(Photo: Michele Crosera) Although the Sicilian composer Alessandro Scarlatti (1660–1725) is famed for his prolific output of operas–he claimed to have written well over 100–which were significant in laying the foundations for the development of 18th century opera seria, he rarely strayed into the field of comic opera. The single major exception was his 1718 work, “Il trionfo dell’onore,” written {…}
In the grand setting of the 2025 Amadeus, Amadeus Festival in Hamburg, Jordi Savall delivered a performance of Mozart’s “Great Mass in C Minor,” (K.427) that stood as a testament to the power of unfinished works. Collaborating with his longtime assistant and keyboardist Luca Guglielmi, Savall brought one of Mozart’s most intricate and incomplete masterpieces to life, blending historical {…}
(Photo credit: Celeste Gaia) Better understanding the beginnings of a musical genre is vital for sustaining the genre into the modern day. Available documentation of these origins is often scarce, especially when a genre dates back to the 17th century. But, some anecdotes always seem to stand the test of time: because they are destined to. Italian soprano Giulia Bolcato {…}
(Photo: Roberto Ricci) “Alice in Wonderland,” Lewis Carroll’s novel which has entertained children down the generations is a multi-layered work, which has lent itself to a variety of interpretations over the years, in which commentators from many disciplines have looked beyond the colorful narrative, to reveal its symbolic references, satirical portraits, psychological depths, and its mathematical and linguistic conceits. Such {…}
This weekend is filled with a number of rarities and modern masterpieces all around the world. We look at what we think audiences can discover for the first time and rising stars performing these roles. La Donna del Lago, Opera Royal de Wallonie, Liege, Belgium Salome Jicia takes on the title role in Rossini’s rarely performed drama with Marianna Pizzolato {…}