Warner Classics has announced Francesco Meli’s first solo album “Prima Verdi.” The new album, which is slated to be released on Nov. 19, 2021, will showcase Meli in works by Verdi. Audiences will hear highlights from such operas as “Simon Boccanegra,” “I Lombardi,” “Il Trovatore,” “Otello,” “Aida,” “Macbeth,” “Lusia Miller,” “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “I Due Foscari,” “La Forza del {…}
On Oct. 17, Rai Radio3 will broadcast the debut of Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco” from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. The production is part of Teatro Costanzi’s special reopening for the 2021-22 season and marks the first time in 50 years that the Verdi work is presented with the company. Daniele Gatti conducts the new production which is being directed by {…}
On Oct. 15, ItsART is set to broadcast Verdi’s “La Traviata” from the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. The broadcast will showcase the new production by Davide Livermore which starred Nadine Sierra as Violetta in her role debut and Francesco Meli as Alfredo. Leo Nucci sang the role of Germont with Zubin Mehta conducting the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale. {…}
On Sept. 10, Eleonora Buratto and Francesco Meli represented the opera world on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival. The two celebrated singers attended the famed Film Festival for the premiere of Ridley Scott’s new movie “The Last Duel.” Cartier hosted the event and presented Scott with the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award. Meli and Buratto, who {…}
(Credit: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma) Italy’s Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has announced the 2021-22 season featuring world premieres, rarely staged works, and star singers. Here is a look at the operatic performances of the season. Pre-Opening Before opening night, the fall season will see Verdi’s “Giovanna d’Arco.” The work will be presented for the first time in Rome since 1972 {…}
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced its 2021-22 season which will include nine operas. First up will be Sven-Eric Bechtolf’s production of “Così fan tutte,” which will be conducted by Zubin Mehta. The opera will star Valentina Nafornita, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Matthew Swensen, Mattia Olivieri, Benedetta Torre, and Thomas Hampson. Performance Dates: August 30– Sept. 4, 2021 Next up {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2021-22 season which will spotlight some of the world’s greatest performers and five new productions. Here is the full slate. Premieres Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will showcase Juan Diego Flórez as Count Almaviva, Marianne Crebassa as Rosina, Davide Luciano in the role of Figaro, Paolo Bordogna as Bartolo, and Ildar Abdrazakov as Basilio. {…}
(Credits: Michael Cooper / Dario Acosta / Sonya Yoncheva official website / © Gregor Hohenberg / Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Music Entertainment) The Teatro alla Scala in Milan has announced its 2021-22 season, featuring some of the greatest performers in the world. Here is the full slate. Operas Anna Netrebko and Luca Salsi open the season in Verdi‘s “Macbeth” in {…}
In modern Italy, where the operatic art is literally falling apart at both institutional and performing levels, the audience still carries the memory of seeing the greatest operatic performances in history, and is eager to hear anyone who could put all the precious pieces together again. So, there was no surprise to see the hall of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino filled {…}
The Teatro Municipale di Piacenza has announced it will reopen on May 16. The theater will reopen with Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Plácido Domingo. The concert will be dedicated to the victims of COVID-19 and will mark the first time Domingo performs in Piacenza since 1972 when he sang “Lucia di Lammermoor.” The concert will also feature Maria José Siri, {…}
(Credit: Julian Hargreaves) Eleonora Buratto will step into the cast of the 150° Anniversary 1871 “Aida” Gala Concert at the Arena di Verona on June 19 & 22, 2021. Buratto will perform the title role instead of Sonya Yoncheva who was originally announced for the performance. The soprano will join a cast that includes Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris, Francesco Meli {…}