What’s a nice guy like the 2009 Richard Tucker Award-winner Stephen Costello to do when playing a character known for anger issues and a jealous streak a mile wide? Go for sympathy, make the audience empathize with “a lost person with a good heart.” That’s what Costello did for his role debut as Don José in the Dallas Opera production {…}
It was 2014 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Clémentine Margaine, a graduate of the Paris Conservatory and winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Concours International de Marmande, was an ensemble member of the company who had just been handpicked by the casting director of the company to sing the title role of “Carmen.” “I was very lucky that {…}
“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 “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Queen’s {…}
On Tuesday, October 30, 2018, the Metropolitan Opera opened this season’s run of Georges Bizet’s perennial masterpiece, “Carmen.” Making his debut with the Metropolitan was Israeli conductor Omer Meir Wellber, who is set to serve as chief conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019. Under his baton, the orchestra and experienced cast joined together in ways that put their {…}
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, the Met Opera opens “Carmen,” which will be the sixth opera of its season. The revival will feature a total of 13 performances across two runs, with two decidedly different casts, with one exception. Clémentine Margaine will return to the Met with her signature role, which she has performed around the globe. Per Operabase, Margaine has {…}
Georges Bizet, born on Oct. 25, 1838, created perhaps the most popular opera of all-time. Unfortunately died without knowing that. Bizet had a solid start to his career, winning the prestigious Prix de Rome during his student years at the Conservatoire de Paris. But that never translated into a sturdy opera career, with Bizet finding his works largely ignored. He {…}
On September 12, 2018, Saimir Pirgu will make his debut as Don José in “Carmen” at Bangkok’s 20th International Festival of Dance and Music in a Daniele Finzi Pasca production revived by Paolo Vettori. The production will also include the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro San Carlo of Naples, conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta, and will also showcase Veronica {…}
The Opéra de Montréal has announced an additional performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” on May 13, 2019. The company announced in a press release that the new production conceived and directed by renowned Quebec filmmaker Charles Binamé has received a great draw. The work returns to the company after 14 years and as a result, an extra performance was necessary. The {…}
The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is entering its 9th season and has announced a lineup of performances centered on precisely that, to take place from August 3 to 5, 2018. The festival itself will be held in Phoenicia, NY, in a location within the Catskills which features seven different venues located near one another. The featured event is {…}
During the Cold War, it was rare to see an artist from the Soviet Union make a strong impression in the west. But Elena Obraztsova proved to be a major difference. Born on July 7, 1939, Obraztsova endured the siege in Leningrad during World War II and by the age of nine was singing at the Pioneers Palace in Leningrad. {…}
Mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn enjoyed a celebrated vocal career that she has now transformed into a legendary one as a teacher. Born on June 17, 1928, in Tennessee, she studied under Karen Branzell and Beverley Peck Johnson. On Sept. 8, 1955, she made her official debut with the Experimental Opera Theatre of America / New Orleans Opera Association. The opera in {…}