(Photo Credit: ©Gianni Cravedi) Emanuel Schikaneder, a prolific stage comedian, singer, and skilled impresario, proposed to Mozart the creation of a new singspiel–a form of German musical theater that alternates spoken dialogue without musical accompaniment–in response to the enduring hegemony of Italian opera, which had long dominated European stages. The entrepreneur’s brilliant insight, as highlighted by Mattia Marino Merlo in {…}
The Festival della Valle d’Itria di Martina Franca is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. The festival will include three operas and will run from July 17 through August 6, 2024. Operas The festival will open with Bellini’s “Norma” in a new production conducted by Fabio Luisi. The cast will include Jacquelyn Wagner (Norma), Valentina Farcas (Adalgisa), Airam {…}
To begin July, audiences will get a chance to listen to new albums from numerous tenors and will get see DVD recordings of a rare opera and a legendary recording from Salzburg. Here is a look. Stranger: Works for Tenor by Nico Muhly Nicholas Phan releases his eighth Avie Records album for both physical and digital release. The new recording {…}
(Photo: Concetto Armonico) Cavarzere is a small town set in the Veneto countryside in North-East Italy, with a population of less than 15,000. One of its claims to fame is that the conductor Tulio Serafin was born in the nearby hamlet of Rottanova, and the local theatre is named in his honor. Now Andrea Castello, also a local resident, who {…}
This week’s streaming options include two celebrations of legendary artists, a sweet double bill, two powerful modern works, an iconic diva in her signature role, a star-studded Strauss masterpiece, lots of Bel Canto, and a hotly anticipated recital. Without further ado, let’s jump in. Beniamino Gigli, 100 Years at the Met – Teatro Grattacielo (NOW) Nov. 26 marks the 100th {…}