https://operawire.com/jose-carreras-defends-placido-domingo/
José Carreras has come out in defense of Plácido Domingo. In an interview with the Portugues press, Carreras stated that throughout the years he has known Domingo, he has never seen Domingo harass any women. He stated, “I have never seen Domingo act in an incorrect way.” Carreras is the latest performer and colleague who has come out publically to {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-franco-zeffirelli-dies-at-96/
Franco Zeffirelli has died at the age of 96 on June 15, 2019 after suffering from a long illness in his home in Rome. The great Italian director was born Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli in the outskirts of Florence, Italy to Alaide Garosi and Ottorino Corsi. Zeffirelli graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze in 1941 and went to the {…}
https://operawire.com/hgo-to-present-handels-partenope/
HGO, North London’s leading opera company, will perform Handel’s “Partenope.” The production for this opera will be directed by Ashley Pearson, who stated in a press release, “The great power of Handel’s opera lies in his ability to convey through the music the depth of feeling of each of his characters. Every aria is grounded in feelings which are familiar to {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-profile-mario-sereni-a-great-italian-baritone/
Mario Sereni was one of the most underrated Italian baritones of his time. He was born on March 25, 1928 in Perugia, Italy. He studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome as well as the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. In 1953, his professional career kicked off with a performance at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, followed by his Met {…}
https://operawire.com/rashaan-allwoods-bright-bottles-set-for-world-premiere/
Rashaan Allwood is set to showcase his new opera “Bright Bottles” at the Edyth Bates Grand Organ Hall at Rice University on Sunday, April 14, 2019. The work is set in Texas and showcases the stories of a group of homeless women from Mexico. Allwood is a leading organist around the world and has noted that his biggest influences in {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-profile-soprano-renata-scotto-intense-singing-actress-turned-director/
Renata Scotto was one of the most essential Italian sopranos of the latter 20th century, renowned for incredible acting talents and intense vocalism. Born on Feb. 24, 1934 in Savona, Italy, she made her opera debut at age 18 as Violetta in “La Traviata.” The next day, she officially debuted at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan, in the same opera. {…}
https://operawire.com/tito-ceccherini-to-stand-in-for-fabio-luisi-in-la-grand-macabre-at-opernhaus-zurich/
The Opernhaus Zürich has announced that Italian conductor Fabio Luisi, its General Music Director, has opted out of his role as musical director for the February/March performances of György Ligeti’s “La Grand Macabre.” As a result, Maestro Tito Ceccherini, “an acclaimed interpreter of the modern repertoire” according to Opera Musica, will stand in as musical director for the upcoming performances {…}
https://operawire.com/interview-clementine-margaines-journey-with-carmen/
It was 2014 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Clémentine Margaine, a graduate of the Paris Conservatory and winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Concours International de Marmande, was an ensemble member of the company who had just been handpicked by the casting director of the company to sing the title role of “Carmen.” “I was very lucky that {…}
https://operawire.com/analysis-2018-leyla-gencer-voice-competition-istanbul/
Opera aficionados d’un certain âge remember Leyla Gencer with almost idolatrous admiration and no small degree of reverence. With the passing of time, most younger devotees of the lyric theatre have about as much knowledge of “La Diva Turca” as they do Maria Reining or Toti dal Monte. Born Ayshe Leyla Ceyrekgil in Istanbul sometime between 1918-1928, Gencer enjoyed a {…}