As far the baroque era goes, Handel is the master of opera. The German-born composer was one of the most beloved composers of his time, dominating the opera scenes in Italy and England. Today, his operas have slowly regained their foothold in the standard repertory. This week’s quiz will focus on Handel’s operas, providing a unique challenge for those new {…}
Credit: Gregor Hohenberg/Sony Gramophone has announced the recordings that have advanced to the final round of the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2020. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on vocal, choral, and opera categories. The first contestant in the opera category is the Barber’s “Vanessa,” performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Glyndebourne Chorus, under the musical {…}
(Credits: Bojana Dimković official website / Aaron Cawley / Pia Rabea Vornholt) The Early Music Festival will take place from Sept. 17 – Sep. 29., 2020, in Belgrade, Serbia. The festival was originally scheduled in May 2020, but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the full rundown. “Italian Extravaganza” will kick off the festival with {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a film section or a film in its entirety and highlight 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 Michael {…}
(Credits: Seattle Symphony official website / College of Fine Arts, University of Kentucky official website) American-Canadian tenor Zach Finkelstein has announced the release of his third album. The recording will be produced in a collaboration with the famed guitarist Dieter Hennings Yeoman and is slated for release in fall of 2021. Composers Felix Jarrar, Kamala Sankaram, Rene Orth, Daniel Pesca, {…}
(Credits: Daniil Rabovsky / Gisela Schenker / Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras official website) The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will be returning to the stage on August 28, 2020. The Orchestra has announced its fall season which will last until December 23, 2020. For the purpose of this article, we will focus only on the vocal works. Mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg will perform {…}
(Credits: © Sim Canetty-Clarke / Dario Acosta / Patrick Allen) BBC Proms has announced the schedule for the two weeks of live performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Compared to the initial plans that were conveyed to the public in May, there will be no live audience. For the purpose of this article, we will focus only on vocal performances. {…}
Opera Atelier has announced a reimagined 35th anniversary season, titled “A Season of Visions and Dreams.” During the new season, the company will present two fully-staged and live-streamed productions at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning. The first work on the program will be “Something Rich and Strange.” This new work will explore themes of visions and the supernatural {…}
In celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding, Haymarket Opera Company has announced a special season of programming dedicated to Handel, featuring three new, cinematic productions. HOC has teamed up with Resolution Studios, Chicago’s leading movie production company, to ensure a high-quality and immersive experience for viewers at home. On this new endeavor, HOC General Director Chase Hopkins says in {…}
“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 Kon Ichikawa’s “The {…}
(Image Source: Ravenna Festival Official Website) The Ravenna Festival in Italy has announced its program for the 2020 festival. For the purposes of this article, we will be focused solely on vocal performances. The season kicks off with Riccardo Muti leading a concert starring Rosa Feola in music by Mozart. Performance Date: June 21, 2020 Soprano Pamela Lucciarini and Ensemble {…}