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Opera Wiki

Artist Profile: Simon Estes, Legendary Bass-Baritone

https://operawire.com/artist-profile-simon-estes-legendary-bass-baritone/

Simon Estes, born on March 2, 1938, is a legendary bass-baritone. Born in Iowa, his father was a coal miner and his grandfather was a former slave. His early musical experiences were at the local Baptist church that his family attended. He entered the University of Iowa and was destined to study psychology and religion but ultimately switched to voice. {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Opéra National de Paris 2018–19 Review: Simon Boccanegra

https://operawire.com/opera-national-de-paris-2018-19-review-simon-boccanegra/

During its 350th anniversary season, the Opéra National de Paris presented a new production of one of the most difficult and controversial Verdi’s operas, “Simon Boccanegra.” With a solid cast and no boundaries of interpretation, Calixto Bieito decided to tell a recklessly modernized story, with characters seemed prohibited from interacting with one another and simply had to ignore each other {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Waldebuehne 2018 Review: Magdalena Kozena Dazzles Alongside Sir Simon Rattle & Berlin Philharmonic

https://operawire.com/waldebuehne-2018-review-magdalena-kozena-dazzles-alongside-sir-simon-rattle-berlin-philharmonic/

Sir Simon Rattle is retiring from the Berlin Philharmonic. Saturday night at the Waldbuehne, Berlin, was one of the farewell concerts. This one included his wife as guest artist – the superb mezzo-soprano, Magdalena Kozena.  Despite the rain that drizzled on the 20,000+ people armed with blankets and ponchos, and its proximity to the concrete tower left over from the {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: ‘Being Wagner’ Author Simon Callow On Discovering the German Master Anew

https://operawire.com/q-a-being-wagner-author-simon-callow-on-discovering-the-german-master-anew/

Next to William Shakespeare, Richard Wagner is one of the most written about figures in human history. His enigmatic qualities coupled with his unquestionable genius make him someone who fascinates as much as he bewilders and antagonizes. Volumes have been written about the composer from virtually every conceivable angle, whether it be his family, his adventures, his psychology, his philosophy, {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

New York Philharmonic 2017-18 Review – Die Walküre: Jaap van Zweden & Soloists Deliver Sublime Rendition of Act One of Wagner Masterwork

https://operawire.com/new-york-philharmonic-2017-18-review-die-walkure-jaap-van-zweden-soloists-deliver-sublime-rendition-of-act-one-of-wagner-masterwork/

In 2018-19, Jaap van Zweden, the current Music Director Designate of the New York Philharmonic, will drop the Designate part of that label. And if the concert on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 is any indication, he is going to be providing audiences with some dazzling music for years to come. In a series of concerts that kicked off on Valentine’s {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Cal Performances 2017 Review – Simon O’Neill Gives the Intimate & the Epic In Fine Evening

https://operawire.com/cal-performances-2017-review-simon-oneill-gives-the-intimate-the-epic-in-fine-evening/

From high up in the mountains; from a knoll, within a cave; from a curlicue within the cave, behind a rock; within two back to back rocks, down under the ground about two feet; behind a shelf of rock, jutting out from inside a dome of the oldest rocks in that cave and ancient concavities;  comes this voice, round, round {…}

On This Day, Special Features

The Sea As The Central Element in Verdi’s ‘Simon Boccanegra’

https://operawire.com/the-sea-as-the-central-element-in-verdis-simon-boccanegra/

“Simon Boccanegra” was one of Verdi’s most sublime operas and a prized creation for the composer. After suffering a brutal premiere back on March 12, 1857, the work was essentially left for dead, likely to never get a chance to firmly establish its place alongside many of Verdi’s other masterworks. But on March 24, 1881, the composer premiered another version {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Teatro alla Scala 2025-2026 Review: Nabucodonosor

https://operawire.com/teatro-alla-scala-2025-2026-review-nabucodonosor/

(Credit: Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala) A dark chapter in Giuseppe Verdi’s life came to an end with the success of “Nabucodonosor” at La Scala in 1842. During the preceding decade, between 1832 and 1842, Verdi had been rejected by the Milan Conservatory; his sister Giuseppa died, followed by his daughter Virginia just fourteen months old, his son {…}

News, Season Announcement

Brian Jagde, Thomas Hampson, Renée Fleming, Luca Salsi, Francisco Meli, Juan Diego Flórez, Adela Zaharia, Eleonora Buratto, Anastasia Bartoli & Diana Damrau Lead Teatro alla Scala’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/brian-jagde-thomas-hampson-renee-fleming-luca-salsi-francisco-meli-juan-diego-florez-adela-zaharia-eleonora-buratto-anastasia-bartoli-diana-damrau-lead-teatro-alla-scalas-2026-27-season/

The Teatro alla Scala has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera Myung–Whun Chung conducts Verdi’s “Otello” for opening night in a production by Damiano Michieletto. The cast will include Brian Jagde, Luca Salsi, and Eleonora Buratto accompanied by Juan Francisco Gatell and Szilvia Vörös. A second cast will star Arsen Soghomonyan, Roberto Frontali and Roberta Mantegna. Performance Dates: Dec. 7, 2026-Jan. 5, 2027 Bizet’s {…}