Before Juan Diego Flórez stormed on the scene, Peru’s most famous tenor was none other than Luigi Alva. The lyric tenor actually sang a number of the same roles that his compatriot would take on decades later, but his legacy is ultimately far different. Alva, born in Paita on April 10, 1927, served in the Peruvian Navy for some time {…}
Fort Worth Opera’s 2018 Festival is slated to be monumental. The company has announced that it will be opening its weeks-long event with a production of “Das Rheingold,” the first installment in Wagner’s Tetralogy “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” “This is the first production of ‘Das Rheingold,’ or any opera from Wagner’s Ring Cycle, to be done in Fort Worth,” says {…}
Opera Orlando is opening its new 2017-2018 season in the park! The company’s first production will open on August 21, 2017, at 2 P.M., featuring Mezzo-soprano Amanda Crider. The next weekend “The Three Baritones,” Nathan Stark, Brain Myer, and Gabriel Pressier, will perform. Finally, Tenor Marco Panuccio will end the summer series for Opera Orlando. All of the concerts will {…}
On March 13, Medici.tv will present the Theatre des Champs Elysse’s production of Monteverdi’s “Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria.” The opera is set to star Rolando Villazón, who made his role debut as Ulysse earlier this year. The new production by Mariame Clément also stars Magdalena Kožená as Pénélope as well as Katherine Watson, Kresimir Spicer, Anne-Catherine Gillet, Isabelle Druet, Maarten Engeltjes, Callum Thorpe and Lothar Odinius. Early music specialist Emmanuelle Haïm {…}
The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2017-18 season, a celebration for the company’s 55th anniversary. The season opens with Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” on Oct. 7 and runs through the 15. It will be followed in November with a new production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The opera will premier on Nov. 11 and will run through the 19. The 2018 {…}
It’s Valentine’s Day, a momentous occasion to celebrate love and romance. Romance is at the heart of opera with the art forms pull coming from our connection with beautiful love affairs. Most everyone melts at Rodolfo and Mimì’s blooming love in “La Bohème” or Alfredo and Violetta’s in “La Traviata.” We admire the sacrifice of Roméo and Juliette or even {…}
The Island City Opera in San Francisco will host an open rehearsal of its upcoming production of Gaetano Donizetti’s exuberant comedy Don Pasquale. The rehearsal will take place on Jan. 7 and showcase the company as it prepares to open its third season. But for opera goers expecting to see a fully staged production, audiences should be prepared to hear {…}
The Atlanta Opera’s renowned chorus master Walter Huff is stepping down after decades of service. The announcement came Thursday as the Maestro determined to focus on his work at Indiana Unversity. According to a press release, his tenure process starts in April and his last official day with Atlanta Opera will be January 1, 2017. “My admiration of Walter cannot {…}
The 2017-18 season for the Paris National Opera was leaked online before the company ensured that the information taken offline. Despite the quick action from the Paris Opera, the information was online long enough to learn about the new engagements and that information currently resides on the blog Opera Critiques by David Le Marrec. Opening night at the Bastille will {…}