Review: Jodie Devos’ ‘Offenbach Colorature’

https://operawire.com/review-jodie-devos-offenbach-colorature/

This new recital of florid Offenbach rarities sung by Jodie Devos, a young Belgian soprano, is lightning in a bottle. I can’t recall the last time I felt such an ecstatic sense discovery while a CD unspooled around me: nearly a dozen obscure gems from one of the most prolific and ingenious composers of all time are made to sparkle {…}

News

French Baritone Jean-Christophe Benoît Passes Away At 93

https://operawire.com/french-baritone-jean-christophe-benoit-passes-away-at-93/

French baritone Jean-Christophe Benoît passed away on Feb. 22, 2019, at the age of 93. He was born in Paris on Mar. 18, 1925 to a family of musicians. His mother, Léontine Benoit-Granier, was a composer, and his father, Henri Benoit, was a violinist. His sister Denise was an actress, dancer, and singer. Benoît studied under Olivier Messiaen at the {…}

News

Obituary: Isabelle Andréani Dies At 95

https://operawire.com/obituary-isabelle-andreani-dies-at-95/

Mezzo-soprano Isabelle Andréani has died. The French mezzo died at the age of 95. Born in Corsica in 1923, Andréani was well known for starring in the Raymond Rouleau production of Bizet’s “Carmen” in 1959. That production included the sets and costumes by Lila de Nobili and would be shown 367 times at the Palais Garnier until 1970. She was also known {…}

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Samir Pirgu Announces Live-Stream of Verdi’s “Requiem”

https://operawire.com/samir-pirgu-announces-live-stream-of-verdis-requiem/

On Oct. 20 2017, hr-Sinfonieorchester will be live-streaming its performance of Verdi’s “Requiem” on its website. Announced on the Instagram page of tenor Saimir Pirgu, the concert, conducted by Andres Orozco-Estrada, will also feature soprano Erika Grimaldi, mezzo-soprano Violeta Urmana, and bass Carlo Colombara. Verdi’s “Requiem” first began as a collaborative effort between several Italian composers in honor of the passing of {…}

News

French tenor, Andre Mallabrera, dies at 83

https://operawire.com/french-tenor-andre-mallabrera-dies-at-83/

French tenor Andre Mallabrera has died recently, according to a report from ForumOpera. Born in Oran, France, in the year 1934, Mallabrera studied under his father, tenor Jose Mallabrera, before going on to study at the Algiers Conservatory. He made his professional debut in December of 1958, in the role of Count Almaviva in ‘The Barber of Seville’ with famed {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Festival d’Aix-En-Provence 2017 Review – Carmen: Tcherniakov’s Production Will Change the Way You See Bizet’s Masterpiece

https://operawire.com/festival-daix-en-provence-festival-2017-carmen-tcherniakovs-production-will-change-the-way-you-see-bizets-masterpiece/

“Carmen,” Georges Bizet’s Spanish-inspired masterpiece, was performed at the Festival d’arLyriqueue d’Aix-en-Provence’s 2017 season in an unconventional production. Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov’s has consigned the traditional Sevillan mantillas, toreros, and abrigos de luz to distant memory and, for the hugely popular opera’s return to Aix for the first time in 60 years, has fully reviewed the story to give it {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q&A: Anna Caterina Antonacci On The Dramatic & Vocal Challenges Of ‘La Voix Humaine’

https://operawire.com/qa-anna-caterina-antonacci-on-the-dramatic-vocal-challenges-of-la-voix-humaine/

Anna Caterina Antonacci is regarded as one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos of our time. She has performed all over the world in diverse repertoire and has thrilled audiences with her dramatic acting and vocal fireworks. Recently she has been making waves in Poulenc’s “La Voix Humaine,” one of the most popular one-woman operas in the world. She has performed the {…}

News

Obituary: French Conductor Georges Prêtre Dies At The Age Of 92

https://operawire.com/obituary-french-conductor-georges-pretre-dies-at-the-age-of-92/

The Teatro alla Scala has announced that Georges Prêtre has died at the age of 92. The company released a statement that said, “Georges Prêtre, one of the greatest conductors of our time, had a fifty-year relationship with La Scala. He made his debut in 1966 conducting a legendary production of Gounod’s ‘Faust’ with Mirella Freni, Nicolai Gedda and Nicolai {…}

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Review: Jodie Devos’ ‘Offenbach Colorature’

French Baritone Jean-Christophe Benoît Passes Away At 93

Obituary: Isabelle Andréani Dies At 95

Samir Pirgu Announces Live-Stream of Verdi’s “Requiem”

French tenor, Andre Mallabrera, dies at 83

Festival d’Aix-En-Provence 2017 Review – Carmen: Tcherniakov’s Production Will Change the Way You See Bizet’s Masterpiece

Q&A: Anna Caterina Antonacci On The Dramatic & Vocal Challenges Of ‘La Voix Humaine’

Obituary: French Conductor Georges Prêtre Dies At The Age Of 92