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Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Baritone Keith Phares on Recording ‘Prince of Players’ & the Challenges of COVID-19

https://operawire.com/q-a-baritone-keith-phares-on-recording-prince-of-players-the-challenges-of-covid-19/

Baritone Keith Phares, renowned as a master of a wide repertoire ranging from Mozart through to today’s most prominent composers, has been recognised as “an authentic contemporary-American-opera divo” in the media. Recently, in this year’s Grammy Awards, he shined as nominee for Best Opera Recording for his soloist role in Carlisle Floyd’s “Prince of Players.” This was a recording of {…}

News

Patricia Racette & Paulo Szot Lead Arizona’s 2021-22 Season

https://operawire.com/patricia-racette-paulo-szot-lead-arizonas-2021-22-season/

The Arizona Opera has announced initial plans for its 2021-22 season celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary. Arizona Opera’s President and General Director, Joseph Specter said in a press release, Our 50th Anniversary Season would be a reason to celebrate in and of itself as we begin to emerge from this challenging pandemic year. It is made that much more meaningful {…}

News

Manhattan School of Music Announces Inaugural Roster of Artists Scholars

https://operawire.com/manhattan-school-of-music-announces-inaugural-roster-of-artists-scholars/

Manhattan School of Music, one of the premier music schools in the United States, announced a roster of 24 Black artists ranging from instrumentalists to educators, authors, activists, composers, and singers to become Artists Scholars. The illustrious roster includes Pulitzer Prize winning composer Anthony Davis, classical pianist Lara Downes, and novelist Tayari Jones. The Artists Scholars will take part in {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Thomas Hampson, Luca Pisaroni, Fatma Said, & Lidia Fridman Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/thomas-hampson-luca-pisaroni-fatma-said-lidia-fridman-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

This week, audiences can experience world premiere recordings, a debut album, and a number of rising stars. Here are this week’s must-streamed releases. L’Ange de Nisida Dynamic releases the world premiere DVD of the first-ever staging of the reconstructed “L’Ange de Nisida.” The work, which was long-presumed-lost semiserious opera, was directed by Francesco Micheli and starred Lidia Fridman, Konu Kim, {…}

News

Juan Diego Flórez, Lisette Oropesa, Ermonela Jaho Headline Wexford Festival’s Revised 2020 Schedule

https://operawire.com/juan-diego-florez-lisette-oropesa-ermonela-jaho-headline-wexford-festivals-revised-2020-schedule/

The Wexford Festival has announced that it will be rescheduling its 2020 season to October 2021. However, the company will move forward with plans to present a reimagined event that takes place solely online. This showcase will be called “Waiting for Shakespeare… The Festival in the Air” and will take place over the course of eight days between Oct. 11-18. {…}

News

San Francisco Arts Alliance At Forefront of Mayoral Letter to U.S. Congress

https://operawire.com/san-francisco-arts-alliance-at-forefront-of-mayoral-letter-to-u-s-congress/

Mayors from around the United States are sending a letter to Congress in which they ask that the governmental body provide funding and support for the arts and culture sector. The effort was spearheaded by the San Francisco Arts Alliance with support from San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed. Other mayors who have signed on to support include Steve Adler (Austin, {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Paris 2019 Review: Semele

https://operawire.com/theatre-des-champs-elysees-paris-2019-review-semele/

At the end of  “Semele” the chorus sings “Happy, happy, shall we be.” The text is a perfect sobriquet for anything to do with Harry Bicket and the English Concert. Their forays into the world of baroque music are never less than an exhilarating experience for audiences and artists alike. Meticulous musicianship and a palpable passion for playing make their annual {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Composer Mark Grey On His Vision For ‘Frankenstein’ & Its World Premiere At La Monnaie

https://operawire.com/q-a-composer-mark-grey-on-his-vision-for-frankenstein-its-world-premiere-at-la-monnaie/

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is one of the most iconic novels ever written, its meditation on men’s relationship with technology always appealing to people across generations. Film adaptations of the legendary work have been a major fixture of 20th century popular culture and in recent years, there have been a number of composers who have tried to put their own touches {…}

Artist of the Week, News

Artist Of The Week: Luca Pisaroni

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-luca-pisaroni/

For over 10 years, bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni has been the go-to Leporello in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” performing the role all over the world at such companies as the Teatro alla Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, Salzburg Festival, Baden Baden Festival, Wiener Staatsoper, and at Tanglewood, among others. His interpretation has been hailed by critics as “dynamic” and “youthful” and a number of performances {…}