https://operawire.com/ildar-abdrazakovs-history-at-the-teatro-alla-scala/
On Dec. 7, 2018, the Teatro alla Scala will open its 2018-19 season with a new production of “Attila” by Davide Livermore. The company lined up a cast that features veterans and rising stars and a star conductor. One of the stars in the lineup is none other than Ildar Abdrazakov, who will sing the title role for the first {…}
https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2018-19-review-mefistofele/
Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is a work of glorious moments that has yet to find a stable place in the standard repertoire. Despite being derived from Goethe’s famed “Faust,” great arias for the major leads, and an amazing part for any opera house’s chorus, it has never been as popular as other adaptations of the same source material(ie: Gounod’s “Faust”). In {…}
https://operawire.com/top-5-operas-to-see-this-weekend-north-america-10-26-28/
It’s National Opera Week, so as you can imagine, there are a ton of operas being offered this weekend. So we looked through and picked out the five we feel you have to see no matter what (in alphabetical order by company). You’ll notice that many are slowly but surely drawing to a close and this might just be your {…}
https://operawire.com/teatro-real-to-hire-100-volunteers-instead-of-paid-supers/
The Teatro Real is looking for 100 volunteers to be supers in its upcoming production of “Idomeneo.” According to Platea Magazine, the theater is following in the footsteps of the Palau de Les Arts de Valencia, which contracted volunteers for its “Magic Flute” production instead of paid performers. The controversial decision will require the volunteers to attend 18 rehearsals and be {…}
https://operawire.com/q-a-christian-van-horn-on-his-richard-tucker-award-his-role-debut-as-mefistofele/
Christian Van Horn is one of today’s rising stars in the opera world, the bass making major role debuts and opening new productions at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company and the Metropolitan Opera. This year, he became the third bass-baritone to win the Richard Tucker Award and the first of his voice type since 2003. Van Horn’s {…}
https://operawire.com/top-6-operas-to-see-this-weekend-north-america-9-28-30/
The opera season is up and running. Don’t believe me? Well just take a look at the over one-dozen companies that are putting on productions this weekend. Here are our major picks for this busy weekend, which marries new works with classic repertoire (in alphabetical order by company). Maria de Buenos Aires – Arizona Opera Piazzolla’s opera has arguably never {…}
https://operawire.com/operavision-2018-19-die-tote-stadt-arrives-at-komische-oper-berlin/
Opera Vision will start streaming a production of Korngold’s “Die tote Stadt” live from the Komische Oper Berlin on Sept. 30, 2018. Korngold’s famed opera will showcase Ales Briscein as Paul, Sara Jakubiak as Marietta and Marie’s Apparition, Günter Papendell as Frank and Fritz, and Maria Fiselier as Brigitta, among others. The performance will feature a production directed by Robert {…}
https://operawire.com/teatro-la-fenice-2018-19-review-la-traviata/
Teatro La Fenice certainly plays its part in making “La Traviata” the most oft-performed opera in the world. This season alone it will present 35 performances, with another 25 scheduled for next year. As in many houses, therefore, Verdi’s much loved opera forms part of the company’s staple repertoire. Obviously, an orchestra’s familiarity with a work may act as either {…}
https://operawire.com/cd-dvd-releases-week-of-sept-9/
As the holiday season approaches, a number of new releases will be available this week. Last week we saw the releases of new albums by Renée Fleming, Joyce DiDonato, and the world premiere recording of Anton Rubenstein’s “Moses” and this week’s offerings include an homage to Dmitri Hvorostovsky, a new release for Jonas Kaufmann, a new collaboration between two major {…}