Aleksandrs Antonenko has replaced Marcelo Álvarez in the Metropolitan Opera’s October and November performances of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The new was announced via the Metropolitan Opera’s official Twitter account. That is the third major cancellation for the tenor this year, after stepping out of “Andrea Chénier” in Buenos Aires. He also canceled opening night at the Vienna State Opera. He is still {…}
When Jonas Kaufmann takes the stage on Wed. June 21, 2017, for his first ever “Otello” in Verdi’s masterwork, he will follow in a long line of major tenors that have dominated the opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The opera first premiered with the ROH on Oct. 17, 1955, in a production starring Ramon Vinay in his {…}
The weekend kicks off with numerous companies performing some of Verdi’s timeless classics. There will also be Mozart, Wagner and some rare gems by Weill and Heggie. Check out what’s playing near you! Austria At the Vienna State Opera Puccini’s “Tosca” kicks off with Sae-Kyung Rim in the title role alongside Aleksandrs Antonenko and Marco Vratogna. On Saturday the company will {…}
The ending of Puccini’s “Turandot” is one of opera’s great tragedies. The composer, at the peak of his power, had composed his most musically daring work to date with some of his most phenomenal strokes of dramatic genius alongside some of his most riveting and enduring melodies. And yet, when he was ever so close to completing it, he hit {…}
This week two new DVDs will be released featuring some of the greatest singers in the world. Puccini’s “Turandot” The first of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini series will be released this week from Decca Classics. The DVD, which was recorded in 2015 features an all star cast that includes Nina Stemme, Maria Agresta and Aleksandrs Antonenko. The new DVD has the {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has cancelled its new production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” The Met’s 2017-18 season had originally planned a new production directed by Calixto Bieto, which premiered at the English National Opera in November 2015. Met General Manager Peter Gelb said the decision was a few months ago and he wanted to make the announcement ahead of {…}
This weekend many of the international opera houses are back in session and so are many of the stars. Juan Diego Florez will be in Vienna while Yonghoon Lee will be premiering Don Carlo in Munich. Renee Fleming, Anna Smirnova and Ludovic Tezier will also be performing Austria The Vienna State Opera kicks off its weekend with a star studded {…}