https://operawire.com/artist-profile-famed-director-franco-zeffirelli/
Italian Franco Zeffirelli is one of the great opera directors of the 20th century. Born on Feb. 12, 1923, in Florence Italy, he lost his mother at age six. He graduated the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze in 1941 and fought during World War II. Once the war ended he resumed his studies. He initially set out to study art {…}
https://operawire.com/cd-dvd-releases-week-of-feb-11/
This week, five CDs and DVDs are set for release with three starring major sopranos; the other is an award-winning documentary that became a box office hit. Here is a look at what audiences should expect this week. Mio Caro Handel German soprano Simone Kermes’ new album is dedicated to Handel and features popular arias such as “Ombra mai fu,” “Piangerò {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-profile-paata-burchuladze-prominent-bass-politician/
Paata Burchuladze was a famed bass before he became a famed politician. Born on Feb. 12, 1955, in then-Soviet Georgia, he studied music at the Tbilisi Conservatoire and made his student debut in 1976. He would then make his mark at a number of singing competitions and performed a number of roles at the Tbilisi Opera House. From 1978-1981 he {…}
https://operawire.com/operomanija-2018-19-review-alpha/
We all know that opera is a very complex art. The plot, music, libretto, directing, singing, acting, stage design — these are just basics. But there are even more layers, which make opera so impressive and breathtaking. With the help of your imagination, you can easily picture this in your mind: richly decorated stage, great singers, large orchestra under Maestro’s {…}
https://operawire.com/royal-opera-house-2018-19-review-kata-kabanova/
Set in a provincial Russian town close by the Volga River, the basis for Janáček’s “Káťa Kabanová” – Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “The Storm” – invites the color palette of a murky staging; a cerulean hue or olive green to mirror the portentous themes that percolate the sometimes dissonant, sometimes harmonious and sinuously changing score. Unlike many opera settings, the visual {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-ausrine-stundyte/
In 2018, Ausrine Stundyte made her role debut as Salome at the Berlin State Opera and immediately became a sensation in the role. Critics said, “Stundyte is a consummate stage animal, and acts her heart out in the part.” Now after a sensational debut and rave reviews, the soprano is taking her acclaimed portrayal to the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. {…}
https://operawire.com/irish-national-opera-to-present-first-irish-performance-of-vivaldi-opera/
In October, Tom Creed will direct a new production of Vivaldi’s “Griselda” at the Irish National Opera, marking the first-ever Irish performance of any of the operas written by Antonio Vivaldi. In a press statement, conductor Peter Whelan said, “We are very excited to present the first Vivaldi opera to be performed in Ireland. ‘Griselda’ is one of Vivaldi’s greatest masterpieces: {…}
https://operawire.com/opera-profile-la-fille-du-regiment-the-first-french-donizetti-opera/
Of Donizetti’s major comedies, “La Fille du Régiment” is a unique work. Debuting on Feb. 11, 1840, this is one of the few French-language operas by Donizetti in the standard repertory. It was also his first opera set to French text. It has remained a fixture of the standard repertory over the years. There is an Italian-language version, but it {…}
https://operawire.com/watch-beatrice-uria-monzon-star-as-la-gioconda-at-la-monnaie/
OperaVision will start streaming La Monnaie’s production of “La Gioconda” on Feb. 12, 2019. Béatrice Uria-Monzon headlines in the title role while Silvia Tro Santafé takes on Laura. Franco Vassallo is Barnaba and Ning Liang is La Cieca. Finally, Jean Teitgen is Alvise. Stefano La Colla is Enzo. The stream kicks off at 7 p.m. local time. That’s around 1 p.m. {…}
