Ponchielli’s masterpiece, “La Gioconda,” was presented at the Gran Teatre del Liceu with a double cast of stellar singers and a beautiful production. Production Details The sets by Étienne Pluss were beautiful and meaningful. The stage was surrounded by walls of stone and wooden beams. There were realistic elements for each scene, including a big marble staircase in the first {…}
The release of “I Lituani” by Accentus Music is a revelatory achievement. Premiered in 1874, the opera presents itself as a medieval-themed “Aida,” complete with a triumphal ballet and a somewhat untempered penchant for musical hyperbole. Yet, above all, it firmly positions Amilcare Ponchielli as a transitional figure between Verdi and Puccini. This in itself is a feat, as {…}
(Credit: Chorégies d’Orange official website) Les Chorégies d’Orange Festival has announced its 2022 slate, featuring two operas and international stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on vocal performances only. Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” spotlights René Barbera as Nemorino, Andrzej Filończyk as Belcore, Erwin Schrott as Dulcamara, Anna Nalbandiants as Giannetta, and Pretty Yende as Adina. Giacomo Sagripanti {…}
(Credit: Stephen Howard Dillon) American tenor Jonathan Tetelman will give two concerts this November with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria. The concerts will feature music by Verdi, Cilea, Puccini, Zandonai, Bizet, Massenet, Ponchielli, and Rossini. Karel Mark Chichon conducts. Tetelman is a rising tenor who has already appeared on the world’s biggest stages, including the Royal Opera House Covent {…}
(Credits: Michael Cooper / Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music Entertainment) The Teatro alla Scala in Milan has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring some of the greatest performers in the world. Here is the full slate. Operas Anna Netrebko and Luca Salsi open the season in Verdi‘s “Macbeth” in {…}
(Credit: © Dario Acosta) The Teatro alla Scala has announced that celebrated Russian soprano Anna Netrebko will return to the stage on Oct. 21, 2020, following a recovery from COVID-19-induced hospitalization. Netrebko will perform a program that includes “Ritorna vincitor” from “Aida,” and “Tu che le vanità” from “Don Carlo” by Verdi; “Suicidio!” from Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda;” “Poveri fiori” from {…}
Amilcare Ponchielli, born on August 31, will always be remembered for one work of opera – “La Gioconda.” And some might add that not even these days the opera is as popular as to give him sufficient clout as one of opera’s legendary composers. In reality, the composer’s famous work has lost its status in recent years, and by extension, {…}
