(Credit: Visit Brussels) Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has decided to suspend the reopening of theme parks and amateur sports. The country plans to reopen restaurants, bars, gyms, and cinemas on May 1, 2021, pending the epidemiological situation. “It is clear that we have decisive weeks ahead of us,” said De Croo. “As much as we would like it, {…}
(Credit; Javier del Real) Opéra de Monte-Carlo has announced the cancelation of a previously scheduled recital featuring famed British bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. The recital, which was set to take place on Feb. 24 2021, would have featured works by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Benjamin Britten, Marcel Grandjany, Claude Debussy, and Roger Quilter. Per {…}
(Credit: Laurie Sparham) In every theatre there is a “ghost light.” It is a single lamp that shines in the middle of the stage when a theatre is deserted. In London, these lights have been doing their duty for longer than most had hoped. The ghost light is there to keep performers and technicians safe when the theatre is in {…}
(Credit: Opera Australia official website) Celebrated Australian opera director Elijah Moshinsky has died at the age of 75. Moshinsky graduated from the University of Melbourne and made his operatic debut in 1975 at the Royal Opera House with a production of Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes.” The famed director went on to stage a number of highly successful productions at the {…}
Chiltern Arts presents excerpts from Benjamin Britten’s “Saint Nicolas” cantata via a free-to-view 20-minute video celebrating the story of Santa Claus. Director Bill Barclay has created a powerful, spiritually uplifting film that anticipates the time when we will once more come together to celebrate musicmaking. The film features Royal Opera House tenor Nick Pritchard and British choral and orchestra conductor, {…}
Lockdown has meant more people than ever consuming opera through streams, broadcasts, and archive videos, often from leading houses. It has proved a mixed experience for many. The spectacle of opera, and its broad-brush gestures, can feel boxy on the small screen; so too can its emotional climaxes feel oddly overblown out of a theatrical context. There have been innovative {…}
(Credits: Ray Burmiston/Decca Classics / Gregor Hohenberg/Sony Music Entertainment / Shirley Suarez) The Wigmore Hall has announced January 2021 slate. All concerts will be streamed on the company’s website in HD. Additionally, all live-streamed concerts will be available on-demand for 30 days after the date of the concert. If the epidemiological situation permits, concerts will allow up to 200 spectators. {…}
Grange Park Opera, Surrey, is set to stream a production of “Owen Wingrave” starting on Dec. 9, 2020. The Britten opera was filmed at haunted houses throughout Surrey and London and will be part of the company’s interim season, which features 19 brand new events. The opera stars Ross Ramgobin as Owen with his aunt portrayed by Susan Bullock. Other {…}
The Royal College of Music (RCM) announced additional details about its upcoming two-part series, Opera Scenes. RCM selected works from across the repertoire that touch on themes of isolation, separation, and resolution. The premiere of Opera Scenes will stream on the College’s YouTube channel and Facebook page on Nov. 27 and 28 at 7:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time. The Nov. {…}
(Credit: © Marco Borggreve) The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that bass Tareq Nazmi will take over the role of Bottom in the upcoming run of Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Nazmi will replace bass Matthew Rose. Nazmi will join a cast that includes Lawrence Zazzo in the role of Oberon, Erin Morley as Tytania, Josh Lovell in the role {…}
(Credits: Sonya Garza / Monarca Studios / Yan Bleney / Yan Bleney / Marco Borggreve) The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2021 season, which will run from July 10 through August 27, 2021. The opera house will present 30 performances of four operas, and a special concert featuring soprano Angel Blue. “The pandemic has been tragic and it’s not {…}