasquale’

Rolando Villazón is one of the most admired singers in the opera world for his sheer abandon on stage and his detailed characterizations. He has created some very memorable performances and has recorded a number of great albums. However, this week he steps offstage and goes back to the directing seat for Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” Villazón directed his first opera in {…}

Apr 24, 2017

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Preview: ‘Der Fliegende Holländer’s’ History Marked By 10-Year Breaks

Wagner’s first masterpiece “Der Fliegende Holländer” returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday, April 25 after a seven-year absence. Despite being well-known throughout the opera world, “The Flying Dutchman,” as translated in English, has had a rather interesting history at the Met marked by long hiatuses. The opera opened the 1889-1890 season in its first-ever performance. The cast that included {…}

Apr 24, 2017

La Monnaie’s 2017-18 Season Features 8 Opera Productions, Recitals By Dessay, Keenlyside & Degout Among Others

La Monnaie announced its 2017-18 season last week. As always, it features a plethora of offerings across opera, ballet, concert and chamber music. Let’s take a look at the offerings for opera lovers. Philippe Boesmans’ “Pinocchio” opens on Sept. 9, 2017, with Stéphane Degout leading the cast. Rossini’s “Tancredi” will appear for just two concert performances on October 11 and {…}

Apr 24, 2017

Opera Holland Park Announces 2018 Season With Verdi, Mascagni And Mozart

Opera Holland Park has announced its 2018 season. The season will consist of three operatic classics and one new rarity. The season kicks off with Strauss’ “Ariadne Auf Naxos.” The new staging will be a co-production with the Danish National Opera. Performances will be held in Scotland in February and March 2018 before the production moves to OHP in July 2018. {…}

Apr 24, 2017

8 Premieres Highlight Volksoper Vienna 2017-18 Season

As is expected throughout this time period, we have yet another 2017-18 season announcement to report. This time it comes from the Volksoper in Vienna. The company has proudly announced that its new year will feature numerous premieres and 20 repertory pieces among the many offerings for 2017-18. There will be a mix of musicals, operettas, and operas among the {…}

Apr 24, 2017

Reviving A Master – Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! Debuts New Orchestra in ‘Eileen’

This October, Victor Herbert’s operetta “Eileen” will turn 100 years old. In anticipation of that celebration, and as a culmination of its third season, the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project LIVE! (VHRPL) will present the work. The two performances on April 25 and 26 will also feature the first time that the New Victor Herbert Orchestra debuts. Starting From Scratch The {…}

Apr 24, 2017

National Marionette Theater Review: Title Character Flashes His Wood in Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’

Making your way to an evening at the opera, you pass through Prague’s medieval, cobblestone streets. In the distance, sets the orange, Bohemian sun behind the black silhouette of Prague Castle. Now descending into a cellar, you’ll find yourself in the theater lobby, packing your hands with Czech beer and awaiting the opening notes of the longest running production of {…}