On December 31, David McVicar’s new production of Umberto Giordano’s “Fedora” opens at the Metropolitan Opera. The controversial work has not been performed there complete in 25 years. Yet, many alluring facets of “Fedora” make the opera a most inspired New Year’s Eve choice. The second act’s opening party sequence, for instance, includes a grand waltz danced in Fedora‘s lavish Paris {…}
Teatro Grattacielo has announced three cast changes for its upcoming production of Giordano’s “Fedora.” The original cast was set to include two singers from Europe, Csilla Boross and Francesco Anile, for the roles of Fedora and Lloris respectively, with a third, Taehwan Ku, coming over from Japan to interpret Rouvel. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, those three cast members {…}
An opera in which death is the finite indulgence, Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” is the antithesis of its verismo siblings – glorifying suicidal sacrifice rather than sketching it in lachrymose laments of mourning and self-pity. With its tenacious celebration of strength in the face of unvanquishable, ruthless adversity, it rivals “Tristan and Isolde” in its heroes’ unabashed, iron will to die; {…}
The first thing that comes to mind when seeing that a “double bill” has been scheduled is often, “not another ‘Cav/Pag,’ not another example of lazy programming.” Luckily, however, this is the Wexford Festival and there is no chance of such a combination taking to the stage here, where innovative programming is the company’s raison d’etre. Deciding on a pair {…}
Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier” is in many ways a sibling of Puccini’s “Tosca.” Both were sired by librettist Luigi Illica and both share the staple verismo ingredients of sex, politics, romantic obsession, frustrated baritones, and a grim end for the protagonists. There is also the common factor of youth in all its sanguine exuberance. Cavaradossi and Chénier are idealists with fatal {…}
Umberto Giordano will forever be remembered for one opera, “Andrea Chénier.” The work, which world premiered on March 28, 1896, remains renowned for its sweeping romantic melodies, becoming a major vehicle for the star tenor that is tasked with four major solo passages on top of two extended duets with soprano. The opera’s famed aria “La Mamma Morta” has become {…}
We all know about Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, Bellini, Puccini, Giordano, and the great Italian composers of the 19th century. We often attribute opera’s greatest gems to them, remembering every gorgeous melody and the potent emotions that they create for us. But they don’t deserve all the credit. In fact, without the text, most of these composers don’t write their music. {…}
Umberto Giordano’s “Fedora” will never rank with the likes of “Andrea Chénier” in the operatic canon, but the composer’s second most popular work still gets its looks from time to time. The work premiered on Nov. 17, 1898, with the composer in the pit and a certain Enrico Caruso in the lead tenor role. The work was based on the {…}
You know “Andrea Chénier,” but how many other Umberto Giordano operas can you name? Some might remember “Fedora,” or even “Siberia,” thanks to Sonya Yoncheva’s recent performance, but chances are, you might not know that in sum, Giordano composed a total of 13 operas, more than Puccini. But unfortunately, as was the case with a number of other composers of {…}
Sonya Yoncheva has been on a roll with regards to debuting new roles. Her latest, the rarely heard Giordano opera “Siberia,” will be broadcast via radio on Saturday, July 22, 2017, from the Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier 2017. The radio broadcast kicks off at 8 p.m. local time. The cast includes Murat Karahan, Catherine Carby, Gabriele Viviani, and Marin Yonchev {…}
Luigi Illica is a rather famous man in the world of opera. If you don’t believe me, then look at his body of work. “Manon Lescaut,” “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” “Madama Butterfly.” And those are just the Puccini selections. The librettist also authored such prominent opera works as “La Wally” and “Andrea Chénier.” But the majority of Illica’s output has been {…}