The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2019-20 season with five new productions, a New Year’s Eve gala, and a recital. Here is a look at what to expect. New Productions The season opens with Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” in a new production by James Robinson. The production stars Eric Owens and Kevin Short sharing the title role of Porgy and {…}
The Erkel Theatre has announced a number of star-studded concerts as the Opera House in Budapest continues its ongoing construction. Here is a look at what is upcoming. Hungarian soprano Eszter Sümegi returns to the company and will celebrate her 25th anniversary; she will appear alongside guest star Rafael Rojas. The concert will include music by Verdi, Bellini, Goldmark, and {…}
Mezzo soprano Elīna Garanča will not be participating in the Opéra de Paris’ upcoming production of “Les Troyens.” The company made the announcement via Twitter noting that the Latvian artist had withdrawn due to health reasons. In her stead, the role of Didon will be performed by Russian mezzo Ekaterina Semenchuk, who was previously scheduled to appear in “Rusalka.” Per {…}
The Grammy Awards have announced the 2018 nominees selecting a diverse group of operas and performers. In the category of Best Opera Recording the John Adams’ “Doctor Atomic ” recording starring Aubrey Allicock, Julia Bullock, Gerald Finley & Brindley Sherratt and produced by Friedemann Engelbrecht was nominated alongside Mason Bates and Martin Campbell’s “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” The recording {…}
The Teatro Colón has announced its 2019 season featuring eight main stage productions, concert operas, and a number of international star-making debuts. Here is a look at what to expect next season. Mainstage Opera Maurizio Benini conducts a new production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” directed by Jorge Takla. Fabián Veloz and Leonardo López Linares share the title role while Pavel Valuzhin and {…}
Mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, who recently opened the Metropolitan Opera’s 2018-19 season with her role in Saint-Saens’ “Samson and Delilah” took to Carnegie Hall with pianist Kevin Murphy for an evening of lieder, songs, and arias close to her heart and on the pulse of her prominent artistic career. Featuring the works of Schumann, Wagner, Ravel, and more, the program of {…}
Elīna Garanča is, for many, THE mezzo-soprano of this generation. With her movie star looks and acting chops to match. she has performed at all the major theaters, showcased an extensive array of repertoire and recorded award-winning albums. She has made a specialty of lyric mezzo roles such as Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier” or the title role in “Carmen,” but {…}
A few weeks back it was all about Anna Netrebko’s “Aida.” Now this weekend, the Met Opera will continue its Live in HD series with a performance of “Samson et Dalila” on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. The broadcast, which kicks off 12:55 p.m. Eastern time, will feature the company’s opening night production, which is set to star Roberto Alagna and {…}
Over the last few weeks, the Metropolitan Opera has hit one home run after another with news of a more accessible schedule structure as well as support for newer operas in new locations over coming seasons. These major stories have emphasized a new era, so to speak, for the company, and the organization has even baptized that progress with a {…}
Camile Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” is not among the most popular operas in the standard repertoire. In fact, at the Met, it has been performed a total of 226 times since is Met premiere back on Feb. 8, 1895. And yet the opera has garnered three opening nights to date, a number that will increase by one on Sept. 24, {…}
Elīna Garanča has revealed two new roles she is planning to sing in the next few seasons. In an interview with Platea Magazine, the mezzo noted that she is excited to add the roles of Kundry in “Parsifal” and Amneris in “Aida.” In the interview, she stated that she is learning Amneris and that she has planned to premiere it at the Gran {…}