Credit: Eliana Brea Felix Jarrar has accepted a last-minute contract with Hogfish Productions in southern Maine as pianist, coach, and orchestrator for its production of “CarmXn.” The collaboration follows a busy season with Opera Ithaca, Santa Fe Opera, and Penn Square Opera. With 39 world premieres of original works under his belt, including Symphony No. 1, “Banishing Grief” with the {…}
The Waterperry Festival has announced its 2023 lineup. The ten-day festival, which runs Aug. 11-20, features something for everyone, from children’s shows to grand operas. Here’s what’s in store for audiences. The festival will unveil a new production of “Carmen,” directed by Anna Morrissey and featuring Samantha Price in the title role, Xavier Hetherington as Don José, Matthew Durkan as {…}
Joyce El-Khoury will sing the title role of “Carmen” at Oper im Steinbruch, replacing Kristine Opolais who withdrew from the production. El-Khoury took to social media and said, “This summer I will be making my professional stage debut in the title role of Carmen at Oper im Steunbruch. This might come as a surprise to some of you, but this {…}
Kristine Opolais has withdrawn from the title role of Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Oper Im Steinbruch. The soprano took to social media and said, “After much consideration, I have decided to withdraw from my debut as Carmen at Oper im Steinbruch this summer. I’ve spent a lot of time with this music in the last months, and I feel the {…}
The Hamburg State Opera has made a conductor change for its May 27 performance of “Carmen.” The production will now feature William Kelley in his company debut. He will lead a cast starring Maria Kataeva, Gaunqun Yu, Marcelo Puente, and Alexander Vinogradov. William Kelley, a conductor and pianist, currently serves as the Kapellmeister at Theater Bremen. During his tenure, he {…}
Conductor Louis Langrée once explained the ‘Opéra-Comique’ in these terms: “The Opéra-Comique comes from fairground theater, which is its strength.” Looking at the company’s many successes in bringing great operas into its repertoire—“Pelléas etMélisande,” “Mignon,” “Manon Lescaut”—, it seems that Langrée is right. “Carmen,” however, would at first appear to be a bit different. It is, by far, the most {…}
On April 21, two classical music-driven films are set to open in US theaters. “Chevalier” is based on the life of composer Joseph Bologne will be released by Searchlight Pictures while “Carmen,” which is a complete re-imagining of the opera that uses “selected lyrics” from the opera’s libretto sung in the original French by a choir as background, will be {…}
Superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has announced that she is canceling her concerts and recording of Bizet’s “Carmen” due to Grammy Award-winning conductor John Nelson‘s health. In a post on Instagram DiDonato wrote, “I am heartbroken to hear the news of John Nelson’s health which has made necessary his withdrawal from our planned concerts and recording of “Carmen.” She stated that Nelson {…}
The Macerata Opera Festival has announced the operas for its 2023 season. The administrative board of the Associazione Arena Sferisterio noted that the showcase will take place between July 20 and August 19, 2023. The season opens with Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Ketevan Kemoklidze, Ragaa Eldin, Roberta Mantegna, and Fabrizio Beggi. DonatoRenzetti conducts the production Daniele Menghini. Performance Dates: July 20-August {…}
Paris Opera’s “Carmen” staging was sold as the same production staged last November, yet everything was different. Adding one or two gestures here and there can almost completely change the characters’ psychology. Calixto Bieito’s staging remains impressive and provocative. He emphasizes the importance of true meaning to the detriment of the exploitation of empty forms. The impact of such a {…}
Films based on opera often feel inadequate. They are frequently an attempt to introduce reality into art, and this concept is flawed. Directors fail to realize that what it should be is the other way around: bringing art into reality, making opera about human beings and their everyday trials. Luckily, some directors do know what they’re doing, and Italian director {…}
