(Credit: Marcello Orselli) On May 16, the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen.” The production by Emilio Sagi will be conducted by Donato Renzetti and will star Annalisa Stroppa in the title role. Stroppa has become well known for her interpretation, and she will be joined by Francesco Meli, Luca Tittoto, and Giuliana Gianfaldoni. There {…}
Opera del West is teaming up with Brokton Symphony Orchestra for a concert performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” at Massasoit Community College in Brockton. The opera will be headlined by Heather Gallagher as Carmen, Matthew Arnold as Don José, Melynda Davis as Micaëla, and Juan Suarez as Escamillo. Other cast members include Chenxi Fu, Carlo Bunyi, Jay Hutzler, Roselin Osser, and {…}
(Credit: Mark Brenner) For the second time in only a few months, I find myself reviewing a production I have seen before where I was initially very critical of what I perceived to be a weak production, creatively, but inexplicably having a change of heart the second time around. So as not to face accusations of hypocrisy or worse, senility; {…}
(Photo: Diana Alvarez) “Carmen” was the most-performed opera in 2024, and I think for one simple reason: audiences absolutely love it. Yes, Bizet’s masterpiece has undeniable artistic merit, and if one looks closely, there’s a decent amount of depth to it. But the truth is, “Carmen” is just fun. I mean, a gypsy, a soldier, and a torero who are {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. New Productions The season opens on a Sunday with Mason Bates and Gene Scheer’s “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” in its Met Opera premiere. Bartlett Sher directs and Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a cast starring Lauren Snouffer, Sun-Ly Pierce, Miles Mykkanen, Patrick Carfizzi, Craig Colclough, and Andrzej Filoncyzk. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
The Florida Grand Opera is set to make operatic history when mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson and her soprano sisters Marina Costa-Jackson and Miriam Costa-Jackson perform together for the first time in a production of “Carmen.” Maria Todaro will direct the production, which will feature Ginger Costa-Jackson in her signature role as Carmen. Her sisters Marina and Miriam will alternate the role {…}
(Photo: Rasmus Jurkatam) From the beginning, Arvo Volmer’s career has been closely tied with the Estonian National Opera, where he was appointed to his first professional post as its assistant conductor in 1985 and where he conducted his first opera, Händel’s “Alcina.” Since then, he has gone on to establish a successful international career, with a string of appointments, including {…}
(Photo: Siim Vahur) It would be unrealistic to expect a new production of Bizet’s masterpiece to reveal anything that has not already been presented many times before. The best one can reasonably hope for would be a tweak in emphasis that draws attention to elements that are sometimes underplayed. Pierre-Emmanuel Rousseau took exactly this approach for his production for Estonian {…}
As we wrap up 2024, here is a look back at some of the most-read articles of 2023. We will focus mainly on longer-form pieces like reviews and interviews for this article. Top 10 Most-Read Reviews of 2024 Metropolitan Opera Review of “Carmen“ Metropolitan Opera Review of “La Forza del Destino“ Metropolitan Opera Review of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” Metropolitan Opera {…}
(Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera) Whether Nietzsche actually meant it when he declared Bizet’s “Carmen” to be the perfect opera, or whether it was merely a literary tantrum aimed at his once-beloved Richard Wagner, it matters not. The resounding overture to “Carmen” provides its own argument as to the opera’s justified and beloved place in the canon. Love is a {…}
Lincoln Center Presents will showcase “The Opera Next Door’s ‘La Carmencita.’” The showcase, which will take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium on Dec. 6, 2024, will reframe the classic masterwork through a modern lens. The production was conceived by Colombian soprano, TOND founder, and Bedford-Stuyvesant resident Sasha Gutiérrez, stage director Rebecca Miller Kratzer, and Latin GRAMMY Award-winning bassist and {…}