Juan Diego Flórez is one of the greatest tenors in the world. Of that there can be no doubt. Born on Jan. 13, the tenor has gone on to establish himself at every major opera house in the world in an ever-evolving repertoire that ranges from Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini all the way to the great French composers such as {…}
The Vienna State Opera’s live streaming series continues on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 with a performance of Bellini’s final opera “I Puritani.” The opera will feature a production by director John Dew under the musical leadership of Evelino Pidò. The cast will showcase Jongmin Park, Dmitry Korchak, Adam Plachetka, and Venera Gimadieva, who was OperaWire’s Artist of the Week between {…}
June Anderson, born on December 30, 1952, authored one of the unique opera careers of the 20th century. The lyric soprano seemed destined for the path often taken, but wound up moving in diverse directions with regards to repertoire. This very aspect was revealed in her becoming the first non-Italian to ever win the prestigious Bellini d’Oro Prize. She sang {…}
Bellini’s “Norma,” which premiered on Dec. 26, 1831, is arguably one of the finest operas to come out of the bel canto repertoire. Many consider it Bellini’s finest dramatic work overall and it features one of the most challenging roles for a soprano. In fact, sopranos have often been defined by their interpretation of the opera. Written by Felice Romani, {…}
Vincenzo Bellini isn’t the most revolutionary of opera composers. In fact, his work is rather simple and his operas, most of them featuring questionable libretti, are not necessarily the most complex dramatic works (with the exception of “Norma”). And yet, the composer, born on Nov. 3, 1801, is among the most beloved in the opera world and even earned the {…}
After a week full of high-profile releases, the offerings are rather sparse. The main offering highlights the work of a famed conductor and his operatic legacy. Another highlights a production of one of the greatest operas of all time. Claudio Abbado: The Opera Edition Also available throughout Europe is a 60-disc set entitled “Claudio Abbado: The Opera Edition.” Among the operas {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s famed Live in HD series kicks off this weekend with a broadcast performance of Bellini’s “Norma.” The performance, which takes place on Oct. 7, 2017, will feature Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role with Joseph Calleja as Pollione, Joyce DiDonato as Adalgisa, and Matthew Rose as Oroveso. The production is directed by Sir David McVicar. Carlo Rizzi {…}
The Metropolitan Opera launched its 2017-18 season with its usual flash and sparkle, ushering celebrities onto the red carpet for their turn at the step and repeat as droves of opera fans in their black tie best bustled under the crystal chandeliers. The house was abuzz from the very start: patrons chattering in excitement even after the lights went down. {…}
A Metropolitan Opera season will start with Bellini’s “Norma” for the third time in its history when Sondra Radvanovsky, who conquered the role at the Met a few years back, takes it on on Sept. 25, 2017. Radvanovsky will join a long line of famous sopranos that have taken on the opera with the company, beginning with Lilli Lehman, who {…}
Elīna Garanča is one of the most famous singers of the modern opera world. Born on Sept. 16, 1976, the Latvian mezzo has gone from bel canto specialist to a dominant singing actress in the dramatic repertoire. Known for her vocal prowess and technical perfection (have you ever heard her struggle with any vocal line?), she is also an imaginative {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Werner Herzog’s “Fitzcarraldo.” {…}
