Photo: © Lloyd Winters Unlike ballet, which has “The Nutcracker” as a festive staple, there aren’t very many Christmas operas. “La bohème” opens on Christmas eve, and there is invariably snow, but yuletide is hardly the subject of the opera. ENO were scheduled to perform John Adams nativity oratorio “El Niño” during lockdown, but it sadly got canned. Along comes {…}
(© Richard Hubert Smith) Ethel Smyth’s opera “The Wreckers” opened the Glyndebourne Festival Opera last weekend, receiving its first-ever performance in the original French – libretto by Henry Brewster – and with many savage cuts restored. Its journey has been a long one: Smyth was repeatedly thwarted by war, misogynistic attitudes, musical conservatism, and meddling conductors. For some context – {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its next two weeks of nightly streams. The first week will center on operas featured in the “Aria Code” podcast. The second week will focus on reimagined settings of classic operas. Week 64 – Aria Code: The Operas Behind the Podcast Monday, May 31 – Puccini’s Turandot Starring Christine Goerke, Eleonora Buratto, Yusif Eyvazov, and James Morris, {…}
September brings the opening of several major companies in Europe. And that means new streaming opportunities of concerts and operas. Before we kick off our list, don’t forget to check out important discussions taking place regarding issues of race and equality in opera with such programs as Karen Slack’s “KikiKonversations,” Kenneth Overton’s “Black Opera Live,” and Mark S. Doss’ “Heart and Soul” series {…}
(Credit: Met Opera / Ken Howard / Marty Sohl) The Met Opera has unveiled its 25 and 26th weeks of streaming, continuing its theme-based streaming options. For week 25, the company will focus on 20th-century classics, while the ensuing week of streams will place an emphasis on French operas. Monday, August 31 – R. Strauss’s Elektra Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud {…}
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City has announced its 2020-21 season featuring four unique productions. Vanessa Vasquez headlines opening night in a production of Verdi and Piave’s “La Traviata” by Francesca Zambello. Timothy Myers conducts the masterpiece with Matthew White as Alfredo and Weston Hurt as Germont. Performance Dates: Sept. 26-Oct. 4, 2020 Eric Greene, Talise Trevigne, Donovan Singletary, Jermaine Smith and Indra {…}
