“Puccini in Love” surveys mostly well-known love duets from Puccini’s canon. Because the music will be familiar to opera aficionados, the album’s success or failure depends on whether the interpreters can make the familiar fresh. Mission accomplished. Marketing at Sony is betting on the love-story behind the album to sell the project, but its success has little to do {…}
It’s a star-studded week of releases. There will be two solo debut albums, one important DVD release, and the debut of two stars on a new label. Here is a look! Puccini in Love Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak team up for their first collaborative album featuring the works of Puccini. The new album features excerpts from “Manon Lescaut,” “La {…}
Sony Classical has announced the release of Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak’s first album for the company. The album, entitled “Puccini in Love,” features the real life couple in duets from the famed composer. The album marks the first album in a long-term contract that both artists signed with Sony. Alagna first signed a deal with the company in January. {…}
The Teatro San Carlo has announced its 2018-19 season. The season will include some of the biggest stars in opera as well as some rare gems. Here is a look at what San Carlo will offer operagoers next season. Productions Riccardo Muti conducts the opening night with a new production by Chiara Muti of Mozart’s “Così Fan Tutte.” Alessio Arduini, {…}
Aleksandra Kurzak has signed a contract to record with Sony Classical. The company announced that the Polish soprano, who was formerly with Decca, will release her first recording under the new contract this autumn. That album will be a duets recording with her husband Roberto Alagna, who signed with Sony back in January. Kurzak will also record a solo album set {…}
The Opera de Monte-Carlo has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of important stars and numerous productions. Here is a look at the unique season Monte Carlo will offer. The season opens with an evening entitled Opera-Comique at the Chapelle Musicale Reine-Elizabeth. Performance Dates: Oct. 13-14, 2018 A screening of “La Veuve Joyeuse” continues the season. Performance Dates: Oct. 25, {…}
Puccini’s “Turandot” hits the web this week from the Vienna State Opera as part of its live stream series throughout the season. The showcase on April 20 is set to star Lise Lindstrom in the title role of the icy princess while Roberto Alagna plays Calaf and his wife Aleksandra Kurzak takes on the role of Liù. Frédéric Chaslin conducts {…}
This weekend will see opera houses in full swing presenting classics and new modern masterpieces. For this weekend preview, we’ve gone to Europe, South America, and Asia as many leading stars are performing around the world. Three Sisters – Teatro Colón, Argentina Hungarian composer Peter Eötvös’ opera opens the Teatro Colón in a new production by Rubén Szuchmacher. Jovita Vaskeviciute, Anna Lapkovskaja, {…}
Verdi’s “Otello” takes over the Vienna State Opera’s streaming service on March 18, 2018. The final tragic masterwork of its creator will feature Roberto Alagna in the title role with his real-life wife Aleksandra Kurzak playing the ill-fated Desdemona. Dalibor Jenis portrays Jago and Alexandru Moisiuc as Lodovico. Dan Ettinger conducts. The stream kicks off at 6:30 p.m. local time {…}
The 2018-19 Paris Opera will celebrate a double anniversary including the signing, in 1669, of the letters patent authorizing Perrin to establish an Academy of Opera – rapidly named the Royal Academy of Music and that of the inauguration of the Opéra Bastille in 1989. The season will feature a number of new productions, classic revivals, and world premieres. It {…}
Aleksandra Kurzak has canceled today’s performance of “Pagliacci.” The Metropolitan Opera announced via Twitter that Kurzak was ill and as a result, Danielle Pastin will be replacing her. Pastin made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Masha in “The Queen of Spades” in 2011 and was also featured as Frasquita in the Met’s production of “Carmen” in 2012 and 2013. This season she {…}
