The Arena di Verona has announced its casting for the 2018 festival, showcasing some of the biggest stars in the opera world. Here is a breakdown of what stars will grace the stage of the famous arena. Carmen Three mezzos take on the iconic role of “Carmen” including Anna Goryachova and Carmen Topciu. They are joined by four Don José’s including Brian Jagde, {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced its cinema season for the 2018-19 season. Here is a look at the works that you can expect to see on the silver screen. Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots (Oct. 4, 2018): The season begins with Meyerbeer’s grand opera starring Bryan Hymel, Diana Damrau, Ermonela Jaho, and Nicolas Testé. Michele Mariotti conducts Andreas Kriegenburg’s new production. Verdi’s {…}
Russian Baritone Sergei Leiferkus, born on April 4, 1946, is recognized for his unique vocal quality. If you haven’t heard him before, then you should, because he has one of the most individual sounds you’ll ever hear. In fact, here’s an excerpt from a role we will talk about in a bit. In any case, the baritone enjoyed a solid {…}
The Opera Philadelphia 2017-18 season is set to close with Bizet’s “Carmen.” Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, who opened the season in the title role of the new opera “Elizabeth Cree,” returns in the iconic title role. Directed by Paul Curran, who led 2015’s acclaimed “La Traviata,” the new production of “Carmen” will be showcased five times. “’Carmen’ is among the world’s {…}
Is Bizet’s “Carmen” the most famous opera in the entire universe? That is certainly a valid question given the fact that almost no opera company in the world can live without the perennial favorite in a single season of programming. While it’s rich and evocative melodies are certainly one of the major reasons for its enduring popularity, there is no {…}
On March 6, 2018, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will showcase its new production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” The production, directed by Barrie Kosky, stars mezzo Anna Goryachova, Francesco Meli, Kostas Smoriginas, Kristina Mkhitaryan, David Soar, Jacquelyn Stucker, Aigul Akhmesthina, Pierre Doyen, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, and Gyula Nagy under the musical direction of Jakub Hrůša. The production has been getting mixed {…}
The San Diego Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, which will feature a number of repertory staples as well as major debuts from international artists. The season opens with Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro,” starting on Oct. 20, 2018. The cast will include John Moore, Nicholas Brownlee, Caitlin Lynch, Sarah Shafer, all in their company debuts. Other cast members will {…}
This Jan. 29, 2018, audiences the world over will get a chance to experience opera’s most famous gypsy from their computers as the Vienna State Opera presents Bizet’s “Carmen” on its live streaming service. This run of performances is notable because it features Piotr Beczala’s debut run of Don José. He will be joined by Margarita Griskova, Carlos Álvarez, and {…}
Ainhoa Arteta will debut the role of “Carmen” in Feb. 2019. According to Diario de Jerez, the soprano will debut the role at the Teatro Villamarta. The company’s director, Isamay Benavente, stated that Arteta has wanted to sing the role for a long time and after the theater offered her role, she said yes. With the debut of the role, Arteta {…}
Many opera directors today fall onto a particular idée fixe and refuse to let it go, no matter what dramaturgical or textual incongruities ensue. Vera Nemirova’s fazzoletto-laden “Otello” in Bucharest, Hans Neuenfels’ laboratory rats “Lohengrin” in Bayreuth or Krzysztof Warlikowski’s “Brokeback Mountain” “Eugene Onegin” in Munich immediately spring to mind. Joining the ignominious list is Norwegian theatre director, Ole Anders Tandberg’s {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced its 2018-19 season, which features eight operas and one important concert performance. All of the productions will be brand new for the 2018-19 season. The season opens on Sept. 7, 2017, with the famed “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” as directed by Jose Cura. The production will star Ekaterina Semenchuk, Roberto Aronica, and Dimitri Platanias {…}
