Staging a new production of a Ring cycle is always daunting because of history; no other opera is held up in comparison to previous productions more than Wagner’s grand gesamtkunstwerk. How David Pountney’s new production, now halfway complete at Lyric Opera of Chicago, holds up to history remains to be seen after his “Die Walküre” opened Wednesday night in front {…}
Jon Vickers, born on Oct. 29, 1926, built up a career as one of the finest dramatic tenors of his time. He conquered a wide range of repertoire across a wide range of houses, became associated with quite a few roles, and then went on to make acclaimed recordings with other major superstars. Vickers’ career got kickstarted in 1957 when {…}
Jessye Norman is a singer who defied fach — she sang what she wanted, when she wanted, but more importantly, she took on what felt right for her. In fact, she once stated in her youth that “pigeonholes are only comfortable for pigeons.” And what a blessing it is that she listened to her gut, or else one might not {…}
Regina Resnik is often cited as one of the great American mezzos of the 20th century. Born on August 30, she managed an international career that spanned a whopping five decades and became a house favorite with such companies as La Scala, the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and of course, the Metropolitan Opera, where she {…}
“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 Francis Ford Coppola’s {…}
One of the great tragedies of 2016 was losing tenor Johan Botha in the midst of his vocal prime. At just 51 years of age, he still had, at the very least, a few solid years of singing to impart on us. Those who heard Botha will rarely forget his beautiful tenor, a delicate instrument by nature capable of ripping {…}
“Götterdämmerung” premiered on August 17, 1876, one day after its predecessor “Siegfried” had its first performance. The opera is the final installment in Wagner’s four-part “Der Ring Des Nibelungen,” but it was the first that the composer conceived and the first libretto of the four operas to be put to page. It was originally titled “Siegfrieds Tod,” Wagner started composition {…}
It’s that time of the year when opera seasons return and when some of the biggest stars grace the world’s most prominent stages. In the case of United States, there will be a number of world premieres as well as rising stars and established stars who have some fascinating performances planned for this year. With hundreds of different shows, OperaWire has curated {…}
Plácido Domingo’s conducting ambitions are expanding next season the legendary opera star conducts a full Wagner opera for the first time in his career in the composer’s own sanctuary. That’s right, Domingo is leading a Wagner opera in Bayreuth during the summer of 2018. The work of choice? “Die Walküre,” an opera he has performed previously in his career. In {…}
Wagner in Miami. It has an interesting ring to it, mainly because you wouldn’t necessarily associate the intense heat of the ever-playful and carefree Floridian city with the philosophical and hyper-romantic German master of opera. But it’s 2017 and the Miami Music Festival (MMF), which is featuring a number of repertory classics, is hosting its second-ever Wagner Institute, a program {…}
Of the four operas that comprise “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” perhaps none is more famous than “Die Walküre.” Not only does the work contain the best-known piece of music that Wagner ever wrote (The Ride of the Valkyries), but it contains some of the most compelling and unforgettable musico-dramatic moments in the entire canon. Moreso, of the four operas, none {…}