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 {…}

Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Tom Krause, Bass-Baritone Fluent in 7 Languages

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-tom-krause-bass-baritone-fluent-in-7-languages/

Finnish bass-baritone Tom Krause enjoyed a varied career that saw him transition from singing on all the major stages to teaching and judging at all the great artistic institutions. He actually intended on becoming a psychiatrist, but ultimately followed his interest in music by studying voice at the Vienna Music Academy. He made his operatic debut in Berlin in 1959 {…}

IndieOpera

Mezzo Mónica Danilov & Soprano Eugenia Forteza Reunite For ‘Viaje Musical’ In Colombia

https://operawire.com/mezzo-monica-danilov-soprano-eugenia-forteza-reunite-for-viaje-musical-in-colombia/

Audiences in Bogotá, Colombia will be taken on a musical journey on July 6, 2018, when soprano Eugenia Forteza and mezzo-soprano Mónica Danilov join forces for a recital at the Museo Nacional. The concert, entitled “Viaje Musical,” kicks off at 6 p.m. and will include arias and duets from such composers as Bizet, Rossini, Puccini, Catán, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gershwin, {…}