(Credit: Alastair Muir/Glyndebourne Productions Ltd.) The San Francisco Opera is set to present Britten’s “Billy Budd” to open the 2019-20 season. The work returns to the company after a 15-year absence in Michael Grandage’s production, which was unveiled at the Glyndebourne Festival. The opera is set to star John Chest in the title role in his company debut alongside William {…}
Another big season at the Metropolitan Opera has come and gone. The 2018-19 was a rather fascinating one from a repertory perspective, offering up a wide range of music from some of the greatest composers. The year wound up being a mixed bag of sorts from a quality standpoint with the best performances arguably taking place once the calendar turned {…}
The San Francisco Opera is set to present Handel’s “Orlando” in a production by director Harry Fehr. The production is set to update the setting of the work to World War II London during the Blitz. English conductor Christopher Moulds makes his Company debut with Sasha Cooke in the title role of Orlando. She will be joined by Heidi Stober, Aryeh Nussbaum {…}
(Credit: Richard Termine / Met Opera) Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” is undeniably one of his greatest operas. The work certainly has its dramatic challenges, but it is hard to look at the score and find one piece that misses the mark. Every single musical number is vibrant, full of life, and unique in its own way. Not even the {…}
This week, two new releases are set to hit the market. One comes from the Metropolitan Opera, while the other comes from one of the world’s rising stars. Here is a look at what we recommend this week. The Exterminating Angel Thomas Adès’ latest opera gets a release by Erato after its U.S. premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. The opera {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2019-20 season with five new productions, a New Year’s Eve gala, and a recital. Here is a look at what to expect. New Productions The season opens with Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” in a new production by James Robinson. The production stars Eric Owens and Kevin Short sharing the title role of Porgy and {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2019-20 season featuring 10 productions, including four new productions and the Ring Cycle in its entirety. The season will also include one special concert event and one important recital, among other projects. Here is a look at what audiences should expect. Main Stage The season opens with a revival of Rossini’s “Il {…}
It’s that time of year during which we look back at the past 365-ish days and the big moments that defined them. Every year, the opera world has its share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera singers who solidify or take their careers in new directions. Others make important debuts or create roles that audiences would have {…}
Puccini’s “La Bohème” was revived on Thursday, Nov. 29 with a cast of predominantly American stars in Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic production. There isn’t much to remark about the production that hasn’t already said, though it must be noted that the singers, in conjunction with revival stage director J. Knighten Smit did seem to attempt some new staging at different junctures {…}
Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is a work of glorious moments that has yet to find a stable place in the standard repertoire. Despite being derived from Goethe’s famed “Faust,” great arias for the major leads, and an amazing part for any opera house’s chorus, it has never been as popular as other adaptations of the same source material(ie: Gounod’s “Faust”). In {…}
On Thursday, Nov. 8, Boito’s “Mefistofele” makes its return to the Metropolitan Opera after an 18-year hiatus. Of the opera’s 67 performances, all but 13 came before 1927, which makes a statement on the opera’s popularity with the company. It has never quite turned into a major staple of the repertoire at large, though it has been growing in popularity {…}
