https://operawire.com/best-of-2017-11-singers-who-made-2017-a-year-to-remember/
It’s that time of year. That time where we look just before we look forward. We look back to remember all the good times of the year so that we can take stock of what we hope for in the new one. Every year in the opera world has its share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera {…}
https://operawire.com/tiroler-landestheater-innsbruck-2017-review-la-gioconda-elena-mikhailenko-shines-in-controversial-but-effective-production/
Amilcare Ponchielli was unfortunate in being born after his time had passed. Although recognized as a talented composer, he developed a reputation for composing music which always appeared to be a little dated, with the result that his operas have now largely been forgotten and rarely performed, eclipsed by the greater talent of Verdi, and that of his pupils at {…}
https://operawire.com/carnegie-hall-2017-18-review-renee-fleming-builds-to-pleasing-finish-at-carnegie-hall-recital/
One of the world’s most loved sopranos took to Carnegie Hall again in a program equal in traditional and contemporary repertoire on Oct. 23, alongside pianist Inon Barnatan. Warming up, in a dress resembling tarnished, silver, chainmail by Vivienne Westwood, the first selections featured seven lieder by Brahms. It was not Fleming’s best moment as vocally it was unsteady and {…}
https://operawire.com/carnegie-hall-2017-18-review-jose-carreras-retires-with-gusto/
A farewell is never easy. If you’re José Carreras, though, you can take to the stage at the end of your star-studded 40-year career and say goodbye with such ease and vitality as you did at the very, humble beginning. Making one last lap around the globe, the 70-year-old leukemia survivor handcrafted a selection of pleasingly romantic Spanish and Italian {…}
https://operawire.com/qa-francesco-meli-on-his-role-debut-as-radames-in-aida-at-salzburg-his-collaboration-with-riccardo-muti/
There are a ton of Verdi tenors out there capable of dominating his major roles. But few are like Francesco Meli. The Italian tenor has made the works of the great Busetto genius his bread and better, performing such major works as “La Traviata,” “Il Trovatore,” “Rigoletto,” “Nabucco,” “Macbeth,” “Ernani,” “Don Carlo,” “Luisa Miller,” “Un Ballo in Maschera” and even some {…}
https://operawire.com/lohengrin-dvd-review-anna-netrebko-evelyn-herlitzius-piotr-beczala-are-unforgettable-in-deutsche-grammophons-masterful-release/
Last season Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala did what most expected was impossible. They performed their first Wagner roles in “Lohengrin.” During the four performances, rumors swirled around that the run had been recorded for DVD. A year later the rumors came to fruition as a DVD was released through Deutsche Grammophon in what is one of the finest “Lohengrin” {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-shalva-mukeria-to-debut-the-title-role-of-werther/
This week the Teatro Massimo di Palermo opens its production of Massenet’s “Werther” with two tenors. The first is Francesco Meli, a well-known performer who has scaled the heights of some of the world’s opera houses. However, the second tenor, Shalva Mukeria, will make his role debut and that is a reason for celebration. The tenor has been hailed by critics {…}
https://operawire.com/teatro-la-fenice-review-2016-17-lucia-di-lammermoor-nadine-sierra-sperformance-hints-at-a-legend-in-the-making-in-psychologically-nuanced-production/
When attending a performance of “Lucia di Lammermoor” at one of the world’s top opera houses one would be very surprised to find a Lucia who is not up to the job. We are, in fact, blessed with an array of professional singers who are well equipped to perform the role to the requisite standard but finding one who can {…}