Artist Profile: Sesto Bruscantini, A Truly Versatile Baritone

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Baritone Sesto Bruscantini, born on Dec. 10, 1919, would go on to become a major Italian baritone throughout the 20th century. He actually obtained a law degree but turned to vocal studies and by 1947 had won a voice contest organized by RAI. His first professional appearance was in 1946 as Colline in “La Bohème;” his rendition of “Vecchia zimarra” {…}

News

Obituary: Bass Maxim Mikhailov Dies At 57

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Bass Maxim Mikhailov has died at the age of 57. The Bolshoi Theatre announced the passing of the bass in Moscow. No cause of death was given however in the report. Born on May 13, 1962, Mikhailov was the grandson of bass Maxim Dormidontovich Mikhailov, the Bolshoi’s basso profundo from 1932 to 1956. Mikhailov joined the Bolshoi in 1987 and went on {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

5 DVDs & 5 CDs We Recommend For Your Black Friday Shopping

https://operawire.com/5-dvds-5-cds-we-recommend-for-your-black-friday-shopping/

The holiday season is officially underway. For many, that means going out and buying a plethora of gifts for loved ones. But what about that opera lover in your life? What do you buy him or her? There’s a ton to choose from and this year featured a plethora of amazing recordings to choose from. So to give you a {…}

Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Barbara Hendricks – Soprano, Jazz Singer, Movie Star

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-barbara-hendricks-soprano-jazz-singer-movie-star/

Barbara Hendricks is the textbook example of a singer that can truly do it all. Born on Nov. 20, 1948, in Arkansas, she graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in mathematics and chemistry. But from there it was all music. She studied at Juilliard under mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel and took master classes with Maria Callas. Per the {…}

Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Lamberto Gardelli, Champion of Rare Verdi Operas

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-lamberto-gardelli-champion-of-rare-verdi-operas/

Lamberto Gardelli, born on Nov. 8, 1915, became one of the great conductors of the Italian repertory during the “Golden Age” of opera. He was born in Venice and studied at the Liceo Musicale Rossini and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He started off as a pianist before eventually turning into a conductor. He was an assistant to Tulio Serafin {…}

Special Features

Metropolitan Opera Opening Night 2018-19: 5 French Works That Need Met Opera Premieres Or Revivals

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-opening-night-2018-19-5-french-works-that-need-met-opera-premieres-or-revivals/

The Metropolitan Opera is about to open its 2018-19 season with “Samson et Dalila,” a work that has not been performed since 2006. The opera, which at one point was one of the most popular vehicles for a tenor-mezzo pairing, fell out of the repertoire for 12 years and is now returning in a new production with a starry cast. {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Festival Nits de Clàssica Girona 2018 – Jakub Józef Orliński

https://operawire.com/festival-nits-de-classica-girona-2018-jakub-jozef-orlinski/

Many Music Festivals rely on remarkable locations to give performances their particular “festive” appeal. The awe-inspiring Arena di Verona, the ancient Aya Irini church in Istanbul, the umbrageous plane trees in Aix-en-Provence, the picnic-enticing gardens of Glyndebourne, the striking castle-fortress of Savonlinna, or the entire picture-postcard-perfect city of Salzburg immediately spring to mind. The medieval town of Girona in Catalonia {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Interview: Director Jeanne Pansard-Besson On The Future of Opera

https://operawire.com/interview-director-jeanne-pansard-besson-on-the-future-of-opera/

Of all the questions I asked Jeanne Pansard-Besson, who was deep in final rehearsals for a “Don Giovanni” at the New Generation Festival in Florence, there was one I was especially interested in hearing her answer to – In this age of on-demand everything (streaming, smart phones, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and what many people consider the very shrinking short–attention {…}