(Photo: Benoit Auguste) Over the course of the 17th century, the role of the tenor was displaced by the rise of the castrato. Whilst in opera’s early years tenors were given prominent roles, such as the title role in Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo,” by the middle of the century they were relegated to comic or travesti roles. During the early 18th century, {…}
Hoping to reinvigorate waning public interest in Italian opera’s extravagance and pretentious filigree, Händel was of no mind to delay conceiving a new orientation for his musical talents. Thus, despite staying firmly committed to his Italian proclivity, he began creating English oratorios on the side to supplement lost income, and after a series of tries with both English and Italian, {…}
(Photo: James Glossop) In the early 1730s the newly established The Opera of the Nobility succeeded in displacing Handel from London’s King’s Theatre, causing him to relocate to the recently built Covent Garden, a theatre furnished with the latest stage machinery, a chorus and dance company. The composer’s response to his new circumstances was to compose a run of successful {…}
(Credit: © Camilla Greenwell, ROH 2022) A much-publicized intimacy director; bold text warnings about sexual violence and “terrorist themes.” There was a certain gung-ho mood amongst the audience going into Katie Mitchell’s new production of Handel’s tragic oratorio “Theodora” at the Royal Opera House this week. The first performance of the work in Covent Garden for 272 years, in fact. {…}
(Credit: Opera Santa Barbara official website) Opera Santa Barbara has announced that it will open its 2022 season with a 90-minute adaptation of Händel’s comedy “Semele.” The cast includes Christina Pezzarossi as Ino; Sarah Coit as Juno; Robert Stahley as Jupiter; Logan Tanner as Athamas; Colin Ramsay in the dual role of Kadmus and Somnus; and Jana McIntyre in the {…}
(Credit: Anna Cillan) Following the halt on live performances due to COVID-19, opera houses and companies alike were forced to reform how they brought music to their traditionally in-person audiences. Via digital means, like prerecorded content, subscription-based videos, and online events, the traditional venues of opera were radically altered. But as lockdowns start to end, and restrictions begin to be {…}
Fifteen years ago, I had just enrolled in my second year at university studying economics. I was working at the small gallery of contemporary art and enjoyed daily communication with living artists, interpretations, ideation, and everything my 18-year-old brain could give to the visual arts. And for five long years, I was absolutely sure that I was doing a great {…}
(Credit: Markus Gårder) The Drottningholms Slottsteater in Sweden was forced to cancel the premiere of Georg Friedrich Händel’s opera “Agrippina” due to COVID-19. On August 7, 2021, the theater’s General Manager Anna Karinsdotter alongside director Staffan Valdemar Holm informed the audience that one of the singers in the production tested positive for the virus and as result, the theater was {…}
(Credit: https://www.visitlisboa.com/) Portugal’s Teatro Nacional de São Carlos has announced the schedule until January 2022. Here is a look at operatic and vocal performances. Operas The season opens with concert performances of Tchaikovsky‘s “Iolanta.” The opera spotlights Misha Didyk, Evgeny Stavinsky, Guriy Guryev, and Zarina Abaeva in the title role. Graeme Jenkins conducts. Performance Dates: Sep. 29 – Oct. 3, 2021 {…}
(Credits: © Aymeric Giraudel / Fabien Monthubert / © Simon Fowler) Opéra de Rouen Normandie, France has announced its 2021-22 season. For the purpose of this article, we will only focus on the operatic and vocal performances. Here is the full slate. Opera and Musicals Verdi‘s “Il Trovatore” opens the season with Lionel Lhote as Count di Luna, Brigitta Kele {…}
(Credits: Dario Acosta / Andrew Eccles/Decca / Javier del Real / Dario Acosta / Ray Burmiston) The Berlin Philharmonic has announced its 2021-22 season, spotlighting some of the world’s greatest performers. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal works. Here is the full slate: The Bundesjugendchor presents works by Brahms, Schumann, di Laso, Harvey, Rihm, and {…}