Grammy Award Nominations 2017: Anna Netrebko, Isabel Leonard, Cecilia Bartoli and Sonya Yoncheva Lead Nominees

The Grammy Nominations have been announced with many of today’s biggest stars shortlisted. In the Best Opera Recording category Pentatone Music led the field with two nominations as the record label was shortlisted for James Conlon’s recording of John Corigliano’s “The Ghosts Of Versailles.” The recording stars Joshua Guerrero, Christopher Maltman, Lucas Meachem, Patricia Racette, Lucy Schaufer and Guanqun Yu. The Los {…}

Dec 6, 2016

14 Brilliant Insights on Art & Music From the Great Maestro Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Nikolaus Harnoncourt would have turned 87 today if not her his passing earlier in 2016. The venerated maestro, well-known as one of the pioneers of early music and historically informed performances. His was an intellect that was constantly in search of experimentation and just listening to a few minutes any of the dozens of recordings he left behind will be {…}

Dec 6, 2016

Mozart 225: The Complete Edition Tops 1.25 Million in Sales Worldwide

Mozart was a huge hit throughout his short career and his great success has continued in 2016 in the form of 1.25 million international CD sales of Deutsche Grammophon’s “Mozart 225: The Complete Edition” in a whopping five weeks since its release. The boxset, made up of 200-CD’s and encompassing every single work ever created by the composer, was released {…}

Dec 6, 2016

Teatro alla Scala 2016-17 Opening Night: Meet the Stars of Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly’

Every year the Teatro all Scala opens with a star-studded cast of international singers and directors. And this year is no different as Music Director Riccardo Chailly has lined up some of today’s renowned Puccini interpreters for the opening night of “Madama Butterfly.” The Cast Cio Cio San – Rising Star Maria Jose Siri takes on the role of Madama Butterfly {…}

Dec 6, 2016

Elina Garanca’s makes role debut in Mascagni’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ at the Paris National Opera

On Tuesday Dec. 6 the Paris National Opera will broadcast Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Hindemith’s “Sancta Susanna.” The broadcast will mark the role debut of Elina Garanca in the role of Santuzza in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” Garanca recently noted that Santuzza was a dream role and was the basis of her newest album “Revive.” It also marks Garanca’s entry into dramatic Mezzo {…}

Dec 6, 2016

International Opera Awards 2017: Annual Awards Open Nomination Ballots

The International Opera Awards have opened up nomination ballots for their annual awards ceremony. The ballot is open to the public and each person can choose who they want to nominate for the operatic highlights of 2016. The ballot allows the person to nominate in as many or as few categories as they please and multiple submissions are acceptable. Among the {…}

Dec 5, 2016

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Season: Audience Reactions from Premiere of Strauss’ ‘Salome’

The Metropolitan Opera opened Strauss’ “Salome” on Monday Dec. 5 in Jurgen Flimm’s modern take. The current revival stars Patricia Racette in her first German role at the Met and Zeljko Lucic as John the Baptist. Nancy Fabiola Herrera and Gerhard Siegel also star with Johannes Debus in the pit. So what did audiences think of the revival? Here are {…}

Dec 5, 2016

CD/DVD Releases -Week of Dec. 5: Jonas Kaufmann’s ‘Dolce Vita’ and Pavarotti / Sutherland ‘Lucia’ Must Buy Releases

With the holiday season upon us, it is no surprise that the major music publishers have saved some of their most hotly anticipated titles for the last weeks of the year. This week features releases from such superstars as Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, and the late Joan Sutherland. Here is a look at the releases you can expect between December {…}

Dec 5, 2016

Teatro alla Scala Opening Night 2016-17: Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau Featured in 5 Memorable La Scala Inaugurations of Last 10 Years

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the legendary Teatro all Scala opens its 2016-17 season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The opera stars rising star Maria Jose Siri, Bryan Hymel and Carlos Alvarez and is led by music director Riccardo Chailly. The opening continues La Scala’s tradition of inaugurating the season on Dec. 7 and continues Chailly’s Puccini cycle, which he began back {…}

Dec 5, 2016

Artist of the Week: Patricia Racette To Seduce Met Audiences in Richard Strauss’ ‘Salome’

This week Patricia Racette makes her anticipated Metropolitan Opera Role debut as Salome in Richard Strauss’ opera. The title role is known to be one of the most challenging roles in the soprano repertoire and it is no surprise that Racette is taking it on. The American soprano first sang the role last season at the Pittsburgh Opera where she {…}

Dec 5, 2016

Piotr Beczala To Host Facebook Live for Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’ at Metropolitan Opera

On Dec. 5 the Metropolitan Opera will continue its Facebook Live series with Piotr Beczala at 2:30pm. The Polish tenor will answer questions about his current role, Rodolfo, in Puccini’s “La Boheme.” Questions will come from audiences and fans through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This segment will have a unique twist with Beczala taking audiences on a tour through the {…}