The Teatro alla Scala in Milan presented Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” in a production by the American director Bartlett Sher and revived by Dan Rigazzi. For this production, the tragedy of the Verona lovers, with the libretto by Carré and Barbier, is set in an eighteenth-century Italian city, with a sumptuous neoclassical style palace at the core of the scenery {…}
Atlanta-based Capitol City Opera Company will present a production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” to open its 37th season. The opera, which is written by Barbier and Carré, is set to open on March 6, with additional performances on March 7 and 8 at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University. Rachele Eve Holmes and Michael Vavases will star {…}
(Credit: Javier del Real) Famed Mexican tenor Javier Camarena ended a solo tour through Spain with a recital at the Auditorio Nacional de Música on Feb. 7, 2020. Accompanied by pianist Angel Rodriguez, the structure of the program was originally a presentation of future repertoire for the tenor, with a first part dedicated to French repertoire and the second half {…}
Saturday, December 7, 2019, saw the finals concert of Premiere Opera Foundation and NYIOP’s International Vocal Competition. The 20 finalists gathered in the resonant First Christian Science Church to share their artistic gifts before a live audience and a panel of distinguished judges, including Paul Hopper of the Metropolitan Opera, Gerald Martin Moore of the Glyndebourne Festival, Pamela Walsh of {…}
“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 features Taika Watiti’s “Jojo Rabbit.” On first instance, “Jojo Rabbit” is as weird a film as its title suggests. We are following around a young boy Jojo as he tries to make his way into the Nazi ranks. Goading him on his imaginary friend Hitler, a cartoony, fun-loving, father figure to the inexperienced boy. Nazis and their rules and regulations are {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Marina Poplavskaya is one of the notable Russian sopranos of the early 21st century. Born on Sept. 12, 1977 in Moscow, Russia, she would perform in the children’s chorus of the Bolshoi Theatre an eventually became a soloist of the Novaya Opera Theatre in 1996. From there she would debut at the Bolshoi Theatre {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera) The San Francisco Opera opened its 97th season with Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliette,” reminding us that music is the food of love and that it spills over all the battles we fight and brings them down. Even though the production was pleasant but not perfect, the evening’s performance brought us into a harmony that {…}
(Credit: Merri Cyer) The San Francisco Opera will produce a live simulcast of “Roméo et Juliette” at Oracle Park as part of it Opera at the Ballpark series. The event, which is set for Sept. 21, 2019, will be the result of a partnership with the San Francisco Giants baseball team. The production is set to showcase superstar soprano Nadine {…}
(Photos: Lisa Tomasetti) Gounod is one of the core composers of the French repertory. Born on June 17, 1818, two of his operas remain major staples of the repertory. But Gounod composed more than just “Faust” and “Roméo et Juliette.” How well do you know that repertory? This quiz will test your knowledge of Gounod’s entire operatic output.
On May 3, 2019, Australian soprano Yvette Keong will perform her graduation recital at the Manhattan School of Music’s Greenfield Hall. While still a member of the school’s Senior Opera Theater, Keong has quickly begun to make a name for herself with recent appearances in the role of Pamina in the Berlin Opera Academy’s 2018 production of “Die Zauberflöte,” which {…}
Dec. 22, 2018, saw the second concert of Talents of the World’s International Music Festival. Following their tribute concert to the legendary Maria Callas, Saturday’s performance was given in celebration of legendary tenor Enrico Caruso’s 145th anniversary. The evening’s program was comprised of not only operatic favorites, but a number of Neapolitan Songs as well. What followed was a highly-charged {…}
