Regina Opera has announced its 50th anniversary season. The Brooklyn-based organization, which was founded in 1970, will present three new productions of beloved operas. All performances will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy of Brooklyn. All of the performances, with the exception of the opening nights for each production, will start at 3 p.m. local time. {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment takes a look at {…}
Rarely performed as a one-off, Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” is most commonly paired with one of the other two “Il Trittico” operas or a second shorter work by a composer other than Puccini. However, Puccini was adamant that all three operas in his triptych should be performed together. Perhaps, it is because each of the three has a common theme: death. {…}
The New York Opera Fest 2019 kicked off on Monday, April 29 and for the next several weeks, New Yorkers will get ample opportunity to enjoy opera in a variety of unique ways. As has been OperaWire’s tradition over the years, we have reached out to a number of the companies participating in the festival and have asked them a {…}
Gianni Schicchi is one the most famous comedies in the operatic repertoire as it was Puccini’s only one and has become a signature for multiple baritones. Federico Longhi is one of those baritones that has used the role as a vehicle around the world. This week, he returns to the Teatro Carlo Felice to sing in this signature role. Prior {…}
Puccini was known for his tragic operas and melodic genius as well as his exploration of musical landscapes. And then “Gianni Schicchi” came along, showing the composer’s ability to expand beyond drama with one of the most important comedies in the repertoire. The title role became synonymous with numerous baritones as it gave them the ability to explore their versatility {…}
The Pittsburgh Festival Opera has announced its 2019 slate of performances. All of the operas will be sung in English. Everything gets off to a unique start with Strauss’ rarely performed “The Love of Danae” appearing for one performance at the Falk Auditorium. Performance Date: July 12, 2019 “Mister Rogers’ Opera” takes the stage on the second night of the {…}
The Purchase Opera Company of Purchase College, State University of New York will present “Purchase Opera: Trilogy” in the Recital Hall of The Performing Arts Center. The Conservatory of Music will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Purchase Opera Company under the direction of Jacque Trussel by presenting the first two operas presented by the company in 1999, Puccini’s “Suor {…}
On Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, the Metropolitan Opera will revive its double bill of “Iolanta” and “Bluebeard’s Castle.” The former work will receive its eighth performance at the Met on Thursday in just its first revival with the company. However, the history of “Bluebeard’s Castle” and its 31 performances with the company is intriguing. The work itself is rather brief {…}
Giacomo Puccini lived during the age of Verismo, but he couldn’t easily be pinned down to said opera genre. In fact, much like Verdi before him, he was far greater because he defies categorization. Puccini’s works strive for the same exoticism that we find in composers that preceded him and like Verdi’s forays into “Ancient Egypt” or Rossini’s into Algiers {…}
Even before you stepped into the Metropolitan Opera on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, you knew who the star of the night was destined to be. The entire marketing campaign run by the Metropolitan Opera in anticipation of “Il Trittico” had seemingly focused on one person and one person only. The company had announced a special ceremony would take place at {…}