There are few performers as magnetic as Ermonela Jaho. From the moment the Albanian soprano takes the stage, she is so entranced in the world she’s living in and the character she is bringing to life, that you can’t keep your eyes away. This was the case last season when she proved the standout amidst Zeffirelli’s gargantuan “Turandot” production and {…}
Opera Rara has named Ermonela Jaho and Michael Spyres Artist Ambassadors. The company announced the news on the 225th anniversary of Donizetti’s birth. In the new role, Jaho and Spyres will work to raise the international profile of the charity, assist in the development of new projects and educational activities, and feature in the company’s recording and performance projects. In {…}
Ermonela Jaho has canceled two concerts in Spain due to COVID-19. The soprano canceled a concert in Oviedo at the Auditorio Príncipe Felipe on Oct. 22 and in Bilbao at the Teatro Arriaga on Oct. 27 due to a recent infection of COVID-19. Jaho was set to perform a concert alongside Riccardo Massi and Lucas Macías in Oviedo while in {…}
This week, audiences will get to check out a new documentary with three of the leading divas of our time, an album with Schubert lieder and contemporary and unknown pieces. Here is a look at this week’s new albums. Die schöne Müllerin Bright Shiny Things is set to release Schubert’s song cycle “Die schöne Müllerin,” in a world premiere arrangement {…}
Verdi’s La Traviata returns to the Metropolitan Opera with three casts. The opera, performed eight times from Oct. 25 to Nov. 19, 2022, will star Stephen Costello, Lucas Salsi, and Nadine Sierra. Maestro Daniele Callegari conducts the production by Michael Mayer. Then between Jan. 5 and 26, 2023, Ermonela Jaho will sing her acclaimed interpretation alongside Ismael Jordi and Amartuvshin {…}
Opera Australia has announced its 2023 season which will mark the 13th and final season of Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini’s tenure. Sydney Summer Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will be conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire in Sir David McVicar’s production. The opera will star Ukranian baritone Andrei Kymach in the titular role, Israeli bass Yuri Kissin as Leporello, and Sophie Salvesani as Donna {…}
Spain’s Festival Castell de Peralada has announced its 2022 season featuring many great stars. Here is a look at the vocal highlights of the season. Emily D’Angelo and Sophia Munoz lead a program of opera arias. Performance Date: July 23, 2022 George Petean, Dmitry Belosselskiy, Anna Pirozzi, and Silvia Tro Santafe lead Verdi’s “Nabucco” with Nicola Luisotti conducting. Performance Date: {…}
The Opéra Royale de Wallonie-Liège has announced its 2022-23 season. To kick things off, Jodie Devos takes on the title role in Delibes’ “Lakmé” alongside Philippe Talbot, Lionel Lhote, Pierre Doyen, and Marion Lebègue. Frédéric Chaslin conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 1, 2022 Giuseppe Finzi conducts Rossini’s “Il Turco in Italia” with Bruno De Simone, Gianna Cañete Gallo, Guido Loconsolo, {…}
On May 17, soprano Ermonela Jaho and Yonghoon Lee will present “An Evening to Remember” at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City. Mark Cogley will accompany the two stars in a recital that will be given in the memory of Antonia Green. All proceeds will be given to the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Diseases {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera / Marty Sohl) I could commence this review by going into the political implications and problematic circumstances surrounding this production, but another writer has already done an excellent job spotlighting all that. Instead, I am going to jump into the performance itself, the second in this run of the famed Puccini work and Franco Zeffirelli’s iconic and, {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) On April 30, the Metropolitan Opera will revive its legendary production of Puccini’s “Turandot.” The Franco Zeffirelli production will return to the stage following fall performances with a new cast led by Liudmyla Monastyrska. This will mark the soprano’s first performances at the Met since 2017. The soprano has performed with the company 31 {…}