Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Sarah Richmond on Her Forthcoming Role as Olga for Northern Ireland Opera

(Photo: Ross Kavanagh) This September, Northern Ireland Opera premieres its new production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin”, with its quality cast members directed by Cameron Menzies, and conducted by Dominic Limburg. This production looks certain to be another hit with local audiences, following its sell-out productions of “La Traviata” and “Tosca.” OperaWire met up with one of its stars, mezzo-soprano Sarah {…}

Jun 27, 2024

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées 2023-24 Review: L’Olimpiade

(Photo: Vincent Pontet) Paris is gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games, and a variety of Olympic-themed events are taking place throughout the city. In this context, Antonio Vivaldi’s opera “L’Olimpiade” is a must-see, with the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées showcasing a new production by Emmanuel Daumas. Belgian soprano Jodie Devos, who recently passed away untimely, was originally scheduled to {…}

Jun 24, 2024

Teatro La Fenice 2023 – 24 Review: Bajazet

(Photo: Michele Crosera) Having laughed, smiled and clapped its way through the opening night of Teatro La Fenice’s production of Vivaldi’s “Bajazet,” the audience greeted the artists at the final curtain with warm applause. However, it was not a reaction shared by everyone; the final notes had barely been played before some members of the audience were beating their way {…}

May 10, 2024

Irish National Opera 2023-24 Review: L’Olimpiade

(Photo: Ros Kavanagh) Intricate and convoluted plots are not exactly rare in operas of the 17th and 18th centuries. Usually revolving around mistaken identities, complex love triangles, misunderstandings and deliberate deceptions that precipitate extreme emotions, their narratives career forward, plunging the protagonists into life-threatening and life-changing situations in which the gods, heroes and mythical characters often play their part. Vivaldi’s {…}

Apr 22, 2024

Q & A: Soprano Rachel Redmond on Her Forthcoming Role as Aminta in Vivaldi’s ‘L’Olimpiade’

(Photo: Christopher Wallace) In 2021, OperaWire reviewed a splendid concert presentation of Handel’s “Ariodante” at the Göttingen Handel Festival. With a strong cast, which included star names such as Marie Lys and Emily Fons. Quality performances were certainly expected, and they did not disappoint. However, it was soprano Rachel Redmond, whom I had previously never heard sing, in the role {…}

Apr 15, 2024

John Ottman Will Direct Antonio Vivaldi Biopic

John Ottman is slated to direct a film based on composer Antonio Vivaldi. Variety is reporting that the editor, composer, director and producer will team up with film and music industry executive David Franco to develop a dramatic biopic based on the life of the world-renowned Italian composer. Written by Kevin Lund and TJ Scott, the project has been long-gestating {…}

Aug 14, 2023

Innsbruck Early Music Festival 2023 Review: L’Olimpiade

(Photo: Birgit Gufler) After 13 years in the post, Alessandro De Marchi brings his tenure as the artistic director of the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music to a close with a program dominated by the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi. Not only do many of the festival’s events feature his music, including the festival’s closing concert “Lieto Fine,” but all three {…}

Sep 8, 2022

Innsbruck Early Music Festival 2022 Review: Cesti Competition

(Photo: Die Fotografen) The Innsbruck Early Music Festival’s Cesti Competition, now in its 13th year, continues to cement its standing as a prestige international singing competition for baroque specialists. The final, which took place in Innsbruck’s Haus der Musik in front of an enthusiastic audience, consisted of 10 singers from six countries, comprising two countertenors, five sopranos, two tenors and {…}

Jul 18, 2022

CD Review: Marco Angioloni’s ‘A Baroque Tenor’

(Photo: Benoit Auguste) Over the course of the 17th century, the role of the tenor was displaced by the rise of the castrato. Whilst in opera’s early years tenors were given prominent roles, such as the title role in Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo,” by the middle of the century they were relegated to comic or travesti roles. During the early 18th century, {…}

May 9, 2022

Teatro La Fenice 2021-22 Review: La Griselda

(Photo: Michele Crosera) Given that Venice is the city of Vivaldi’s birth and the scene of most of his musical successes, it is fitting that La Fenice has been one of the leading companies in the movement toward rehabilitating staged performances of his operas. This season’s production of the composer’s 1735 work “La Griselda” will mark the fifth consecutive year {…}

Feb 9, 2022

Royal Opera House Review 2022: Bajazet

(Photo credit: Royal Opera House, 2022) Two baroque jewels are running concurrently at the Royal Opera House: Katie Mitchell’s molten “Theodora” on the mainstage, and downstairs in the more intimate confines of the Linbury, Antonio Vivaldi’s pasticcio “Bajazet,” a co-production with Irish National Opera. And what a study in contrasts they make: upstairs, something rueful and naturalistic, whose props are {…}