Q & A: Bass David Steffens On German & Austrian Musical Culture, Small Roles, & His Passion For Strauss

https://operawire.com/q-a-bass-david-steffens-on-german-austrian-musical-culture-small-roles-his-passion-for-strauss/

(Credit: Mattias Baus) Today Bavarian vocalist David Steffens is enjoying his busy summer in Salzburg – a place where he also spent his student years. This time he is a part of Salzburg Festival, performing in three productions total and therefore visiting the stage of the Salzburg Festspiele almost daily. David Steffens started performing in this festival at the year {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Levy Sekgapane & Ildar Abdrazakov Lead New DVD/CD Releases – August 19

https://operawire.com/levy-sekgapane-ildar-abdrazakov-lead-new-dvd-cd-releases-august-19/

This week features three major releases. Among them will be solo album debuts and one very intriguing world premiere that should spark the interest of contemporary opera lovers. P R I S I M Composer and sound artist Ellen Reid’s opera “p r i s m” is set to be released by Decca Gold. The opera, with a libretto by Roxie Perkins, was commissioned {…}

News

Israeli Contralto Mira Zakai Passes Away At 76

https://operawire.com/israeli-contralto-mira-zakai-passes-away-at-76/

Israeli operatic contralto Mira Zakai passed away on May 20, 2019 at the age of 76. According to Haaretz, her death was attributed to complications from a stroke she suffered last year. Zakai was “known worldwide” for her many appearances with esteemed ensembles such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Israeli Opera, Berliner Philharmoniker, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, {…}

News

Anita Rachvelshvili, Iestyn Davies & Renée Fleming Highlight Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2019-20 Season

https://operawire.com/anita-rachvelshvili-iestyn-davies-renee-fleming-highlight-chicago-symphony-orchestras-2019-20-season/

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2019-20 season, featuring a number of important soloists and important works. For this season announcement, we will only focus on vocal showcases or programs related to opera in any way. Here is a look. Yannick Nezet-Seguin leads the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal in Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 as well as Joyce DiDonato in {…}

Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Louis Quilico, ‘Mr. Rigoletto’

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-louis-quilico-mr-rigoletto/

Born on Jan. 14, 1925, Canadian baritone Louis Quilico would go on to a strong career as an interpreter of French and Italian operas. He studied music from an early age and won a prize in 1947. From there he headed over to Rome to continue his musical studies and then he went and studied at the Mannes College in {…}

Artist of the Week, News

Artist Of The Week: Marie-Nicole Lemieux

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-marie-nicole-lemieux/

Marie-Nicole Lemieux is one of the most sought after contraltos of her generation. She has performed around the world in every major theater including the Teatro alla Scala, Salzburg Festival, Opéra National de Paris, the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, and the Wiener Staatsoper, among others. This week she will finally make her long overdue Metropolitan {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Judith Stillman On Her Multi-Faceted Career & ‘I Cherish Women’

https://operawire.com/q-a-judith-stillman-on-her-multi-faceted-career-i-cherish-women/

It’s not uncommon to see people take on diverse roles in the modern opera world. Many musicians are also composers and often singers become directors. But to have a composer, conductor, pianist, and director in one is not something you find too often. Yet, Judith Stillman has found a way to manage all these roles, and others (she’s also a filmmaker) {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Joyce DiDonato On Her Work with Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Chausson’s Music

https://operawire.com/q-a-joyce-didonato-on-her-work-with-yannick-nezet-seguin-chaussons-music/

The name Joyce DiDonato is synonymous with great music making, diverse repertoire, arts education, and advocacy. The mezzo is also one of the greatest living artists in the world and one of the busiest performers around. As she finishes her first staged production of “Les Troyens” at the Wiener Staatsoper, DiDonato is embarking on a tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra {…}