Screen Media has acquired the North American rights to “Bel Canto,” Paul Weitz’s adaptation of the acclaimed Ann Patchett novel. The new film, about a hostage crisis, stars Julianne Moore and Ken Watanabe with Opera legend Renée Fleming contributing vocals to the film. “Bel Canto” tells the story of Roxane Coss (Moore), a famous American soprano, who travels to South {…}
From July 28 through August 5, 2018, Teatro Nuovo, headed by Will Crutchfield, will be holding an inaugural festival at Purchase College titled “The Dawn of Romantic Opera.” The festival will perform two versions of Rossini’s “Tancredi,” as well as Mayr’s “Medea in Corinto,” in productions that will not only feature some of opera’s current stars, but will shine a {…}
Lawrence Brownlee is one of the great bel canto tenors of this generation, singing the works of Donizetti, Rossini, and Bellini, among others, to tremendous critical success around the globe. He is currently in the midst of a run in one of his signature roles as Arturo in Bellini’s “I Puritani” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and prepping for {…}
Pretty Yende has become one of the world’s most sought-after singers for her energetic and positive stage presence. Her Cinderella story is widely recognized and her performances have become must-see events. Having dominated the world’s greatest stages and released her first album “A Journey,” Yende now brings audiences a taste of what is to come in her second album “Dreams.” Like her first {…}
American musicologist and historian Philip Gossett has died at 75. Gossett dedicated his career and interest to 19th-century Italian opera, a path that had its beginnings when he started listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in his youth. Gossett became an authority on the operas of Rossini and Verdi and advised many productions of the Rossini Opera Festival in Italy. He went {…}
It’s a big year at Caramoor for Will Crutchfield. For the last 20 years, Crutchfield has been a leader in reviving a number of Bel Canto works at the festival through his program “Bel Canto at Caramoor.” It is a program that has showcased some rarities and has shown the conductor’s expertise in the repertoire. However, this year Crutchfield is {…}
When audiences headed to see Rossini’s “Otello” this past March at LoftOpera, many were looking forward to seeing the rare bel canto opera and its famed three tenor roles. But when all was said and done, the consensus seemed to be quite surprising – soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez owned the run. Here at OperaWire, we singled out her work as {…}
A few weeks ago, Metropolitan Opera Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin made the proclamation that he would be bringing newer and fresher composers to the Metropolitan Opera throughout his tenure. A few days later it was reported that among the new composers he would be bringing would be Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.” It’s a great start, considering Heggie, who {…}
A few years ago, Jimmy Lopez’s “Bel Canto” finally got its world premiere in Chicago. Despite solid reviews and general popularity, few got a chance to see it unless they traveled to Illinois to check out the new big hit. On Friday, Jan. 13, all of America will be watching as the opera gets broadcast on PBS’s Great Performances series {…}
It is always a challenge to make a role debut in a season, particularly when it features some of the most challenging repertoire in the operatic repertoire. It is an even greater risk and challenge to make three in one season. But don’t tell Davinia Rodriguez as the soprano has spent this season doing just that and succeeding all the {…}