The New York Festival of Song has announced its 2018-19 season, which will feature four. The first of these will feature mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford and tenor Joshua Blue in “W.C. Handy and the Birth of Blues.” The performance will be dedicated to Handy, who was a renowned African-American composer and publisher of the 20th century. This concert will take place {…}
Opera Vlaanderen and Ballet has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring a number of rarely performed works and repertoire staples. There will also be a world premiere and a number of concerts. For this season announcement, we have only focused on the vocal events. Productions Wagner’s “Lohengrin” opens the season with Zoran Todorovich in the title role. David Alden directs the production {…}
This weekend will see three Verdi masterpieces performed around the world and one of Wagner’s most popular works in a new production. There will also be a performance of Shostakovich’s greatest opera. Take a look at what OperaWire thinks you should see this weekend. La Traviata – Opera Australia, Australia In Melbourne, Corinne Winters takes on her signature role of Violetta {…}
Maestro Gianandrea Noseda is slated for a busy winter season in the US, performing for the first time as the new Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra and also taking on some performances with the New York Philharmonic. The maestro was granted the post of Music Director back in Jan. 2016 and officially kicked it off in September 2017 {…}
Now that we are into the first week of October, we can safely say that the world’s greatest artists are in full swing all over the world. Here is a look at just some of the activities of some of those great artists over the last week. Soprano Angel Blue took over the Met’s Instagram account ahead of her debut {…}
This week a number of artist showed pictures backstage as they continued to prepare roles for the summer season. Diana Damrau returned to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Violetta in “La Traviata” and shared a number of stills from the performance. It also signaled the return of Plácido Domingo at the theater. La Traviata #2 tonight @bayerischestaatsoper in Munich! ❤️ #munich {…}
Two companies’ seasons end this weekend with a number of stars continuing runs of important works. Austria The Wiener Staatsoper will showcase Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande” starring Franz-Josef Selig, Bernarda Fink, Adrian Eröd, Simon Keenlyside and Olga Bezsmertna ending the season. Czech Republic The Prague Summer Nights festival continues with Opera scenes and the opening of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.” {…}
The role of Violetta Valery in Verdi’s “La Traviata” is said to be one of the most complex soprano roles in the repertoire, requiring a soprano with musical versatility and acting skills. In the past few years, many sopranos have dominated the role and created memorable portrayals. One such soprano is Corinne Winters, the Maryland-born singer who is making a {…}
It was a huge week for a number of major opera singers this week, some receiving huge honors and others getting special Valentine’s Day treats. For Corinne Winters it was probably one of the biggest weeks of her life, the Soprano announcing her engagement to tenor Adam Smith and rocking her ring on Instagram. #heasked #isaidyes💍 happiest woman on Earth {…}
The Houston Grand Opera makes a big return as opera companies slowly but surely get prepared for the spring. Houston’s opening comes on Friday Jan. 20 with a production of John Adams’ “Nixon in China.” Scott Hendricks, Andriana Chuchman and Chad Shelton lead the production which will also take the stage on Sunday, Jan. 22. The Metropolitan Opera continues its {…}
Another weekend in 2017, even more operatic activity around the United States. Of course the Metropolitan Opera continues its busy schedule with “Il Barbiere di Sivilgia,” “La Bohème” and “Roméo et Juliette” the three major offerings with such stars as Javier Camarena, Pretty Yende, Ailyn Pérez, Michael Fabiano, Vittorio Grigolo and Diana Damrau leading the casts for their respective operas {…}