https://operawire.com/obituary-tenor-tiberre-raffalli-at-69/
French tenor Tibère Raffalli passed away on Nov. 20, 2020 at the age of 69. Born in Bastia on the French island of Corsica in 1951, the tenor went on to be a specialist of the French repertoire, with a focus on comic opera. His big breakout came in the productions of Reynaldo Hahn’s “Merchant of Venice” and Luigi Cherubini’s {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-bass-leonard-andrzej-mroz-dies-at-73/
Polish bass Leonard Andrzej Mróz died at the age of 73 on Dec. 13 in Warsaw, Poland. Mróz was born on Jan. 19, 1947, and studied in Warsaw. He went on to win several international competitions including the sixth Polish National Vocal Competition. S. Moniuszko in Wrocław as well as competitions in Munich, Geneva, and Amsterdam. He followed it with an {…}
https://operawire.com/kate-royal-awarded-fellowship-at-guildhall-school/
(Credit: Jason Joyce) Soprano Kate Royal has been awarded a Fellowship of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the UK. Royal is an alumnus of the prestigious institution, where she graduated in 2003. The British soprano is well known for performing at the Glyndebourne Festival, English National Opera, Teatro Real, and Metropolitan Opera. She has also sung at {…}
https://operawire.com/volksoper-wien-names-omer-meir-wellber-new-music-director/
The Volksoper Wien has named Omer Meir Wellber as the new Music Director effective September 2022. Wellber will conduct new productions and repertoire performances for five seasons and will be responsible for the musical life of the Volksoper and for the development of the ensemble, the orchestra, and the chorus. He will begin working closely with the company as early {…}
https://operawire.com/iestyn-davies-richard-egarr-and-rowan-pierce-headline-academy-of-ancient-musics-handels-messiah/
On Dec. 19, 2020, the Academy of Ancient Music will perform Handel’s “Messiah,” as part of the Live from the Barbican concert series in London. Richard Egarr will play the harpsichord and direct British soloists such as soprano Rowan Pierce, countertenor Iestyn Davies, tenor Ben Johnson, and bass Ashley Riches in the iconic work. The concert will mark the AAM’s {…}
https://operawire.com/obituary-italian-soprano-eugenia-ratti-dies-at-87/
Soprano Eugenia Ratti died in her hometown of Piacenza on November 16, 2020 at the age of 87. Ratti was a contemporary of Maria Callas, singing opposite the famed soprano in 1957 at Teatro alla Scala as Lisa in the Visconti production of “La sonnambula,” conducted by Leonard Bernstein. She also replaced Callas as Rosina in The Dallas Opera’s 1959 {…}
https://operawire.com/american-opera-project-unveils-fermata-virtual-gala-to-spotlight-angel-blue-charles-jarden/
The American Opera Project has unveiled “fermata,” a virtual benefit concert slated for Dec. 6, 2020. The showcase will feature soprano Angel Blue and producer Charles Jarden as they are honored for their contributions to the world of opera and their communities. Blue, who is one of the most renowned opera artists in the world and is a frequent performer {…}
https://operawire.com/q-a-alzbeta-polackova-on-the-brno-janacek-festival-osud-establishing-a-successful-career-in-the-czech-republic/
The Brno Janacek Festival 2020 kicked off with a performance of one of Janacek’s lesser known works, his semi-autobiographical opera “Osud,” with the Czech soprano Alžběta Poláčková in the lead female role of Mila. It would be a fair description to refer to Poláčková as one of the stars of the Czech National Opera, and no surprise that it was {…}
https://operawire.com/caroline-wettergreen-steps-in-for-two-performances-of-die-zauberflote-at-staatsoper-berlin/
(Credit: Trond Gudevolt) The Staatsoper unter der Linden has announced that coloratura soprano Caroline Wettergreen will take over the role of Die Königin der Nacht in Mozart and Schikaneder’s “Die Zauberflöte” for the performances on Dec. 27, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. CET, and Jan. 10, 2021. Wettergreen will replace Antonina Vesenina and join a cast that includes René Pape in {…}
