Kevin Short is one of today’s most versatile bass-baritones performing at some of the world’s greatest theaters and taking on leading roles in a wide variety of repertoire from Verdi to Gershwin to Stravinsky. In the summer, he was scheduled to perform the title role in Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith’s world premiere opera “Castor and Patience” at the {…}
The moment Latonia Moore stepped onstage during the Opening Night performance of “Porgy and Bess,” launching the Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-20 season, the audience was mesmerized. The soprano stole the show with her potent rendition of “My man’s gone now.” She received arguably the most applause of the evening and critics praised her for her “intensity.” Moore made her Met debut {…}
AIDA. The Metropolitan Opera production of 1985 starring Leontyne Price in her glory days, in its online stream, seemed like yesterday. In a flash it seemed like yesterday too when I trailed the great diva down a full-flight of stairs on the San Francisco Opera stage in her role debut as Manon in Puccini’s opera. In a long, maroon cloak, {…}
The Teatro la Fenice has announced new streams for May 15 and May 22, 2020. The company will first stream Verdi’s “Aida” conducted by Riccardo Frizza. The performance from May 2019 stars Roberta Mantegna in the title role, Roberto Frontali, Francesco Meli, and Irene Roberts. Meanwhile, the May 22 stream will be Puccini’s “Tosca” conducted by Daniele Rustioni. The cast {…}
The Royal Swedish Opera is showcasing two major performances on its official website. The first of these that is streaming is Verdi’s “Aida” in a production by Michael Cavanaugh. It stars Katarina Dalayman as Amneris, Christina Nilsson as Aida, Iva Defabiani as Radamès, and Alessio Cacciamani as Ramfis. Pier Giorgio Morandi conducts the performance, which is presented in two parts. {…}
For this week’s round of puzzles we turn to the world of “Aida” and many of the great sopranos to interpret the role over the years. Instructions: You are free to solve the word search directly on your mobile or desktop device; just click the first and last letter of each word for it to appear on the screen. For {…}
Toledo Opera has unveiled its 2020-21 season which will feature two operas and a grand tour for the company. “In the fall, hopefully with this dark period behind us, we will have a greater need than ever for the arts and the unparalleled experience of live opera, so we have decided to announce our season at this time,” stated Suzanne {…}
(Photo Credit: Metropolitan Opera House/Vladimir Shirokov) Soprano Anna Netrebko has been named the Laureate for the 2020 Polar Music Prize. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning, Feb. 11 at the Stockholm City Hall by Alfons Karabuda, chairman of the Polar Music Prize award committee. The Polar Music Prize was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, the manager and music {…}
The Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona has announced a cast change for its Jan. 23, 2020 performance of Verdi and Ghislanzoni’s “Aida.” The company announced that Yonghoon Lee will sing the role of Radamès, replacing Luciano Ganci due to illness. Lee is currently starring in Cast A of “Aida” at the Liceu and performed the role on Jan. 22 {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The company announced that mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens, scheduled to sing the role of Amneris in Verdi’s Aida, has withdrawn from the production due to personal reasons. As a result, renowned soprano Melody Moore and Catherine Martin will takeover the run. Moore will make her {…}
(Credit: Edward Wilensky) On October 19, 2019, San Diego Opera presented Verdi’s “Aida” in a unique showcase that featured the orchestra and chorus on stage with the soloists, who were dressed up in traditional garb to reflect Ancient Egypt. This was a different way of presenting opera and at the “Talk Back” immediately following the show it became obvious that {…}