(Credit: Frances Marshall) Back in 2006, renowned opera expert Fred Plotkin began hosting events at NYU’s Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò in New York City. The set up was straight forward – a conversation between the host, Plotkin and the guest, a well-known opera star, that also included video and audio clips throughout. The conversation would explore musical matters as well as {…}
(Photo credit: Frances Marshall) What’s opera about? Passion? Drama? Politics? Sex? All the above, of course, and it’s been that way since 1597, even in the face of censorship. Yet, the prohibitions around taboo topics such as politics and sex caused composers and librettists to get creative when including such material in their operas. Opera critic, author, and historian par {…}
(Credit: Frances Marshall) “Opera in the Times of COVID” is an interview series in collaboration with photographer Frances Marshall of Marshall Light Studio. We talk to notable figures from around the opera world to get their perspective on how they feel these challenging times may change opera’s present and future. I think it’s hard to find someone who loves opera {…}
New York Opera Fest is not only offering live performances or staged productions. The event is also showcasing major lectures with some of the industry’s greatest thinkers. Among them is Fred Plotkin, who is easily THE opera expert in the United States. Throughout his career, Plotkin has showcased his knowledge and skill as a writer (you should check out his {…}
The Martina Arroyo Foundation has announced its operatic prelude to performance selections and master series programs for the summer. The Prelude to Performance will feature Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Emily Righter in the title role, Ben Werley, a young artist with Florida Grand Opera, as Don José, and Brian Major as Escamillo. Opera Tampa’s Daniel Lipton conducts. The following opera will be a {…}