(Credit: Carli Kadel) I have learned that — outside the cultural mecca of Manhattan, in summer — amazing operatic performances can be found in what might be regarded as unlikely places. And my recent weekend in upstate New York confirmed that once again. I first experienced this with the new production at Glimmerglass of Verdi’s mid-career masterpiece, “La Traviata.” Revisiting {…}
(Credit: Dario Acosta) American Symphony Orchestra has announced its expanded 2019-20 season, which includes concerts at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Symphony Space. For the purposes of this article, we will focus only on vocal performances. The season will kick off with Edward Elgar’s oratorio “The Kingdom” at Carnegie Hall, which will feature soprano Janai Brugger, mezzo-soprano Maya Lahyani, tenor {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s first Ring Cycle of the 2018-19 season came to a glorious end with “Götterdämmerung” in a production featuring a tremendous cast. In some ways, this might have been the most satisfying evening of the entire cycle, with a luxurious cast of true singing actors against a production that, at times, had something to say. A Hero Above {…}
The Spoleto Festival USA has announced that its 2018 edition was the second-highest in ticket sales in its history. Per a press release, the ticket sales topped $3.3 million with over 65,000 ticket holders attending 158 performances and events. The Festival’s 2016 edition, its 40th in history, still ranks first in overall ticket sales. “Often at the end of each {…}
The Hawaii Opera Theatre has announced its 2018-19 season featuring three opera productions with numerous acclaimed American artists. The season opens with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette,” starring Soprano Amanda Woodbury as Juliet, following her acclaimed performance of the role at The Met. Emmanuel Plasson will conduct the production after his acclaimed “Il Trovatore” in 2016. Performance Dates: October 12, 14, & 16 2018 {…}
The Spoleto Festival has announced its 2018 festival, which will include three operas including two U.S. premieres. Donizetti’s “Pia de’ Tolomei” will make its premiere on May 27, 2018, in a collaboration with Teatro di Pisa, Teatro del Giglio di Lucca, and Teatro Goldoni di Livorno with Andrea Cigni directing the opera. Lidiya Yankovskaya, music director of the Chicago Opera Theater {…}
For an opera that’s so widely known and beloved by the public, it makes sense why the Los Angeles Opera would want to play it safe with its recent production of “Carmen.” On Sep. 9, 2017, the LA Opera opened its 2017-18 season with the Bizet masterpiece, with superstar soprano Ana María Martínez in the title role. Just four years {…}
The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2017-18 season with two Bel Canto rarities. The season begins with a performance of Bellini’s “La Straniera” on November 19th. It will feature three rising stars in their WCO debuts, soprano Amanda Woodbury as Alaide, tenor Gerard Schneider as Arturo, and mezzo-soprano Corrie Stallings as Isoletta. Also joining them is WCO favorite, baritone {…}
This past Thursday night, the NYC Choral Society gave their yearly gala, once again at one of Manhattan’s finest social clubs, The Metropolitan Room, a former men’s only club on 5th Av. kitty-corner the Plaza Hotel. Each year the NYCHORAL performs concerts of their own ranging from baroque, Christmas, and contemporary music and are regularly part of the famed Richard {…}
Gounod’s beloved “Romeo Juliette” returns to the Met on New Years Eve with a star cast that includes two singers that had electric chemistry in another great French work a few years ago. The Performers Diana Damrau and Vittorio were a dynamic duo when they took the stage for Massenet’s “Manon” back in March 2015. Their chemistry was revered by {…}