The Salzburg Festival’s new production of Verdi’s “Aida” is one of the most anticipated of the summer season as it will see Anna Netrebko make her role debut as the Ethiopian princess, all while reuniting her with Maestro Riccardo Muti. However, it will also be exciting as it will see visual artist Shirin Neshat direct it. In anticipation of the {…}
Sondra Radvanovsky has canceled her upcoming performances of Verdi’s “Aida” at Orange. The soprano was forced to cancel due to physical fatigue and will no longer portray the title role on August 2 and 5, 2017. The theater has yet to announce a replacement. The starry cast will still include Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris, Marcelo Álvarez as Radamès, Quinn Kelsey {…}
Tosca, Aida, Elisabetta and Liù are the roles associated with a lyric spinto soprano. They are the pinnacle of the Italian repertory and the works that every major diva wants to sing. Leah Crocetto gets to sing these great operas on a regular basis, as her profile has ballooned over the last few years. Today, she has become one of {…}
“Aida” is one of the most complex operas in the repertory as it has demanding music that requires singers with immense voices that can also create riveting portrayals of deeply emotional and complex beings. However, it seems like most opera companies nowadays use this opera as a fan favorite and present it in routine productions that look like they are {…}
C Major has revealed that it will be recording a performance of “Aida” from this summer’s Salzburg Festival. The company put up the recording information for the production on its website. Why is this important? Because it hints at the possibility of the performance being released on DVD at a later date. And of course, these performances from Salzburg will {…}
Zinka Milanov was born on May 17, 1906. Exactly 12 years later, on May 17, 1918, Birgit Nilsson was born. The two women would go on to markedly different careers, though they both performed at the greatest houses in the world and would perform with many of the same artists, albeit in different operas. Both women were dramatic sopranos, and {…}
Everyone knows Nina Stemme for her dramatic skills, particularly for her Wagner repertoire. As a matter of fact, she is the leading Brünhilde and Isolde of our time and she is in demand all over the world. But in fact, Stemme did not begin with this repertoire and before her breakout Isolde with Plácido Domingo, this singer did a number {…}
Last week Operawire took a look at some of the 10 must see summer operas in the United States. It featured a range of repertoire and some very intriguing new stars. This week we look at the European Festivals and see where the big stars will be and what they will be performing. The following is a list of OperaWire’s 10 {…}
The English National Opera has released its schedule for the 2017-18 season which features nine operas between September 2017 and April 2018. The season includes four new productions and six revivals. Verdi’s “Aida” is the first opera of the season kicking things off on Sept. 28 and running all the way through December. Latonia Moore and Morenike Fadayomi alternate the {…}
Fiorenza Cossotto is widely considered one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos of the 20th century and arguably this writer’s favorite mezzo of all time. In honor of her 82nd birthday, OperaWire has decided to take a look at some of our favorite recordings the mezzo recorded throughout her lengthy and prolific career. “La Favorita” with Alfredo Kraus Donizetti’s operatic masterpiece was one of {…}
The Teatro Real has finally announced its 2017-18 season, later than most other organizations. But the company has packed quite a punch for its upcoming showcase, with 13 operas on the docket. It all starts on Sept. 13 with Mozart’s rarely performed “Lucio Silla” directed by Claus Guth. The cast will be led by Patricia Petibon, who will sing five {…}