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Reviews, Stage Reviews

Staatsoper Berlin 2019-20 Review: Il Primo Omicidio

https://operawire.com/staatsoper-berlin-2019-20-review-il-primo-omicidio/

(Credit: Monika Ritterhaus) In its second annual Baroque festival, the Staatsoper Berlin spotlighted the work of two contemporaries, Alessandro Scarlatti and Henry Purcell, and the musical cultures of the Italian and English Baroque. Over 10 days and 25 musical performances, the program covered not only opera but a wide array of other material, from a Baroque harp recital to Jacobean {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Staatsoper Berlin 2019-20 Review: King Arthur

https://operawire.com/staatsoper-berlin-2019-20-review-king-arthur/

The Staatsoper Berlin’s “King Arthur,” in its current production by Sven-Eric Bechtolf and Julian Crouch, began with a deceptively childlike staging. Thirteen empty chairs lined the edge of the stage, their backs against a scrim with the pale blue and white pattern of wallpaper. As René Jacobs led the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin through the overture, actors entered from {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Bettina Ranch On European Musical Tradition, The Future of Singing

https://operawire.com/q-a-mezzo-soprano-bettina-ranch-on-european-musical-tradition-the-future-of-singing/

(Credit: Janine Guldener) The Berlin-based mezzo-soprano Bettina Ranch dreamed about a career as a singer since childhood. And while she started off her musical path as a violinist, she eventually made the switch, which has led her to a major vocal career greater than even her dreams could handle. She has been an ensemble member of the  Aalto Musiktheater Essen {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Asmik Grigorian on ‘Salome,’ a New Chapter in Her Career & Letting Go of Her Father

https://operawire.com/q-a-asmik-grigorian-on-salome-a-new-chapter-in-her-career-letting-go-of-her-father/

(Credit: Rokas Baltakys) In just a little over a year or so, Soprano Asmik Grigorian has jumped into the spotlight and remained at the forefront of the opera world. The big reason for the soprano’s rise to the forefront is her now iconic interpretation of “Salome” at the Salzburg Festival. “The Lithuanian soprano captivates the audience as much as she {…}

News

Musical America Awards Announces 2020 Recipients

https://operawire.com/musical-america-awards-announces-2020-recipients/

(Credit: @Guenter Breitegger) Musical America has announced its annual awards naming the Salzburg Festival as Festival of the Year. Other winners included Peter Mattei who received the distinction of Vocalist of the Year and Joan Tower who received the Composer of the year award. “On behalf of the hundreds of staff members and artists of the Salzburg Festival, we thank {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Vicenza In Lirica 2019 Review: La Diavolessa

https://operawire.com/vicenza-in-lirica-2019-review-la-diavolessa/

(Photo: Beatrice Milocco) Last year’s edition of Vicenza in Lirica met with notable success for the production of Antonio Lotti’s 1713 opera, “Polidoro.” In resurrecting this forgotten work, which had remained unperformed for over 300 years, conductor Francesco Erle and director Cesare Scarton, made a strong case for the opera. The music and staging combined to produce, despite the occasional {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: The Knights’ Co-Founder Colin Jacobsen On ‘Candide,’ Growth & Future Projects

https://operawire.com/q-a-the-knights-co-founder-colin-jacobsen-on-candide-growth-future-projects/

For any fans who still believe classical music is confined to opulent concert halls, only to be enjoyed by the pillars of society, meet The Knights. Founded by brothers Colin and Eric Jacobsen, this adventurous 40-member chamber orchestra performs everything from Beethoven to Jimi Hendrix. Born into a musical family, with a father who played in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Countertenor Alex Potter On Musicology, The Future Of Singing, British Traditions

https://operawire.com/q-a-countertenor-alex-potter-on-his-career-path-repertory-the-future-of-vocal-music/

(Credit: Annelies van der Vegt) British countertenor Alex Potter grew up in the British choral tradition as a boy chorister at Southwark Cathedral and later on sang at New College, Oxford. After this, he pursued further studies at the world-renowned Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland with tenor Gerd Türk. Now he is a well-known countertenor, delighting audiences with world-class performances {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Levy Sekgapane & Ildar Abdrazakov Lead New DVD/CD Releases – August 19

https://operawire.com/levy-sekgapane-ildar-abdrazakov-lead-new-dvd-cd-releases-august-19/

This week features three major releases. Among them will be solo album debuts and one very intriguing world premiere that should spark the interest of contemporary opera lovers. P R I S I M Composer and sound artist Ellen Reid’s opera “p r i s m” is set to be released by Decca Gold.  The opera, with a libretto by Roxie Perkins, was commissioned {…}