Pink Floyd is coming to the opera. Well not necessarily, but “Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera” will be heading to the Cincinnati Opera in July 2018. The opera will be part of the company’s 98th season, its first after a $135 million restoration of the Cincinnati Music Hall. The opera, which made its world premiere in Montreal a {…}
Massenet’s “Thaïs” is a beautiful feat of musical drama. The opera, which premiered on March 16, 1894, is rich in its character development and Massenet’s own development as a dramatist. While the work is filled with glorious musical writing, there is no doubt that the single most iconic moment of the work is the dramatic midpoint – Thaïs’ meditation. Played {…}
On the surface, Christa Ludwig and Teresa Berganza have nothing in common, aside from the fact that they were born on the same day, March 16, and were two of the greatest mezzo-sopranos in history. But their repertoire was wildly different. Ludwig was best known for her native German repertoire while the Spaniard, Berganza, was famous for her work in {…}
This Sunday, audiences will get a look at the next set of Met Council Audition winners. The competition is perhaps the most prestigious in the entire country and one of the most important in the world. The first competition took place in 1954, each decade bringing us major talents that have gone on to incredible careers. Here are some of {…}
Christa Ludwig is one of the greatest artists of all-time. She made her mark in the German repertoire laying claim to numerous roles in Strauss and Wagner operas. The soon-to-be 89-year-old recently had an interview with Swiss Publication NZZ on Sunday, giving her insight on a number of opera topics. You will surely find some unique and potentially controversial thoughts {…}
The Nine finalists for the Met National Council Auditions have been announced. Below we take a look at some fun facts for each of these talented singers, of which a handful will enter into history as winners of this historic competition. Samantha Hankey – Mezzo-Soprano (Marshfield, Massachusetts) Hankey’s major accomplishments include a 2016 Sara Tucker Study Grant. She is currently pursuing {…}
Pretty Yende will perform with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in Carnegie Hall during the 2017-18 season. The acclaimed South African coloratura will perform Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4” and Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate,” replacing the originally planned Brahms Symphony No. 4. The program will also feature a world premiere by Carles Wuorinen entitled “Eros and Nemesis” and will be conducted by Music Director Emeritus {…}
How do you maintain a dramatic soprano voice fresh? The answer isn’t always obvious for a singer of that voice type. These voices, prized for their sheer power and weight, often face the most difficult repertoire in the operatic canon, many of which can be damaging if sung too often. But for acclaimed Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, who sings Beethoven’s {…}
Antonietta Stella is one of the great Italian sopranos of all time. Known for her potent and elegant vocal artistry, she was a heralded interpreter of the dramatic repertoire. During a time when such greats as Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi were dominating the opera world, Stella held her own, making several high-profile recordings that remain among favorites, especially in {…}
On March 14, 1847, Giuseppe Verdi premiered his version of “Macbeth” to roaring disapproval. It would take another two decades to premiere an updated version of an opera he deemed among his finest accomplishments. While the changes are nowhere near as wild as those for “Don Carlo,” “Simon Boccanegra” or even “La Forza del Destino,” there are a few major {…}
Opera fans around the world will get a chance to see Mariella Devia sing the title role in Donizetti’s “Lucrezia Borgia” on April 1, 2017. The broadcast starts at 7 p.m. local time. The performance, which takes place at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, will be broadcast via Opera Platform. The opera will remain available for viewers on {…}