There are a lot of opera stars born in April. They include the likes of Walter Berry, Leonard Warren, Monserrat Caballe, Lily Pons, Mariela Devia, Franco Corelli, Sondra Radvanovsky, Danielle De Niese, Natalie Dessay, Fiorenza Cossotto, Siegfried Jerusalem, Gianni Raimondi, Leo Nucci, Italo Tajo, and several others. So to celebrate the April birthdays we are going to dedicate this quiz {…}
There is a famous painting by Gustave Moreau called “Thracian Girl Carrying the Head of Orpheus on His Lyre” from 1865. The foreground shows exactly what the title describes. The background is harder to make out: some people are gathered on a cliff, one of them playing an aulos. Small tortoises walk near the Thracian woman’s feet, happily sauntering about {…}
Article in collaboration with Dejan Vukosavljevic The Hamburg State Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring six new productions and a number of revivals. Here is a look at the season. Oper Stabile Penderbayne’s “Unser kleines Scheißkaff” will be performed by Larissa Wäspy, Kady Evanyshyn, Ida Aldrian, Nicholas Mogg, Hubert Kowalczyk, Peter Galliard, and Katja Pieweck. Ingmar Beck conducts the {…}
(Credit: Claire McAdams / Vanessa Preziose) Most people recognize that there is a major world premiere taking place this weekend. But the reality is that there are two. The weekend is also full of appetizing offerings and this weekend’s selections come down to a mix of classics with star casts as well as a Spanish-language masterpiece that undeniably deserves greater {…}
(Credit: Steven Laxton) The LA Opera is set to showcase the world premiere of composer, conductor, writer, pianist, and 2018 MacArthur Fellow Matthew Aucoin’s “Eurydice.” The company will present six performances with star soprano Danielle de Niese and Joshua Hopkins in leading roles. The cast will also feature Rod Gilfry, John Holiday, Barry Banks, Stacey Tappan, Raehann Bryce-Davis, and Matthew {…}
(Credit: Brescia/Amisano – Teatro alla Scala) It is surprising that G.F. Handel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” has had only one previous outing (back in 1956) at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, as it is perhaps a work rich in veins of Italian national pride: a heroic tale based upon the valor and moral fortitude of one of Rome’s most glorious emperors, {…}
(Credit: Teatro Regio di Torino/Royal Opera/Bilbao Opera This weekend is filled with new productions, season openings, role debuts and some of operas greatest masterpieces. Lolita – Prague State Opera, Czech Republic Rodion Shchedrin’s new opera gets another performance at the Estates Theatre with Pelageya Kurennaya in the title role, as well as Petr Sokolov, Alexander Kravets, Daria Rositskaya, Michaela Zajmi, {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features Ridley Scott’s “Hannibal.’ {…}
Danielle De Niese is set to make her Teatro alla Scala debut. The soprano was tapped to replace Cecilia Bartoli in the role of Cleopatra in Robert Carsen’s new production of Handel’s “Giulio Cesare.” De Niese will join a cast that includes Philippe Jaroussky, Sara Mingardo, and Bejun Mehta under the baton of Giovanni Antonini. The Australian soprano is currently {…}
(Credit: Richard Hubert Smith) French Composer Jules Massenet premiered his opera “Cendrillon” in 1899 at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique in Paris. Best known for its radical story-telling of the fairytale Cinderella, this opera is centered around dreams-versus-reality and highlights Massenet’s surrealistic tendencies before the surrealism movement even began. Glyndebourne is a legendary hub that produces “no ordinary opera,” therefore, {…}
The Glyndebourne Festival has announced its 2020 season featuring two company premieres, three new productions, and three revivals. It will also feature international artists and some company favorites. The Glyndebourne festival will open with the first production of Poulenc’s “Dialogues des Carmélites.” The new production will be directed by Barrie Kosky and will be conducted by Music Director Robin Ticciati. Danielle {…}