Lucia Lucas, Benjamin Bernheim & 7 Exciting Debuts of the Met Opera’s 2020-21 Season

https://operawire.com/lucia-lucas-benjamin-bernheim-the-sevn-exciting-debuts-of-the-met-operas-2020-21-season/

(Credit: J. Henry Fair/Victor Santiago/Manon Leprévost/Johannes Kaplan) One of the most exciting aspects of a new season is the fact that audiences will get an opportunity to experience new and exciting artists for the very first time. This is also the case at the Metropolitan Opera, which will feature a plethora of debuts in numerous major productions. Here is a {…}

DVD and CD Releases, News

Adriana González Announces Debut Album

https://operawire.com/adriana-gonzalez-announces-debut-album/

(Credit: Marine Cessat-Begler) Operalia winner Adriana González has announced her debut album. The soprano will release her first album on Audaux Records accompanied by pianist Iñaki Encina Oyón, who is well known for performing neglected and unknown repertoire. The album will delve into early 20th-century French Mélodie with a focus on the exceptional expressive qualities of husband and wife composers Robert {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist Of The Week: Marina Costa-Jackson

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-marina-costa-jackson/

(Credit: Robert Workman) In 2016 a young dramatic soprano won the Zarzuela Division and Second Prize at the Operalia Competition launching her international career and making her one of the most promising dramatic sopranos of her generations. A year before that the soprano had won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as well as the Gerda Lissner Foundation, and the {…}

News

Opéra de Paris Closes Until Mid January

https://operawire.com/opera-de-paris-closes-until-mid-january/

The Opéra de Paris has canceled all performances of Preljocaj’s ballet “Le Parc” and Noureev’s ballet “Raymonda” scheduled for Dec. 30 and 31, according to the company’s official website. The national strike regarding the reform of the pension system has hit the Opéra de Paris hard, leading to a number of high profile cancellations, including Borodin’s “Prince Igor” with Ildar {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Sonya Yoncheva On Singing ‘Il Pirata’ & Her Upcoming Wagner Role

https://operawire.com/q-a-sonya-yoncheva-on-singing-il-pirata-her-upcoming-wagner-role/

(Credit: Dario Acosta) Few sopranos have defined the last decade the way that Bulgarian diva Sonya Yoncheva has. Since her major victory at the Operalia Competition in 2010, Yoncheva has become a household headliner at all the major opera houses around the world. But what has arguably distinguished the soprano over these past few years has been her willingness to {…}

News

Rolando Villazón Directs New Production Of ‘I Puritani’

https://operawire.com/rolando-villazon-directs-new-production-of-i-puritani/

On Dec. 18, 2019, Bellini’s “I Puritani” is set to open at the Deustsche Oper am Rhein in a new production by Rolando Villazón. The new production is set to star Operalia award winners Adela Zaharia and Ioan Hotea in their debuts as Elvira and Arturo. Antonino Fogliani conducts the production which will open at the Opernhaus Düsseldorf. In a {…}

Artist of the Week, Special Features

Artist Of The Week: Adela Zaharia

https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-adela-zaharia/

(Credit: LA Opera) Since winning Operalia, soprano Adela Zaharia has emerged as one of the major rising stars in the opera world. Zaharia has made major debuts in some of the world’s greatest opera houses including the Bayerische Staatsoper and LA Opera and has added a number of major role debuts. She has also become a frequent exponent of the {…}

Special Features

Best Of 2019: OperaWire’s Top 11 Singers Of The Year

https://operawire.com/best-of-2019-operawires-top-11-singers-of-the-year/

(Credit: Catherine Ashmore/Royal Opera – Antoni Bofill/Gran Teatre del Liceu – Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) As we end the year its time to look back at the past 365-ish days and the big moments that defined 2019. It was a great year for numerous singers who broke-out and for established performers who took their careers in new directions or made important {…}