Metropolitan Opera Stars Live in Concert Review: Joyce DiDonato in Bochum, Germany

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-stars-live-in-concert-review-joyce-didonato-in-bochum-germany/

(Credit: Chris Singer) Only seven days before the COVID-19 pandemic fell on our heads, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato was in New York portraying the role of Agrippina at the Metropolitan Opera House. Taking on the role of the cunning queen, DiDonato already had been in the eye of the storm. At that moment very few people really understood well what {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Jamie Barton Announces New Album ‘Unexpected Shadows’

https://operawire.com/jamie-barton-announces-new-album-unexpected-shadows/

Star mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton has announced her new album entitled “Unexpected Shadows.” The new album includes a recital of songs by Jake Heggie, with the composer at the piano. The album is a celebration in words and music of powerful, exceptional women and contains four song cycles, a standalone art song, and an opera aria. Among the song cycles included {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Susan Graham On Schumann’s ‘Frauenliebe un -leben: Variations,’ The Power of Love & Malcolm Martineau’s Genius

https://operawire.com/q-a-mezzo-soprano-susan-graham-on-schumanns-frauenliebe-un-leben-variations-the-power-of-love-malcolm-martineaus-genius/

(Photo: Dario Acosta) Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham has had an enviable career, winning such prestigious awards as a Grammy, an Opera News Award, and Musical America’s Vocalist of the Year. As a champion of the French repertoire, the French government honored her with the title of “Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur.” Her roles span four centuries, singing in operas from Monteverdi’s {…}

Special Features

Best of 2019 – OperaWire’s Staff on the Best Performances of the Year

https://operawire.com/best-of-2019-operawires-staff-on-the-best-performances-of-the-year/

(Credit: Marty Sohl/Karen Almond-Metropolitan Opera/Ken Howard-Santa Fe Opera/ Gianfranco Rota-Donizetti Opera) We hope that the end of your 2019 is a prosperous one and that the start of 2020 is even better. As we look forward to the next calendar year, we are taking some time to reflect on the opera performances that defined 2019 for many of us. As {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Welsh National Opera 2018-19 Review: Dead Man Walking

https://operawire.com/welsh-national-opera-2018-19-review-dead-man-walking/

(Photo: Johan Persson) Welsh National Opera’s imaginative and ambitious summer program of operas, exhibition, and talks, under the banner headline of “Freedom,” is dedicated to exploring the theme of human rights. Four operas were scheduled, all of which focused on an individual who sought to protect, release or comfort a prisoner or someone under threat. In Menotti’s “The Consul,” it {…}

News

Jamie Barton Headlines The Atlanta Opera Premiere Of ‘Dead Man Walking’

https://operawire.com/jamie-barton-headlines-the-atlanta-opera-premiere-of-dead-man-walking/

The Atlanta Opera is set to present the company premiere of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s “Dead Man Walking” in an original production General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun. The new interpretation of the work, which is a co-production with the Israeli Opera, will star Jamie Barton in her role debut as Sister Helen Prejean, and Michael Mayes in his {…}

Special Features

10 Must See Operas In 2019 [North America Edition]

https://operawire.com/10-must-see-operas-in-2019-north-america-edition/

Even though 2018 is coming to an end, there is a lot of opera to look forward to in 2019. There will be even more stars, world premieres, new productions, and rarely performed works that will be showcased throughout the world. In celebration of the new year, let’s take a look at the operas OperaWire believes are not be missed {…}

News

Philip Glass to be Guest of Honor at Opera Parallele’s October Gala

https://operawire.com/philip-glass-to-be-guest-of-honor-at-opera-paralleles-october-gala/

On October 10, 2018, Opera Parallele will be holding its 2018 gala benefit to aid in their ongoing commitment to promote the arts through their education and community outreach programs. The theme of this year’s gala, “Creative Rebels,” will honor such figures as Harvey Milk, Georgia O’Keeffe, Steve Jobs, Julia Child, and Sister Helen Prejean, with a montage opera created {…}