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Reviews, Stage Reviews

Carnegie Hall 2023-24 Review: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

https://operawire.com/carnegie-hall-2023-24-review-lady-macbeth-of-mtsensk/

(Credit: © Steve J. Sherman 2024) It’s been five years since the New York audiences have heard soprano Kristine Opolais. Once a stalwart at the Metropolitan Opera, the soprano has now dedicated herself to performing mostly in Europe and seeking “something special” in the productions or performances she does. And in her return to New York, the soprano found that {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Boston Symphony Orchestra 2023-24 Review: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

https://operawire.com/boston-symphony-orchestra-2024-review-lady-macbeth-of-mtsensk/

Photo: Winslow Townson The first time my partner watched Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” he couldn’t believe that the composer ever thought a Stalinist regime would be pleased with the opera. The “in-your-face” power of the work made him—a (handsome) man whose political convictions ponder between socialism and cowboyism—find endearing that ‘Shosta’ could not see his censoring coming. Even today, {…}

DVD and CD Reviews, Reviews

CD Review: Unitel Edition’s ‘Tosca’

https://operawire.com/cd-review-unitel-editions-tosca/

“Oh my!” is how one would headline, exasperatingly, the sordid, crude, and entirely inappropriate production of “Tosca” at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien. Severed limbs, some sort of nuclear winter, and an orgy of on-stage violence and sex – the premises to Martin Kušej’s vision of the Puccini melodrama could not be more grotesque and, in essence, detrimental to the {…}

Special Features

Best of 2023: OperaWire’s Top 11 Singers of 2023

https://operawire.com/best-of-2023-operawires-top-11-singers-of-2023/

It’s time of the year. The moment we wrap up the year and look back at our favorite moments. After releasing our favorite performances of 2023 and showcasing our rising stars of the year, it’s time for OperaWire’s annual tradition of naming our top 11 singers of the year, performers that we thought stood out and had major breaks or performances. So {…}

News

Joyce El-Khoury Takes Over ‘Carmen’ at Oper im Steinbruch

https://operawire.com/joyce-el-khoury-takes-over-carmen-at-oper-im-steinbruch/

Joyce El-Khoury will sing the title role of “Carmen” at Oper im Steinbruch, replacing Kristine Opolais who withdrew from the production. El-Khoury took to social media and said, “This summer I will be making my professional stage debut in the title role of Carmen at Oper im Steunbruch. This might come as a surprise to some of you, but this {…}

News

Sesto Quatrini Ends Term as Artistic Director at Lithuanian National Opera

https://operawire.com/sesto-quatrini-ends-term-as-artistic-director-at-lithuanian-national-opera/

Sesto Quatrini is stepping down as Artistic Director of the Lithuanian National Opera. In an open letter, the conductor said, “On 30th June 2023, my term as artistic director of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre will come to an end. In October 2016, when I was invited to Vilnius to conduct a Kristine Opolais Gala, I could never {…}

News

Sonya Yoncheva Dismisses New York Times ‘Norma’ Review & Comparisons

https://operawire.com/sonya-yoncheva-dismisses-new-york-times-norma-review-comparisons/

(Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) Sonya Yoncheva is pushing back at The New York Times following a review of “Norma” that compared the soprano to Angel Blue. Yoncheva took to Twitter and said, “I’ve received some PM from you concerning my opinion on recent critic about ‘Norma.’ You see, Mr Zachary Woolfe from the New York Times had ALWAYS {…}

News, Streaming

The Royal Opera House Launches Streaming Platform

https://operawire.com/the-royal-opera-house-launches-streaming-platform/

The Royal Opera House has launched a new streaming platform. The platform features 45 productions as well as 85 behind-the-scenes featurettes. Audiences can stream for 9.99 pounds per month and 99 pounds per year. Some titles will be available in UHD and Dolby Atmos. Among the launch titles are Frederick Ashton’s “La Fille mal gardée,” Christopher Wheeldon’s “The Winter’s Tale,” {…}

News

Semperoper Dresden Cancels Opening Night of ‘Madama Butterfly’ Due to COVID-19

https://operawire.com/semperoper-dresden-cancels-opening-night-of-madama-butterfly-due-to-covid-19/

The Semperoper Dresden has canceled the opening night of “Madama Butterfly.” The company noted that due to COVID-19, the new production by Amon Miyamoto, has been postponed by a few days to Wednesday, April 6, 2022. In a press release the company said, “due to the high number of staff absences due to COVID-19 infection, the premiere performance cannot be {…}