Alexander Lingas to Lead Byzantine Chant Ensemble for Coronation at Westminster Abbey

https://operawire.com/alexander-lingas-to-lead-byzantine-chant-ensemble-for-coronation-at-westminster-abbey/

Founder and music director of Cappella Romana Dr. Alexander Lingas will lead the Byzantine Chant Ensemble in the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6. Buckingham Palace recently announced His Royal Highness King Charles III has requested “Greek Orthodox Music” at his coronation service in honor of his late father Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. With this Dr. Lingas began {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Thêatre l’Athénée Louis Jouvet 2023 Review: Orphée et Eurydice

https://operawire.com/theatre-lathenee-louis-jouvet-2023-review-orphee-et-eurydice/

This is for the performance on Feb. 11, 2023. The posters are all over Paris: Gluck’s “Orphée et Eurydice” is premiering at Thêatre l’Athénée. The announcement is somewhat tempered, however, by the ominous qualifier: ‘freely adapted by Othman Louati.’ Even the most enthusiastic contemporary operagoer must raise their eyebrows when the words ‘freely adapted’ appear after Gluck’s name. The ‘freely’ {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Iconic Actor Monica Bellucci on Being Maria Callas in ‘Letters & Memoirs’

https://operawire.com/q-a-iconic-actress-monica-bellucci-on-being-maria-callas-in-letters-memoirs/

Back in 2019, Tom Volf, the director of the famed “Marias by Callas” set out to put on a play that, in a similar vein to his famed documentary, allowed the iconic soprano to tell her story through a trove of letters and memoirs she had written. His choice to bring the famed diva to life? Iconic film star Monica Bellucci. {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Ukrainian Baritone Andrei Kymach Speaks About Ukraine & ‘Don Giovanni’

https://operawire.com/q-a-ukrainian-baritone-andrei-kymach-speaks-about-ukraine-don-giovanni/

(Credit: Diana Guledani) 2022 was a year of difficulty for Andrei Kymach. His family were in Ukraine when Russia invaded, beginning a war which has now lasted for over nine months. The baritone immediately spoke out against the war and has continued to use his voice to bring attention to it. In many ways, he has become an operatic hero {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Jonas Kaufmann, Marina Rebeka, Lisette Oropesa, Ludovic Tézier Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/jonas-kaufmann-marina-rebeka-lisette-oropesa-ludovic-tezier-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

This week’s audiences will get to hear new releases from four of the greatest artists in the world as well as rarely performed work and world premieres. Insieme Sony Classical releases Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier’s new album “Insieme.” The two are joined by Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Antonio Pappano and present duets they’ve sung together on {…}

News

Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria Announces Cast Change for ‘Aida’

https://operawire.com/orquesta-filarmonica-de-gran-canaria-announces-cast-change-for-aida/

The Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria has announced a cast change for its “La Magia de Aida” on Sept 23, 2022. The orchestra noted that Latonia Moore will not sing the title role and will be replaced by Cellia Costea. Costea has performed at the Bucharest National Opera as well as at the Klagenfurt Stadttheater, Royal Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Gran {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

St. George’s Bristol 2021-22 Review: Messiah

https://operawire.com/st-georges-bristol-2021-22-review-messiah/

Hoping to reinvigorate waning public interest in Italian opera’s extravagance and pretentious filigree, Händel was of no mind to delay conceiving a new orientation for his musical talents. Thus, despite staying firmly committed to his Italian proclivity, he began creating English oratorios on the side to supplement lost income, and after a series of tries with both English and Italian, {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Sasha Cooke, Elsa Dreisig & Sidney Outlaw Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/sasha-cooke-elsa-dreisig-sidney-outlaw-lead-new-cd-dvd-releases/

This past week offered a wealth of releases from rising stars, established singers, and established ensembles. There is an intriguing solo album of new composers and another dedicated to Mozart. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. From Rags to Riches: 100 Years of American Song The New York Festival of Song releases the new album on its {…}