(Credit: Mikołaj Mikołajczyk) Famed Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecień has announced that he will end his singing career due to ongoing health issues. Kwiecień told the Polish media that he had undergone his first spinal surgery in New York, sustaining a slipped disc injury during a performance of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” at the Metropolitan Opera House. The issue reappeared after a {…}
(Credit: Opus 3 Artists official website) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that the Italian bass-baritone Alex Esposito has been awarded the honorary title of the Kammersänger of the state of Bavaria. Esposito is regarded as one of the most talented opera singers of his generation. He has appeared on the leading stages, including Teatro alla Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, Royal Opera {…}
(Credit: Deutsche Oper Berlin official website) Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced that bass Andrew Harris will take over the role of Hunding in the upcoming performances of Wagner’s “Die Walküre,” replacing Tobias Kehrer. Harris has performed the roles of Don Basilio in Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” Sparafucile in Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Masetto in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” and Stefano Colonna in {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that it will be releasing “Leontyne Price at the Met.” The two-CD collection features 34 live recordings of the famed soprano. It will be available for purchase starting on Sept. 18, 2020. The CD includes tracks from Price’s April 7, 1962 performance of “Tosca” alongside tenor Franco Corelli as conducted by Kurt Adler. Leonora’s Act {…}
(Credit: Yasuko Kageyama / Opera di Roma) The Orchestre Classique de Montréal has announced that baritone Phillip Addis will replace Dominique Côté in the presentation of Kaminsky, Reed and Campbell’s opera “As One.” Addis will be joined onstage by the mezzo-soprano Sarah Bissonnette. Performances will take place on November 20 & 21, 2020, at the Cirque Éloize in Montreal. “We {…}
(Credit: Oberon’s Grove) French coloratura soprano Christiane Eda-Pierre has died at the age of 88. Eda-Pierre was born in Fort-de-France, capital of Martinique. She came to France to finish her studies at Conservatoire de Paris and in 1957, she made her professional debut in the role of Leïla in Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles.” She went on to perform at {…}
(Credits: Shirley Suarez / English National Ballet official website) The Scottish Opera has announced a September program of seated outdoor performances, following the Scottish Government’s decision from August 20. The Scottish Opera will bring live performances back to the stage with physical distancing observed at all times by the performers, backstage staff, and the audience. “We are delighted we can {…}
History was made on May 3, 2019. The first transgender baritone, Lucia Lucas, sang the title role in Mozart/Da Ponte’s, “Don Giovanni.” Such an important milestone in both opera and transgender history didn’t take place in New York or Los Angeles or Chicago; it was in Tulsa, Oklahoma that Lucas made her debut as Don Giovanni, a crucial and extremely {…}
(Credit: Samuel Hasselhorn Official Website) Baritone Samuel Hasselhorn has announced his upcoming album “Stille Liebe.” The new recording, by Harmonia Mundi, will feature a selection of songs by Robert Schumann including the Kerner Lieder, Andersen Lieder, and Heine ballads. Hasselhorn is accompanied by the British pianist Joseph Middleton. This marks the latest album by Hasselhorn, who has already recorded a {…}
(Credits: Fadil Berisha/ Tatyana Vlasova) Greek National Opera has announced that it will resume artistic activities with full scale live productions from October to December 2020. The autumn season will open on 11 October at the Stavros Niarchos Hall with Puccini, Giacosa and Illica’s “Madama Butterfly.” The cast for the opera includes Ermonela Jaho, Cellia Costea, and Kristīne Opolais alternating {…}
LA Opera has announced that it will be postponing four productions that were scheduled for later this year. The first half of LA Opera’s 2020-21 season, which was set to present productions of “Il Trovatore,” “Tannhäuser,” “La Cenerentola,” and “Get Out in Concert” will be rescheduled for the first half of the 2021-22 season. Most of the original performers will {…}