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Reviews, Stage Reviews

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2023-24 Review: Aida

https://operawire.com/lyric-opera-of-chicago-2024-review-aida/

Though the most iconic grand opera in the art form’s canon, Verdi’s “Aïda” shouldn’t challenge a house of Lyric’s caliber too strenuously. The work requires four good-to-great singers, but we expect a top-five American opera house to arrange them. Though “Aïda” lends itself to maximalist stagings, smaller companies pare it down successfully by foregoing equestrian participants, or downshifting parades to {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2023-24 Review: Terence Blanchard’s ‘Champion’

https://operawire.com/lyric-opera-of-chicago-review-terence-blanchards-champion/

(Photo: Michael Brosilow) Fresh from a Metropolitan Opera premiere last spring (and its subsequent Grammy Award victory), Terence Blanchard’s first opera in jazz, “Champion,” enjoyed its Lyric Opera of Chicago premiere in James Robinson’s vivid and effective staging, a co-production on January 27th, 2024. A dazzling cast led by Justin Austin as Emile Griffith made a powerful case for repeated {…}

Special Features

Best of 2023: OperaWire’s Staff on the Best Performances of the Year

https://operawire.com/best-of-2023-operawires-staff-on-the-best-performances-of-the-year/

And we’re back. And as has become the tradition here at OperaWire, we have asked our writers to select their choices for the opera performances that truly marveled them in 2023. So without further ado, here are our writers’ picks. Enjoy! Joao Copertino This year, in my opinion, the best performance was Aix-en-Provence’s “Picture a Day Like This,” a world premiere {…}

DVD and CD Reviews, Reviews

CD Review: Pentatone’s ‘Un Ballo in Maschera’

https://operawire.com/cd-review-pentatones-un-ballo-in-maschera/

The forces behind the Dutch label Pentatone are deserving of every accolade for producing beautifully engineered recordings. This is especially important considering that heavy hitters like Warner and Sony only hesitatingly, and with big marketing efforts, venture into the operatic realm, knowing that its share of profitability has long become a calculated and somewhat unwanted risk. Critics will surely remember {…}

News

Claudia Pavone, Maria Mudryak & Chiara Amarù Lead Teatro Verdi Pisa’s 2023-24 Season

https://operawire.com/claudia-pavone-maria-mudryak-chiara-amaru-lead-teatro-verdi-pisas-2023-24-season/

The Teatro Verdi Pisa has announced its 2023-24 season featuring five operas and four new productions. The season opens with Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” in a new production by Luigi De Angelis. The cast includes Chiara Amarù, Gurgen Baveyan, Dave Monaco, Arutro Espinosa and Roberto Abbondanza. Francesco Pasqualetti conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 27 & 29, 2023 Puccini’s “La Rondine” {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Tenor Brian Jagde on His Journey from Baritone to Tenor

https://operawire.com/q-a-tenor-brian-jagde-from-baritone-to-tenor/

Photo: Fay Fox Brian Jagde spent his early voice coaching years under his teachers’ misguided notion that he was a baritone. Born in Long Island, New York, and raised just outside New York City, he eventually obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in voice. Under the guidance of New York voice coach Michael Paul, he switched to tenor and went {…}

News

Martin Muehle Replaces Jonas Kaufmann in Monte-Carlo’s ‘Andrea Chénier’

https://operawire.com/martin-muehle-replaces-jonas-kaufmann-in-monte-carlos-andrea-chenier/

(Credit: Simon Pauly) Jonas Kaufmann has canceled his upcoming performances of “Andrea Chénier” at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. The company said that the tenor is obliged to withdraw his participation in the new production for health issues. In a statement, the tenor said, “I am deeply saddened to be forced to withdraw from singing in the Opéra de Monte-Carlo’s production {…}

News

Anthony Clark Evans, Iván Ayón-Rivas, & Serena Sáenz Lead Teatro Municipal de Santiago’s 2023 Season

https://operawire.com/anthony-clark-evans-ivan-ayon-rivas-serena-saenz-lead-teatro-municipal-de-santiagos-2023-season/

The Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Chile has announced its 2023 season. Here is a look at the operatic offerings. Ramón Gutiérrez, Rony Ancavil, Francisca Muñoz, Francisca Jünemann star in “El Demonio Mudo” with Ramiro Albino conducting and Gonzalo Cuadra directing. Performance Dates: May 12-20, 2023 Roberto Rizzi Brignoli conducts Bizet’s “Carmen” with Rodrigo Navarrete directing. Natalia Kutateladze and Evelyn Ramírez star alongside Galeano {…}