Artist Profile: Mezzo Rosalind Elias, A Met Opera Veteran

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-mezzo-rosalind-elias-a-met-opera-veteran/

Rosalind Elias is one of America’s great mezzo-sopranos. She was born in Massachusetts as the 13th and youngest child in her family. She studied at the New England Conservatory and first appeared with the New England Opera between 1948-52. On Feb. 23, 1954, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut, a life-changing date for Elias. She would go on to sing {…}

Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Tenor Flaviano Labò, One of The Underrated Greats Of The 20th Century

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-tenor-flaviano-labo-one-of-the-underrated-greats-of-the-20th-century/

Flaviano Labò was a great tenor, but he never quite enjoyed the career of a great tenor of his time. Born on Feb. 1, 1927, Labò’s vocal talent was first noticed when he was in the army. At Antonino Votto’s insistence he would go on to study in Parma, Milan, and Piacenza and made his stage debut as Cavaradossi in {…}

Special Features

Analysis: 2018 Leyla Gencer Voice Competition Istanbul

https://operawire.com/analysis-2018-leyla-gencer-voice-competition-istanbul/

Opera aficionados d’un certain âge remember Leyla Gencer with almost idolatrous admiration and no small degree of reverence. With the passing of time, most younger devotees of the lyric theatre have about as much knowledge of “La Diva Turca” as they do Maria Reining or Toti dal Monte. Born Ayshe Leyla Ceyrekgil in Istanbul sometime between 1918-1928, Gencer enjoyed a {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Aprile Millo On Her London Debut & Her Return To ‘Adriana Lecouvreur’

https://operawire.com/q-a-aprile-millo-on-her-london-debut-her-return-to-adriana-lecouvreur/

Newsday once described Aprile Millo as “the high priestess of that old time operatic religion.” Indeed, Millo is still one of the few remaining divas of the past who continues to thrill audiences with her passionate and intense voice and whose sheer honesty continues to bring audiences back to a different time in the opera chronology. A huge exponent of {…}

Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Birgit Nilsson, THE Wagnernian Soprano

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-birgit-nilsson-the-wagnernian-soprano/

Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson is arguably the ultimate Wagnerian soprano. Born on May 17, 1918, Nilsson grew up on a farm with parents who had hoped she would grow up to perpetuate this lifestyle. But music came early to her at the age of three and she noted herself in interviews that she could sing before she could walk. She {…}

News

OperaVision Live Stream 2018: Monteverdi’s ‘L’Orfeo’ From New Belgrade Opera

https://operawire.com/operavision-live-stream-2018-monteverdis-lorfeo-from-new-belgrade-opera/

OperaVision will showcase Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo” live from the New Belgrade Opera on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018 starting at 7 p.m. local time. The opera stars Nikola Diskić in the title role, Antonia Dunjko as Euridice and Musica, Radoslava Vorgić as Prosperina and Nifa, Dragana Popović as Messaggera and Speranza, Marko Špehar as Plutone and Caronte, as well as Marijana Radosavljević, {…}

News

Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Preview: Callas, Sutherland, Radvanovsky & The Met’s Famous ‘Norma’

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2017-18-preview-callas-sutherland-radvanovsky-the-mets-famous-norma/

A Metropolitan Opera season will start with Bellini’s “Norma” for the third time in its history when Sondra Radvanovsky, who conquered the role at the Met a few years back, takes it on on Sept. 25, 2017. Radvanovsky will join a long line of famous sopranos that have taken on the opera with the company, beginning with Lilli Lehman, who {…}

On This Day, Special Features

The Soprano Roles of Famed Mezzo Regina Resnik

https://operawire.com/the-soprano-roles-of-famed-mezzo-regina-resnik/

Regina Resnik is often cited as one of the great American mezzos of the 20th century. Born on August 30, she managed an international career that spanned a whopping five decades and became a house favorite with such companies as La Scala, the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and of course, the Metropolitan Opera, where she {…}