Opera di Firenze, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2017 Review – L’Elisir d’Amore: Magical Cast & Production Give Donizetti Comedy Dramatic Depth

Review written in collaboration with David Salazar, Editor-in-Chief Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” is often portrayed as an innocent tale of a country bumpkin often getting the girl of his dreams. Most of the time, Nemorino’s strife emphasizes his luck in landing his beloved, first through the fact that his beloved Adina does, in fact, love him and simply needs a spark {…}

Aug 1, 2017

The New Generation Festival Takes Over Florence, Features BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Contestant

Starting on August 31, 2017, The New Generation Festival will take over the Corsini Gardens in Florence for four days of music and opera. The event is co-founded by the conductor Maximilian Fane and features violinist Charlie Siem as artistic director. Siem will perform throughout the weekend in Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor. That concert will also include the {…}

Jul 25, 2017

The Glimmerglass Festival 2017 – The Siege Of Calais: Francesca Zambello, Leah Crocetto & Aleks Romano Make A Great Case For Donizetti’s Forgotten Work

It’s no surprise that most of Donizetti’s output is rarely performed, with many operas becoming obscure to many audiences. Only a few of his works have actually had a chance to make their way into the repertoire and remain there consistently. But this is not the case with “L’Assedio di Calais” which premiered in 1836 and has since been performed {…}

Jul 24, 2017

The Glorious Dramatic Art of Tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano

Giuseppe Di Stefano is one of the great Italian tenors in history. For many, he possessed the most beautiful timbre of any lyric tenor and some fans lament the tenor’s insistence on singing operas that were often darker and heavier than his lyric could seemingly handle. And yet, one of the reasons why Pippo, born on July 24, 1921, was {…}

Jul 18, 2017

Kate Aldrich & Joan of Arc Headline Boston Odyssey’s 2017-18 Season

The Boston Odyssey Opera has announced its new season and it is packed with a number of operatic gems. With the 2016-17 season dedicated to the writings of Oscar Wilde, the 2017-18 will shift focus to Joan of Arc. Aptly titled “Trial by Fire: Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years War,” the new season will feature operas related to {…}

May 30, 2017

Experimentation With Classics- Nathan Hull’s Drive To Uncover Neglected Works With Amore Opera

Does experimentation work? That is a question most artists ask in a time when the art world is insecure and ticket buyers are disappearing. However, for smaller opera companies, that seems to be their means of thriving, and this week Amore Opera will take a stab at experimenting with an unknown work, Donizetti’s rarely performed “La Zingara.” “We want to {…}

May 23, 2017

Bel Canto Breakthrough – Cecilia Violetta López On Her First Rossini & Donizetti Operas

When audiences headed to see Rossini’s “Otello” this past March at LoftOpera, many were looking forward to seeing the rare bel canto opera and its famed three tenor roles. But when all was said and done, the consensus seemed to be quite surprising – soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez owned the run. Here at OperaWire, we singled out her work as {…}

May 16, 2017

Not Just Vocal Fluff – Soprano Irina Lungu On The Dramatic Depth of The Bel Canto Repertoire

While the bel canto repertoire is among the most popular in the operatic canon, most people are quick to dismiss the genre’s overall quality, noting that the works themselves are simply a vehicle to show off a singer’s virtuosity. But Irina Lungu could not disagree more. The Russian soprano, who has dedicated the first five months of 2017 to immersing {…}

May 10, 2017

New York Opera Fest 2017: New Camerata Opera Brings a Childhood Story to Life

New Camerata Opera presents “Peter Rabbit” with music by Gaetano Donizetti and a libretto by Stan Lacy. Debuting on May 13 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, the beloved childhood tale will come to life at the Brooklyn Public Library. The 30-minute performance will feature a question and answer segment afterward, where children can have fun and learn at the same time. {…}

May 8, 2017

New York Opera Fest 2017: Regina Opera Holds Sneak Peak of ‘L’Elisir d’Amore’

In just a few days Regina Opera Company will showcase Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” in a fully staged production. The sneak peak performance, which will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY will take place on May 10 at 7:30 p.m. with subsequent performances on May 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 3 p.m. EDT. The role {…}

Apr 28, 2017

Everything You Need To Know About The Royal Danish Opera’s 2017-18 Season

The Royal Danish Opera has announced its 2017-18 season with a varied repertoire. The opera season opens on Sept. 9, 2017, with a new production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” starring Johan Reuter in the title character. David Kempster alternates with Reuter as Paolo Carignani conducts the run. The following production will be Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” with Elizabeth Llewellyn in the title {…}

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