Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Anna Netrebko, Renée Fleming, Shirley Verrett Headline Weeks 11 & 12 of Metropolitan Opera Nightly Streams

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown theaters around the world, the Metropolitan Opera has announced not one but two weeks of nightly streams in advance. The next few weeks feature a mix of more recent performances with some classic showcases from decades ago. Here’s the rundown. Monday, May 25 – Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust Conducted by James {…}

May 15, 2020

Piotr Beczala, Ildebrando d’Arcangelo & Sara Jakubiak Lead New CD/DVD Releases

This week audiences will be able to stream three new opera recordings, a highly anticipated versimo album, a new solo album, and a new DVD of one of last summer’s highly acclaimed productions. Here is a look. Gunther Schuller: The Fisherman and His Wife BMOP/sound has released Gunther Schuller’s “The Fisherman and His Wife” led by conductor Gil Rose and {…}

May 15, 2020

Ailyn Pérez, Matthew Polenzani Among 100 Singers Join Forces for Campbell & Moravec’s ‘Light Shall Lift Us’

Over 100 singers came together for a video performance of “Light Shall Lift Us,” a work by librettist Mark Campbell and composer Paul Moravec. The duo, which has worked together on “The Shining” proposed the idea to Marc Scorca of Opera America, who embraced the idea and helped put together the 107 artists who would eventually record their individual parts {…}

Mar 9, 2020

Metropolitan Opera 2019-20 Live in HD Preview: Anja Kampe Headlines ‘Der Fliegende Holländer’

The Met Opera’s Live in HD series for the 2019-20 season continues on Saturday, March 14, 2020 with a transmission of Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer.” The broadcast, which kicks off 12:55 p.m. Eastern time, is conducted by Valery Gergiev, who captains a cast that includes Evgeny Nikitin, Anja Kampe, Franz-Josef Selig, David Portillo, Sergey Skorokhodov, and Mihoko Fujimura. Of the {…}

Mar 3, 2020

Metropolitan Opera 2019-20 Review: Der Fliegende Holländer

(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) For its final new production of the 2019-20 season, the Metropolitan Opera turned to Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” in a production by François Girard, whose previous work with the company is an iconic “Parsifal” production. The beauty of that production is how it illuminates one of the most complex and philosophically dense operas ever {…}

Feb 27, 2020

Works & Process at the Guggenheim to Present Tobias Picer & Aryeh Lev Stollman’s ‘Awakenings’

(Credit: Fay Fox) Works & Process at the Guggenheim will present Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ “Awakenings” on April 5, 2020. The opera is set to have its world premiere at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on June 7, 2020. Before the first performance, the Guggenheim will present a special moderated discussion with creators Aryeh Lev Stollman and Tobia {…}

Feb 19, 2020

Corinne Winters, Andrew Stenson & Aaron Crouch Highlight Minnesota Opera’s 2020-21 Season

The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring five productions with a number of important rising stars. The season opens with Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” starring Claudia Boyle as Konstanze, Andrew Stenson as Belmonte, and Kenneth Kellogg as Osmin. Omer Ben Seadia directs James Robinson’s original production. Performance Dates: Sept. 26- Oct. 4, 2020 Corinne Winters andJohn Moore star in {…}

Feb 13, 2020

Met Opera 2020-21 Season: Here Is All The Information For This Season’s Live in HD Performances

(Photo: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera revealed its 2020-21 season on Wednesday afternoon. Among the major announcements were the company’s schedule for its ever-popular Live in HD slate. Here is a look at the list of performances that will be broadcast to audiences around the world. Aida (Oct. 10, 2020): Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer’s new production {…}

Dec 18, 2019

Metropolitan Opera 2019-20 Review: The Magic Flute

On Dec. 15, 2019, The Metropolitan Opera raised the curtain on this season’s run of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Julie Taymor’s family-friendly production continues to be a visual and musical delight that, while abridged, makes for a strong concentration of the work. Under the baton of Lothar Koenigs, Sunday’s cast of artists was comprised of a fine mix of new {…}

Oct 23, 2019

David Portillo & Kathryn Lewek Headline Washington National Opera’s ‘The Magic Flute’

Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” is set to be revived at the Washington National Opera in an English version. In time for the holiday season, the production will feature designs by famed children’s author/illustrator Maurice Sendak. David Portillo is set to star as Tamino with Sydney Mancasola singing Pamina in her WNO debut. Kathryn Lewek will sing her signature Queen of {…}

Aug 1, 2019

Rolando Villazón & Poul Ruders Lead New CD/DVD Releases

Three releases lead this week with one continuing a Mozart series and another featuring a world premiere. The Thirteenth Child Poul Ruders’ latest opera gets a world premiere recording following the first performances at the Santa Fe Opera. The cast includes Sarah Shafer as Princess Lyra, Tamara Mumford as Queen Gertrude/Ghost of Gertrude, Ashraf Sewailam as Drokan, Alasdair Kent as Prince {…}

david portillo