https://operawire.com/three-concerts-to-watch-on-new-years-eve/
With the New Year’s Eve just a day away, opera audiences are in for a treat with three gala concerts being streamed featuring some of the world’s biggest stars. The first major concert that will be streamed on the live in the concert hall series and in cinemas will be the Berlin Philharmonic’s annual silver concert gala. The evening will feature {…}
https://operawire.com/3-rare-operas-that-june-anderson-championed-in-her-career/
June Anderson, born on December 30, 1952, authored one of the unique opera careers of the 20th century. The lyric soprano seemed destined for the path often taken, but wound up moving in diverse directions with regards to repertoire. This very aspect was revealed in her becoming the first non-Italian to ever win the prestigious Bellini d’Oro Prize. She sang {…}
https://operawire.com/artist-of-the-week-lisette-oropesa-returns-to-the-metropolitan-opera-in-hansel-and-gretel/
It has been three years since Lisette Oropesa last stepped on the Metropolitan Opera stage where she fostered the majority of her young career. For years since 2005 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Oropesa was the go-to for numerous comprimario roles and supporting roles. She sang such roles as Nanetta in “Falstaff,” Lay Sister in “Suor Angelica,” {…}
https://operawire.com/diana-damrau-cancels-final-two-performances-in-munich/
Diana Damrau has canceled the final two performances of “Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Bayerische Staatsoper. The company announced via Twitter that Damrau would not be able to sing the final two performances on Dec. 12 and 15 due to illness. As a result, Olga Pudova will take over the run. Pudova has been acclaimed as one of the promising coloratura {…}
https://operawire.com/not-just-cavalleria-rusticana-a-survey-of-pietro-mascagnis-other-operas/
We all know “Cavalleria Rusticana,” the great masterpiece of Pietro Mascagni, who was born on Dec. 7, 1863. Unfortunately, that’s all most people in the opera world and outside of it, know about the Italian composer. It’s actually quite unfortunate, given that “Cavalleria” was his very first opera and that he would go on to write 15 total, his final {…}
https://operawire.com/celebrating-one-year-of-operawire/
One year ago today, Francisco and I launched this project entitled OperaWire. It had been many months in the making, the result of much planning and investigation. It was a risk, as many people let us know, emphasizing the fact that a regular newsite dedicated fully to opera didn’t exist. “There’s probably a reason for that,” one person told us. {…}
https://operawire.com/the-opera-world-reacts-to-dmitri-hvorostovsky-on-social-media/
The opera world woke up to the sad news of Dmitri Hvorostovsky’s passing. Here is a look at all the love being spread by his colleagues and the like throughout the opera community. I just woke to the news that Dmitri Hvorostovsky has passed, and am floored. Absolutely heartbroken. Have no words.https://t.co/IOsAM1hXpb — Jamie Barton (@jbartonmezzo) November 22, 2017 Our {…}
https://operawire.com/cast-change-in-royal-opera-houses-semiramide/
Michele Pertusi has withdrawn from singing the role of Assur in The Royal Opera’s “Semiramide” As a result, the role will now be sung by Mirco Palazzi. Palazzi has previously sung the role of Assur for Opera di Firenze, Opéra de Bordeaux and at a concert performance with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Mark Elder at the {…}
https://operawire.com/remembering-the-five-major-artists-from-the-fall-of-the-wall/
Twenty-eight years ago, on Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came crashing down in a moment that will always go down in history for its political significance. The moment also had major musical significance as it showcased Leonard Berstein leading a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Bernstein controversially had the word “Freheit (freedom)” replace “Freude (joy)” in the text of {…}