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Reviews, Stage Reviews

Wexford Festival Opera 2017 – Medea: Heavy-Handed Direction Distracts From Soprano Lise Davidsen’s Stunning Showcase

https://operawire.com/wexford-festival-opera-2017-medea-heavy-handed-direction-distracts-from-soprano-lise-davidsens-stunning-showcase/

In order to successfully produce any work for the theatre, be it an opera or otherwise, a director must have a clear vision of the themes they wish to explore or highlight, and of the means by which they will present them, so that the audience can engage with the work in an intelligent and meaningful way. Fiona Shaw, the {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Wexford Festival Opera 2017 Review – La Scala di Seta: A Perfectly Entertaining, if Uneven, Performance

https://operawire.com/wexford-festival-opera-2017-review-la-scala-di-seta-a-perfectly-entertaining-if-uneven-performance/

Wexford Festival Opera’s shortworks, performed during the afternoon at White’s, a local hotel, are small-scale productions of known and lesser-known works in a reduced format with piano accompaniment. The aim is to provide an opportunity for festival singers appearing in minor roles or the chorus to showcase their talents in more substantial roles. Of course, it also provides further opportunities {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Wexford Festival Opera 2017 Review – Margherita: Strong Production Makes Case that Foroni Could Have Challenged Verdi For Mantle of Italy’s Top Composer

https://operawire.com/wexford-festival-opera-2018-review-margherita-strong-production-makes-case-that-foroni-could-have-challenged-verdi-for-mantle-of-italys-top-composer/

Following Donizetti’s death in 1848 the mantle of Italian opera eventually passed onto Verdi, something that today appears to have been a natural and uncontested succession. Yet, this was not so certain a transition as it now seems. A number of other composer also vied for the accolade, including a now almost unknown composer from Verona, called Jacopo Foroni. Hailing {…}

News

Daniela Barcellona, Niklay Zemlianskikh, Karen Garde Azabal, Jennifer Davis Headline Wexford Opera Festival’s 2022 Season

https://operawire.com/daniela-barcellona-niklay-zemlianskikh-karen-garde-azabal-jennifer-davis-headline-wexford-opera-festivals-2022-season/

The Wexford Festival Opera has announced its 2022 showcase, which kicks off on Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 6, 2022. The season opens with “La Tempesta” by Halévy. The work will star Niklay Zemlianskikh, Hila Baggio, Giiorgi Manoshvili, Andrew Morstein, Jade Phoenix, Rory Musgrave, Conor Prendiville, Richard Shaffrey, and Emma Jüngling. Roberto Catalano will direct the opera with Francesco {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Rossini Opera Festival 2025 Review: Il viaggio a Reims

https://operawire.com/rossini-opera-festival-2025-review-il-viaggio-a-reims/

(Photo: Amati Bacciardi / ROF 2025) Although conceived as a one-act opera, “Il viaggio a Reims” has monumental proportions: it lasts nearly three hours and was therefore divided into three parts at its premiere. It is Rossini’s last opera in Italian, before he devoted himself exclusively to French. Its initial success was remarkable, fueled both by the high expectations surrounding {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Buxton International Festival 2025 Review: The Impresario

https://operawire.com/buxton-international-festival-2025-review-the-impresario/

(Photo: Genevieve Girling) In 1786, Mozart broke off from composing “La Nozze di Figaro” to pen a short ‘comedy with music,’ called “Der Schauspieldirektor,” for Emperor Joseph II at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Consisting of a mere five musical numbers connected by a copious amount of spoken text that pokes fun at the behavior of singers and the theatrical {…}

News

The Tallis Scholars & The King’s Singers Headline the 2025 Buxton International Festival

https://operawire.com/the-tallis-scholars-the-kings-singers-headline-the-2025-buxton-international-festival/

(Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning) The Buxton International Festival has unveiled its 2025 season. This article features opera and choral events only. A full cast list will be announced at a later date. Ambroise Thomas’ “Hamlet” stars Gregory Feldmann in the title role. He is joined by Alastair Miles, Yewon Han, Richard Woodall, and Allison Cook, among others. Jack Furness directs {…}

News

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Announces 2025 Season

https://operawire.com/blackwater-valley-opera-festival-announces-2025-season/

(Photo credit: Sean O’Riordan) The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival unveils programming for its 15th anniversary season. For the purposes of this article, only vocal works are featured. Recitals & Mainstage Performances Festival artists and the Discover Singing Children’s Choir perform in the opening ceremony. Performance Date: May 27, 2025 (Lismore Millennium Park) Purcell’s “Dido And Aeneas” is presented by mezzo-soprano {…}