The 12th annual OPERA NEWS Awards were handed out on April 9 at the Plaza Hotel. The operatic community gathered together to honor Robert Carsen, Matthew Polenzani, Christine Goerke, Yannick Nézet-Seguin and Frederica Von Stade. Several expected guests including Anna Netrebko, Patricia Racette, James Conlon and Nézet-Seguin however, were not in attendance. However, there was a surprise guest, Renée Fleming, {…}
As part of Claudio Monteverdi’s 450th birthday anniversary, Sir John Eliot Gardiner is going on tour to recognize the father of opera. The tour is slated to last a whopping seven months, taking place around the globe in such countries as the UK, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain and the USA. The tour will essentially feature performances of {…}
Opera Grand Rapids’ production of “The Barber of Seville” will feature the Met’s very own mezzo, Ginger Costa-Jackson. Costa-Jackson has previously performed in several productions at the Metropolitan Opera, including Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Bizet’s “Carmen.” For the May 12th and 13th performances of “The Barber of Seville” the Sicilian-born mezzo-soprano will hit the Devos Performance Hall as Rosina, the {…}
Before Juan Diego Flórez stormed on the scene, Peru’s most famous tenor was none other than Luigi Alva. The lyric tenor actually sang a number of the same roles that his compatriot would take on decades later, but his legacy is ultimately far different. Alva, born in Paita on April 10, 1927, served in the Peruvian Navy for some time {…}
The Bilbao Opera has announced its 2017-18 Season with five operas. The season begins on Oct. 21 with Verdi’s “I Masnadieri” starring Carmen Giannattasio in her Bilbao debut. It also marks the first time in 12 seasons since the opera was last performed in Bilbao and will be presented in a production by Leo Muscato that first at the Teatro Regio {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced its 2017-18 Season presenting a total of four staged productions. The season opens with Sir David McVicar’s production Verdi’s “La Traviata.” The title role will be shared by Russian-Dutch soprano Gulnara Shafigullina and Anush Hovhannisyan, who will be representing Armenia at Cardiff Singer of the World 2017. Dutch tenor Peter Gijsbertsen and British baritone Stephen Gadd {…}
Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” opens with a conversation between Madame Larina and Filippyevna remarking on arranged marriages and their overall lack of choice in the matter. A few scenes later, Filippyevna jokingly informs her beloved Tatiana that in her old times, the thought of love was nonsense for a young girl and then narrates her marriage at age 13 or 14 {…}
The Theater an der Wien has announced its 2017-18 Season and audiences are in for a treat. Staged Operas Kicking off the season will be Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” with Torsten Fischer directing a new production. Nina Minasyan leads the cast as the Queen of the Night while Sebastian Kohlhepp sings the role of Tamino. On Oct. 15 Berg’s “Wozzeck” takes center stage with {…}
When you look at the body of work of the great tenor Franco Corelli, you might well imagine that Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda” to be a prominent role in his repertoire. The tenor role of Enzo is substantial and his dramatic weight is suitable to Corelli’s vocal talents. And you would be right, to a certain extent. But the tenor, whose {…}
On April 7, The Baden-Baden Osterfestpiele will open with a new production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The production will be directed by Philipp Himmelmann, who is best known for his work in Verdi’s “Don Carlo” in Berlin and Puccini’s “Tosca” at the Bregenz festival. Sir Simon Rattle returns to conducting duties after leading Baden-Baden’s production of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in 2014. {…}
It is going to be a busy opera weekend around the US with a plethora of companies, both large and small, giving new productions and old. Opera Memphis will showcase three works throughout the weekend including Peter Hilliard’s “Blue Viola” on Friday and Saturday, Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers” on Saturday,” and John Musto’s “Later the Same Evening” on Saturday. Palm {…}