Eighteen years is far too long to go without recording an opera like Kaija Saariaho’s “Adriana Mater.” The Finnish composer’s 2006 follow-up to “L’Amour de loin” is a work of both hypnotic allure and harrowing immediacy. While it’s good of Deutsche Grammophon to put out this digital-only release, it’s a rather half-hearted tribute to the late Saariaho. There isn’t even {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences cannot miss the new album by one of the world’s most renowned tenors and the world premiere of two contemporary operas composed by acclaimed female composers. Akathist Bright Shiny Things releases “Akathist,” a large-scale oratorio by composer Benedict Sheehan. Featuring {…}
(Credit: Credit: Brittany Hosea-Small) Kaija Saariaho died in early June 2023. Her opera, “Adriana Mater,” opened at San Francisco Symphony a few days later. The semi-staged performance seemed like a ritual itself to honor the noted Finnish composer. The story of human suffering in war was conducted by San Francisco’s Music Director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, with depth and finesse. Four singers {…}
The San Francisco Symphony has released the full casting details for its upcoming production of Kaija Saariaho’s “Adriana Mater.” Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and directed by Peter Sellars, the work, which will be presented on June 8-11, 2023, will star mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron as Adriana, soprano Axelle Fanyo as Refka, tenor Nicholas Phan as Yonas, and baritone Christopher Purves as {…}
Kaija Saariaho is one of the most renowned classical music composers of today. The Helsinki native has had her music performed all over the world at such major organizations as Lincoln Center, the Salzburg Festival, the Théâtre de Châtelet, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic among many others. She is a Grammy Award winner and was crowned as {…}