Klara Takacs has died at the age of 71. The Hungarian mezzo-soprano was reported to have passed away on Jan. 21, 2017. Takacs was well regarded throughout her career and made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1982 performing the role of Adalgisa in Bellini’s “Norma.” Renata Scotto played the title role. Tacks also sang at the Vienna State Opera, Salzburg Festival and Italy’s Teatro alla Fenice. {…}
Audiences will get the first taste of what Jonas Kaufmann’s “Tristan und Isolde” will sound like when he takes on the second act at Carnegie Hall next year. The esteemed concert venue’s 2017-18 season was announced on Wednesday, fans learning that opera’s greatest stars will be everywhere on the schedule. Kaufmann’s “Tristan” is the big one of course, a concert {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 2016-17 season in a big way when it showcases Bellini’s masterful “Norma” on its stage this Saturday. The production will feature Sondra Radvanovsky, who has dominated the title role all around the world. Conductor Riccardo Frizza recently told OperaWire that working with Radvanovsky on this role is a revelation because she is “fully {…}
On Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, the Royal Opera House will showcase Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” live in HD around the world. The performance, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. for those on the East Coast and 10:30 a.m. for those on the West Coast) will feature Gregory Kunde in the lead role, Lianna Haroutounian as Leonora, Anita {…}
Role debuts are usually among the most fascinating events in international opera. For years, adoring fans ponder at what their favored interpreter might sound and look like as a character that they have only dreamed about. Once the singer finally sets foot on the stage to embody the character, all bets are off. The Opera National de Paris’s new 2017-18 {…}
On Jan. 25, 1817 Rossini premiered one of his most famous works, “La Cenerentola.” The opera, which is based on the classic tale of Cinderella, has become a vehicle for tenors and mezzos to showcase their virtuosic abilities and it has also been a work that has inspired many directors to explore the fairy tale in very eccentric ways. However, it is {…}
The LA Opera may not offer as many operas as some companies in terms of quantity. However when it comes to quality, the company still knows how to bring together some of the most exciting performers in the industry. Here is a look at five stars who need to be seen in the 2017-18 season. Placido Domingo: Nabucco in Verdi’s {…}
The 2017-18 season announcements just keep on coming in. After Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence announced their upcoming schedules, the Paris National Opera has finally unveiled its hotly anticipated season. In sum there are a grand total of 21 operas to see, including nine new productions. Opening Night “The Merry Widow” kicks off the proceedings on {…}
Every major discipline has its proverbial “Mount Everest,” the pinnacle achievement. The moment of “arrival” in which the person can feel a sense of accomplishment that few others, or only the true greats, have accomplished. In the soprano operatic repertoire, Bellini’s “Norma” is often viewed as that proverbial peak due to its taxing and wide-ranging nature. Lili Lehmann, one of {…}
The Aix-en-Provence festival has announced the schedule for 2017, which will feature one new production after another with many of opera’s greatest singers. Pinocchio – July 3-16 The festival will kick off with the World Premiere of Phillippe Boesmans’ “Pinocchio” on July 3, 2017. The opera will feature Chloé Briot in the title role with Stéphane Degout as the troupe {…}
For decades Marcello Giordani was a fixture at the Metropolitan Opera, taking on many of the classics of the operatic canon as well as some lesser known works. He made his debut in 1993 as Rodolfo in “La Bohème” and has gone on to sing over 200 performances. The tenor, who is celebrating his 54th birthday on Jan. 25, also {…}