(Photo Credit: ©Gianni Cravedi) Emanuel Schikaneder, a prolific stage comedian, singer, and skilled impresario, proposed to Mozart the creation of a new singspiel–a form of German musical theater that alternates spoken dialogue without musical accompaniment–in response to the enduring hegemony of Italian opera, which had long dominated European stages. The entrepreneur’s brilliant insight, as highlighted by Mattia Marino Merlo in {…}
The Opéra-Théâtre de Metz in co-production with the Fondazione Teatro di Pisa, the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini di Jesi, the Fondazione Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti di Modena and the Teatro Sociale di Rovigo, presented Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.” A quasi-synthetic opera after the joyful, mischievous and revolutionary “Le Nozze di Figaro” and the dark, deleterious and almost mystical “Don Giovanni,” he {…}
(Photo: Amati Bacciardi) “Ermione” managed only seven performances when premiered at Naples’ San Carlo in 1816 before being shelved. It had to wait until 1987 to be revived, when it received its first modern staging at the Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival. Since then, it has had numerous performances, with each adding to its reputation as one of the composer’s most {…}
(Photo: Amati Bacciardi) As the orchestra begins the overture of Rossini’s 1817 opera “Adelaide di Borgogna,” the curtain rises to reveal a busy stage with the stagehands running about, moving scenery and props. The singers are scattered about the stage. Some are preparing themselves for a rehearsal, while others are getting a drink from the vending machine or chatting among {…}
The Teatro Verdi Pisa has announced its 2023-24 season featuring five operas and four new productions. The season opens with Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” in a new production by Luigi De Angelis. The cast includes Chiara Amarù, Gurgen Baveyan, Dave Monaco, Arutro Espinosa and Roberto Abbondanza. Francesco Pasqualetti conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 27 & 29, 2023 Puccini’s “La Rondine” {…}
The Teatro Regio di Parma has announced its 2022-23 season featuring five operas. Operas Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” is set to be presented in Mario Martone’s production as directed by Raffele Di Florio. Corrado Ravaris conducts a cast that includes Vito Priante (Don Giovanni), Mariangela Sicilia (Donna Anna), Marco Ciaponi (Don Ottavio), Giacomo Prestia (Il Commendatore), Carmela Remigio (Donna Elvira), Riccardo {…}
