The Stone Guest, standing at the back of the stage, offers Don Giovanni his hand and demands that he repent for his dissolute life. Staying true to his nature, Don Giovanni refuses and, amid the flames and screams, is dragged down to Hell, bringing the scene to an end. As usual, many in the audience assume the opera has finished. The {…}
During the 2015-16 season, the Teatro alla Scala revived Verdi’s rarely performed opera “Giovanna d’Arco.” The opera, while never a standard piece of the repertoire, had a slight resurgence thanks to Renata Tebaldi and Monserrat Caballe in the mid 1900s. Other performers like Anna Moffo, Katia Ricciarelli, and Mariella Devia recorded the opening aria “Sempre all’alba.” But it was still {…}
The Teatro Regio di Torino has announced its 2018-19 season with a number of Italian operas and many rising stars. Here is a look at what the season has to offer. The season opens with Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” with two casts. Saioa Hernández and Karina Flores share the role of Leonora alongside Diego Torre and Arsen Soghomonyan who alternate the {…}
This week, Anna Netrebko, Barbara Hannigan, Leonard Bernstein and George Gagnidze release new DVDs and CDs. It will be a chance to see some of your favorite singers and conductors in signature roles as well as rarely performed works. Take a look! “Giovanna d’Arco” Anna Netrebko’s celebrated interpretation of Verdi’s early work comes to DVD. The production, which opened the {…}
Carlos Alvarez has been awarded the diploma of Honoris Causa from the University of Madrid. The Spanish baritone was given the honor on May 23, 2018, at the University where he studied medicine for four years. During his speech, Alvarez spoke of the importance of art for critical thinking and for the benefit of audiences and the community. Alvarez is currently {…}
Taking the biblical element out of “Samson et Dalila” makes about as much sense as setting “Madama Butterfly” in Botswana. Typical of many opera directors trained in the theater, Alexandra Liedtke seems to have limited understanding of Saint-Saëns’ music and even less about Lemaire’s libretto. As is often the case when a regisseur feels their genius may be unappreciated, Liedtke chose {…}
The Teatro de la Zarzuela has announced its 2018-19 season featuring a number of favorites and international stars. The season will also include concerts and recitals by some of the world’s greatest singers. Productions Pablo Sorozabal’s “Katiuska” opens the season with Guillermo Garcia Calvo conducting Ainhoa Arteta, Rocio Ignacio, and Maite Alberola sharing the title role. Carlos Alvarez, Ángel Odena, Jorge {…}
Decca Classics has announced the release of Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” starring Anna Netrebko. The new DVD, which also stars Francesco Meli and Carlos Alvarez, is set to be released on June 15. The production was filmed from a run in 2015 when the opera opened the 2015-16 season and was the first production at La Scala since 1865. Riccardo Chailly conducted {…}
Before the Met showcases Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna in “Samson et Dalila” this fall, audiences around the world will get to hear the duo live from the Vienna State Opera as part of its live stream series as the showcase on Friday, May 18, 2018, will be presented globally online. The production will be conducted by Marco Armiliato and {…}
It’s a weekend of firsts with two major stars making major role debuts, while two other major stars headline an important world premiere. But it is also a weekend of endings as one of the greatest opera legends says goodbye to staged opera. Here is a look at what will definitely an incredibly unforgettable weekend. L’Italiana in Algeri-Teatro Colón, Argentina {…}
Spanish baritone Carlos Álvarez is set to return to the Metropolitan Opera. The baritone told Platea Magazine in an interview that he will return to the New York stage in the title role of “Simon Boccanegra” and in “La Bohème.” During the interview, he also said that it was on the Met stage that he started to have issues with {…}
