Benjamin Appl’s Winter Season to Be Dominated by ‘Winterreise’

https://operawire.com/benjamin-appls-winter-season-to-be-dominated-by-winterreise/

(Credit: Lars Borges) Famed baritone Benjamin Appl is set to have a rather unique set of performances and releases centering on Schubert’s iconic “Winterreise.” The baritone will be at the center of a new film version of the work by John Bridcut which will be presented on BBC TV this December. Then, on Feb. 11, 2022, Alpha Classics will release {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist of the Week: Elbenita Kajtazi

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-elbenita-kajtazi/

(Credit: Eric Bouloumie) Donizetti wrote nearly 70 operas, many of which have been forgotten. Over the last several years many of his works have been rediscovered thanks in part to concert performances, festivals, or recordings. This week German audiences will get to discover the composer’s 1841 one-act opera “Rita” at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The opera will star a cast of {…}

News

Cardiff Singer of the World Announces Five Finalists

https://operawire.com/cardiff-singer-of-the-world-announces-five-finalists/

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021 has announced the five finalists for the four main prizes. The finalists are mezzo-soprano Natalia Kutateladze from Georgia, baritone Gihoon Kim from the Republic of Korea, soprano Christina Gansch from Austria, mezzo-soprano Claire Barnett-Jones from England, and Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha as the fifth ‘wildcard’ finalist. All five singers will compete on June {…}

News

Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdottir Withdraws from Cardiff Singer of the World

https://operawire.com/alfheidur-erla-gudmundsdottir-withdraws-from-cardiff-singer-of-the-world/

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition has announced that Icelandic competitor, Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdottir, has had to withdraw from the competition. In a statement, the competition said, “Like all our singers Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir has taken and passed repeated COVID Tests but yesterday she received a track and trace notification after flying here from Iceland. We must follow {…}

IndieOpera

New Zealand Opera Returns to Live Performances With ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’

https://operawire.com/new-zealand-opera-returns-to-live-performances-with-le-nozze-di-figaro/

New Zealand Opera is set to present Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” starting on June 8, 2021. The opera will star John Moore as the Count Almaviva with Emma Pearson as the Countess. In the role of Figaro, audiences will see Richard Ollarsaba with Joanna Foote taking on Susanna. Other cast members include Bianca Andrew, Kristin Darragh, Andrew Collins, Andrew {…}

News

Dame Sarah Connolly, Donna Lennard, Ralph Thomas Williams Headline Cheltenham Music Festival’s 2021 Edition

https://operawire.com/dame-sarah-connolly-donna-lennard-ralph-thomas-williams-headline-cheltenham-music-festivals-2021-edition/

The Cheltenham Music Festival has announced its 2021 edition, which will feature 10 days of performances, 21 world premieres, and several “free stage concerts.” The festival is set to take place between July 2-11 and will allow socially distanced audiences into venues. “I am tremendously proud that our team will bring world-class performances to Cheltenham this summer. For those who {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Soprano Angel Blue on the Balancing Her Personal & Professional Life

https://operawire.com/q-a-soprano-angel-blue-on-the-balancing-her-personal-professional-life/

Soprano Angel Blue has become an operatic sensation. She recently had a stellar turn as Bess in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-20 season opener of “Porgy and Bess”. This year the recording won a Grammy for Best Opera Recording, with Angel Blue giving the acceptance speech onscreen. A natural on camera, she has also launched and hosted an online chat show {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q&A: 13-Year-Old Welsh Treble Cai Thomas on His Album ‘Seren’ & Singing the ‘Pembrokeshire Murders’ Title Song ‘Suo Gân’

https://operawire.com/qa-13-year-old-welsh-treble-cai-thomas-on-his-album-seren-and-singing-the-pembrokeshire-murders-title-song-suo-gan/

I first heard the Welsh lullaby “Suo Gân” watching Steven Spielberg’s 1987 film, “Empire of the Sun.” The moving piece is perfect for cinematic use, and if you live in the United Kingdom, you can hear it as the title song for the new television series “The Pembrokeshire Murders.” (The show is also available in the United States on Britbox.) {…}

News

Marina Rebeka, Christian Immler & Stuart Skelton Lead New CD/DVD Releases

https://operawire.com/marina-rebeka-christian-immler-stuart-skelton-lead-new-cd-dvd-rekeases/

This week audiences get to explore rarely performed music by some of the greatest singers in the world. Here is a look at this week’s new releases. Credo Prima Classic releases Marina Rebeka’s new album featuring spiritual pieces by Bach, Mozart, Verdi, Mascagni, Handel, Purcell, Brahms, Schubert, Fauré, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Albinoni, Durante, Stradella, and Caccini (Vavilov). The album includes Grammy {…}

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Benjamin Appl’s Winter Season to Be Dominated by ‘Winterreise’

Artist of the Week: Elbenita Kajtazi

Cardiff Singer of the World Announces Five Finalists

Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdottir Withdraws from Cardiff Singer of the World

New Zealand Opera Returns to Live Performances With ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’

Dame Sarah Connolly, Donna Lennard, Ralph Thomas Williams Headline Cheltenham Music Festival’s 2021 Edition

Q & A: Soprano Angel Blue on the Balancing Her Personal & Professional Life

Q&A: 13-Year-Old Welsh Treble Cai Thomas on His Album ‘Seren’ & Singing the ‘Pembrokeshire Murders’ Title Song ‘Suo Gân’

Marina Rebeka, Christian Immler & Stuart Skelton Lead New CD/DVD Releases