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 {…}
“Pagliacci” and “Cavalleria Rusticana” is one of the signature double bills in opera that show offs the many qualities of a leading tenor. Both parts are known for their demanding vocal challenges and in many cases are sung by two different tenors. However, in the Metropolitan Opera’s current revival of David McVicar’s production, Roberto Alagna triumphed in two of his best {…}
On Feb. 6, 2018, Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak will perform in concert in San Juan. The concert will be held at the Conservatory of music of Puerto Rico and is being organized by CulturArte Puerto Rico in aid of the students and teachers affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria. Furter details are expected to be revealed later in the month. Alagna and Kurzak are currently {…}
Aleksandra Kurzak has canceled her participation at the Bayerische Staatsoper’s performances of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.” The soprano will be replaced by Diana Damrau and Olga Pudova. Damrau will sing the roles of Stella, Giulietta, and Antonia while Pudova will be performing Olympia. Damrau opened the Richard Jones’ production back in 2011 singing all four roles with Rolando Villazon. She {…}
The Royal Opera continues it BP Big Screens series on July 14, 2017 with “Turandot.” The live stream will be shown on the Royal Opera’s website and on YouTube and will be available for a further 30 days after the live stream. The opera will also be broadcast free to 14 screens around the country, from Newcastle to Brighton, with pre-screening {…}