CD / DVD Releases – Week of July 2: Marina Rebeka, Rolando Villazón & A World Premiere Headline

Two important recordings will be released this week, including one world premiere and another continuing an acclaimed Mozart opera. Here is a look! The Cradle Will Rock Bridge Records will release the world premiere recording of Marc Blitzstein’s opera. The new recording features the composer’s original 1937 orchestrations and was recorded live at Opera Saratoga in July 2017. The recording {…}

David Bizic, Ginger Costa-Jackson & Marco Ciaponi Headline Opera De Toulon’s 2018-19 Season

The Opera de Toulon has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring rarely performed works, modern operas and a number of classics. Here is a look at what the company will showcase next season. Productions  Francesco Landolfi stars in the title role of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” with Marco Ciaponi and Mihaela Marcu. Daniel Montané conducts Elena Barbalich’s production. Performance Dates: Oct. 5-9, 2018 Anna Maria Sarra,  Yael Raanan-Vandor, Marco {…}

Opera Grand Rapids To Feature Metropolitan Opera Star In “The Barber of Seville”

Opera Grand Rapids’ production of “The Barber of Seville” will feature the Met’s very own mezzo, Ginger Costa-Jackson. Costa-Jackson has previously performed in several productions at the Metropolitan Opera, including Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Bizet’s “Carmen.” For the May 12th and 13th performances of “The Barber of Seville” the Sicilian-born mezzo-soprano will hit the Devos Performance Hall as Rosina, the {…}

Seattle Opera Announces 2017-18 Season As Art Meets Real-Life In ‘Cosi Fan Tutte,’ ‘Beatrice & Benedict’

The Seattle Opera has announced it 2017-18 season featuring five operas, two of which will see art and real-life come together as one. The season opens August 5 with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” starring Lianna Haroutounian and Alexia Voulgaridou alternating the title role of Cio-Cio San. Alexey Dolgov and Dominik Chenes will sing the role of Pinkerton while Weston Hurt will sing the {…}