“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a film section or a film in its entirety and highlight 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 Luchino {…}
Opera Santa Barbara has announced that it will present “Carmen, A Live Drive-In Opera” on Dec. 6, 2020 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The opera will present the Peter Brook adaptation of the work, which is slimmed down to 90 minutes and only focuses on the four characters of Carmen, Don José, Micaëla, and Escamillo. Taking on these roles will {…}
(Credit: Marco Borggreve) Famed Russian conductor Alexander Vedernikov has died at the age of 56, after having been diagnosed with COVID-19. Vedernikov died on Friday, Oct. 30 after being put on a ventilator for few days following the diagnosis. Born in Moscow, Vedernikov was the son of the bass Alexander Filipovich Vedernikov and Natalia Nikolaevna Gureeva. The conductor went on {…}
Staatsoper unter der Linden has announced that tenor Charles Castronovo will fully take over the role of Nadir in Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” on Oct. 19 and Oct. 24, 2020. He will replace tenor Pavol Breslik in the role. The American tenor already stepped in for the vocal part of the Oct. 17, 2020 performance, while Breslik acted the {…}
The Staatsoper unter der Linden has announced that tenor Charles Castronovo will take over the singing part of the role of Nadir in a performance of Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de Perles,” replacing tenor Pavol Breslik. Breslik will still appear onstage, acting the role of Nadir. Castronovo will join a cast that includes Olga Peretyatko, Alfredo Daza and Paul Gay. Victorien {…}
(Photo Credit: Staatstheater Kassel) When COVID-19 spread quickly across the globe earlier this year, the entire opera world was forced into a lengthy shutdown. And despite continued concerns over the deadly virus, companies slowly found ways to return to some degree of normalcy. Thomas Bockelmann, the Intendant of the Staatstheater Kassel, took on this challenge head-on and recently spoke to {…}
(Credit: Melos Opera Facebook page) Italian baritone Lucio Gallo will take over the title role in the concert performance of Verdi’s “Falstaff” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on Oct. 30 & 31, 2020, replacing Misha Kiria. Gallo will join a cast that includes Thomas Lehman in the role of Ford, Mingjie Lei as Fenton, Andrew Dickinson as Doctor Cajus, Gideon {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced that it will be streaming its 2018 production of “Carmen” for free for a limited time. The video stream is set to debut on Oct. 9, 2020 via the company’s official website. The performance will be available for repeat viewings through Nov. 8, 2020. The production stars Stéphanie d’Oustrac in the title role with Stephen {…}
Credits: (Dragana Branković / Intermusica Official website / Egils Silins official website) The Staatstheater Kassel has announced the complete casts for its 2020-21 season. Here is the full rundown. Premieres “L’Ultimo Sogno,” one act opera by Giuseppe Verdi and Carlo Ciceri will feature Vlada Borovko in the role of Violetta Valéry, Giordano Lucà as Alfredo Germont, while Cozmin Sime and {…}
(Credit: Simon Pauly) “The music is giving me what I need. Music has always given me what I needed in my life.” When the COVID-19 hurricane struck humanity in full force in March, tenor Martin Muehle was about to begin rehearsals for the supernatural opera “The Queen of Spades” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. At that moment it was obvious {…}
(Credit: Staatsoper unter der Linden Facebook page) The Staatsoper unter der Linden in Berlin has announced changes to its 2020-21 season. The productions of Verdi’s “Macbeth,” Wagner’s “Tannhäuser,” and Britten’s “The Turn of The Screw” have been canceled, per an official press release. Instead, the opera house will offer three presentations of the gala concert “Viva Verdi!,” on Oct. 4, {…}