A farewell is never easy. If you’re José Carreras, though, you can take to the stage at the end of your star-studded 40-year career and say goodbye with such ease and vitality as you did at the very, humble beginning. Making one last lap around the globe, the 70-year-old leukemia survivor handcrafted a selection of pleasingly romantic Spanish and Italian {…}
Carnegie Hall. One of the great artistic temples in the world. A place so rich in musical history and tradition that only the greatest artists get a chance to showcase their talents on that stage. “Carnegie is one of the halls I love performing in,” soprano Harolyn Blackwell told OperaWire. “It is just standing on that stage and you think {…}
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra launches its Carnegie Hall series on May 31, 2017 and will showcase three diverse programs showcasing some of Mahler’s greatest vocal writing. The series kicks off on May 31 with Susan Graham and Matthew Polenzani in selections from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” and Symphony No. 1. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the program. On June 3, Salonen conducts mezzo-soprano Karen {…}
Opera season is in full swing in the United States and Canada with a ton of offerings across the continent. Here is a look at the big highlights. East Coast The Metropolitan Opera will showcase “Der Rosenkavalier” on Friday before giving “Der Fliegende Holländer” Saturday afternoon and “Don Giovanni” on Saturday evening. OperaWire will attend the Friday performance with a {…}
For years Natalie Dessay dominated the operatic scene with her charisma, acting chops, and virtuosic voice. But in 2013, the French soprano quit the operatic scene and dedicated herself to recitals, plays, and musicals. The soprano has been outspoken for her displeasure of the opera world and her critics have noted that she no longer had a voice to sing {…}
A week from today, Carnegie Hall audiences will get a chance to experience the Giuseppe Giacomini Opera Gala at the Zankel Hall. The performance, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 4, is slated to honor the famed tenor who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his Met Opera debut in Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” The {…}
Pretty Yende will perform with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in Carnegie Hall during the 2017-18 season. The acclaimed South African coloratura will perform Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4” and Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate,” replacing the originally planned Brahms Symphony No. 4. The program will also feature a world premiere by Carles Wuorinen entitled “Eros and Nemesis” and will be conducted by Music Director Emeritus {…}
Despite cancelling his performances of “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera, Jonas Kaufmann is still slated to perform in New York next season. In addition to his engagements with the Met, the tenor was still scheduled for a performance of the second act of “Tristan und Isolde” at Carnegie Hall with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. New York Times Reporter Michael Cooper, {…}
On Jan. 2 Legendary Conductor Arturo Toscanini was inducted into the Carnegie Hall Digital Hall of Fame. The conductor made his Carnegie Hall debut with the La Scala Orchestra on January 3, 1921 and went on to conduct at Carnegie Hall more than 400 times over 33 year . He performed regularly with the New York Philharmonic after 1926 when he excited audiences {…}