Teatro La Fenice 2017 Review – La Sonnambula: A Risk-Taking Diva & Production Elevate Bellini’s Musical Genius

Bellini’s pastoral opera “La Sonnambula” made a welcome return to La Fenice, in a revival of Bepi Morassi’s 2012, widely-acclaimed production. In this outing, conducted by Fabrizio Maria Carminati, Irina Dubrovskaya played the role of Amina, with Shalva Mukeria as Elvino and Roberto Scandiuzzi as Rodolfo. The minor roles were undertaken by Julie Mellor as Teresa, Silvia Frigato as Lisa {…}

Jun 15, 2017

Conquering Verdi – Liudmyla Monastyrska on Dominating Verdi’s Most Challenging Roles for Dramatic Soprano

Liudmyla Monastyrska is one of the most in-demand Verdi sopranos of her time. Just look at her repertoire and engagements and you will see that the Ukrainian soprano has run the gamut of the great composer’s repertoire. From the earliest works to “Aida,” Verdi’s final dramatic soprano role, Monastyrska has deep knowledge of Verdi’s artistic development. Among the roles that {…}

May 16, 2017

Not Just Vocal Fluff – Soprano Irina Lungu On The Dramatic Depth of The Bel Canto Repertoire

While the bel canto repertoire is among the most popular in the operatic canon, most people are quick to dismiss the genre’s overall quality, noting that the works themselves are simply a vehicle to show off a singer’s virtuosity. But Irina Lungu could not disagree more. The Russian soprano, who has dedicated the first five months of 2017 to immersing {…}

May 6, 2017

Aviva Fortunata To Sing Final ‘Norma’ At The Dallas Opera

Elza van den Heever will not perform the final “Norma” at the Dallas Opera. In her stead soprano Aviva Fortunata will take on the lead role for the performance on Sunday, May 7, 2017. Fortunata performed the role of the priestess this past fall at the Canadian Opera Company. The Calgary native was a finalist in the 2016 Operalia Competition {…}

Apr 18, 2017

Donizetti and Bellini Headline Washington Concert Opera

The Washington Concert Opera has announced its 2017-18 season with two Bel Canto rarities. The season begins with a performance of Bellini’s “La Straniera” on November 19th. It will feature three rising stars in their WCO debuts, soprano Amanda Woodbury as Alaide, tenor Gerard Schneider as Arturo, and mezzo-soprano Corrie Stallings as Isoletta. Also joining them is WCO favorite, baritone {…}

Apr 9, 2017

Carmen Giannattasio, Gregory Kunde and Irina Lungu Headline Bilbao Opera’s 2017-18 Season

The Bilbao Opera has announced its 2017-18 Season with five operas. The season begins on Oct. 21 with Verdi’s “I Masnadieri” starring Carmen Giannattasio in her Bilbao debut. It also marks the first time in 12 seasons since the opera was last performed in Bilbao and will be presented in a production by Leo Muscato that first at the Teatro Regio {…}

Apr 5, 2017

‘I Puritani’ With Diana Damrau And Javier Camarena Slated For Cinemas

Bellini’s “I Puritani” returns to cinemas from the Teatro Real de Madrid. The broadcast, which was originally live streamed over the summer in 2016 on Facebook and in the main square of the Teatro Real, will be in cinemas from May 4 until May 7 throughout Spain. The opera stars Diana Damrau in the lead role of Elvira and Javier {…}

Mar 6, 2017

Two Great Mezzo-Sopranos Who Sang Bellini’s ‘La Sonnambula’

Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” is one of the most popular operas in the Bel Canto repertoire and one that many coloratura sopranos have embraced on stage. On March 6, 1831, the opera had its world premiere with Giuditta Pasta in the title role. Pasta was known as a soprano sfogato which is designated to a contralto who is capable—by sheer industry or natural {…}

Feb 11, 2017

Metropolitan Opera Review 2016-17 – I Puritani: Diana Damrau, Javier Camarena & Co. Deliver Golden Age Singing

This review is for the performance on Feb. 11, 2017. What happens when the Metropolitan Opera casts four superstars into Bellini’s final opera? The answer is golden age singing. For years “I Puritani” has been a vehicle at the Metropolitan Opera to promote the diva and sometimes has made casting uneven with little attention paid to who can sing the incredibly {…}

Feb 6, 2017

The Specialist – Javier Camarena’s Passion For Bel Canto & Continued Development of His Voice [Exclusive]

For Javier Camarena, the start of 2017 has been a blending of the past, present and future. His year started with an operatic goodbye and the month of February he will slide into comfortable repertoire that he feels will be his meat and potatoes in the immediate future. And in March, he ventures into unknown terrain that might just prove {…}

Jan 26, 2017

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2016-17 Preview: Sondra Radvanovsky Takes on ‘Norma’

The Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 2016-17 season in a big way when it showcases Bellini’s masterful “Norma” on its stage this Saturday. The production will feature Sondra Radvanovsky, who has dominated the title role all around the world. Conductor Riccardo Frizza recently told OperaWire that working with Radvanovsky on this role is a revelation because she is “fully {…}