It’s been over 20 years since I’ve seen a live production of “Carmen,” so my anticipation was high for opening night of Seattle Opera’s updated production. Does absence makes operatic eyes and ears grow fonder? The boldly designed act curtain that welcomed us called to mind a giant, colorful yet tattered roadside billboard with the word “Carmen” in bright relief, {…}
Much can and will continue to be said, about the standard repertoire’s misogynistic themes in the era of #MeToo. The male gaze dominates the canon, and City Lyric’s revival of Peter Brook’s 80-minute chamber opera “La Tragédie de Carmen”—an adaptation of Bizet’s grand opera—explores the tragedy surrounding the four principal characters, particularly that of Carmen. The production was produced, conducted, {…}
The Opéra de Montréal has announced that it is one of 11 organizations to receive financial assistance from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. The company revealed that it will use those funds to record its upcoming production of “Carmen,” with the intention of presenting it at a later date across Québéc. The new production by Charles {…}
Bizet’s “Carmen” had its world premiere on March 3, 1875 and is now one of the most renowned in the canon and even popular culture. But many people don’t know that it didn’t actually start that way. It was anything but a smashing success. So here is a challenging trivia quiz with some other nuggets about the world’s most famous {…}
“Carmen” is one of the greatest and most popular operas ever conceived. That combination is a rare one that only a handful of composers have truly managed. But it didn’t seem destined for such a destiny. When it premiered on March 3, 1875, the work was a complete failure. Unfortunately, Bizet died a month later thinking that his great masterpiece {…}
The Met Opera will continue its Live in HD series this Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, with a performance of Bizet’s ever-popular masterpiece “Carmen.” The broadcast, which kicks off 12:55 p.m. Eastern time, will showcase Clémentine Margaine in her first Live in HD performance for the company. The mezzo is the reigning Carmen interpreter of today, taking on over 15 productions {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its 2019-20 season and it features some of the most diverse programming of any season announcement to date. The proceedings kick off with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The classic opera will feature Paolo Fanale, Andrea Carroll, Markus Werba, Olga Pudova, and Morris Robinson, among others. Emmanuel Villaume conducts the score in a production originally directed {…}
Baritone Alexander Birch Elliott is set to make his Houston Grand Opera debut when he replaces Mariusz Kwiecien in the company’s production of “The Pearl Fishers.” Per a press release, Kwiecien, who was set to take on the role of Zurga, has withdrawn “due to personal circumstances.” Elliott also replaced Kwiecien at the Met Opera’s recent revival of the work. {…}
The Glow Lyric Theatre has announced its 2019 festival season, which will be the company’s ninth overall. As per usual, the GLT will feature an opera, a musical theatre piece, and an operetta, all connecting to a specific theme. This year’s theme centers on the concept of “Questioning Authority.” In recent years, the company has showcased such operas as “Romeo {…}
Earlier this year, mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta took home the award for Young Singer of the Year at the International Opera Awards. To that point, she has been growing her career steadily as an ensemble member at the Oper Leipzig, among others endeavors. But the victory propelled her into the spotlight and since then, Giunta has made her BBC Proms debut {…}
“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 Wash Westlemoreland’s “Colette.” {…}
