The Tiroler Festspiele Erl has announced a cast change for its Jan. 4, 2025 performance of “I Puritani.” The company said, “the second concert performance of Vincenzo Bellini’s opera ‘I Puritani’ will also feature a different singer than planned in the role of Elvira – and one of the most sought-after sopranos has once again been able to step in. {…}
With Bellini’s “I Puritani” one steps into the heartland of Italian bel canto: The ensembles are mesmerizingly beautiful, the vocal lines infinitely refined, and the orchestration – with its mood painting role – proves a proto-dramatic foundation to the unfolding of the Romantic intrigue, prone to inspiring the operatic vocabulary of subsequent generations, and of Verdi in particular. Needless to {…}
Lisette Oropesa has canceled her performance of “I Puritani” on Dec. 10 due to illness. The soprano took to social media and said, “Dear friends, I’m having a rocky end to the year. After being in Dresden for several days recording I Puritani with the most incredible cast I could ever imagine, I seem to have caught some kind of {…}
Credit: Danae Kinova The Olympia City Music Theatre Maria Callas has unveiled its 2023-24 season, which includes three operas in both staged productions and concert versions. The season features a blend of Greek artists and international stars, including a concert by soprano Julie Fuchs. For the purposes of this article only opera and classical voice performances are listed. The season {…}
Photo: Joan Tomàs The Spanish tenor Celso Albelo debuted in the role of Duke of Mantua alongside Leo Nucci in 2006. He has performed since then in major opera houses around the world. For 17 years, he has been singing leading tenor roles. Being the Duke is one of his signature roles. His extensive tessitura–he can sing a stratospheric high {…}
The ABAO 2022-23 season opened with an offering of the critical edition of Bellini’s “I Puritani” by Fabrizio della Seta. It featured Bel Canto expert Jessica Pratt and promising tenors Xavier Anduaga in the award-winning production by Emilio Sagi. Sagi’s “Puritani” has been already appeared in several theatres around the world, its last revival was at the Opera de Oviedo {…}
The ABAO Bilbao Opera is set to open its 71st season with Bellini’s “I Puritani.” The production, which is set to run between Oct. 15 and 24 for four performances, will feature an all-star headed by Jessica Pratt and Xabier Anduaga. Andrzej Filończyk, Manuel Fuentes, Alejandro López, Josu Cabrero, and Laura Vila round out the cast. Giacomo Sagripanti is set {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “I Puritani.” The company noted that Adam Plachetka will sing the role of Riccardo. Plachetka, who has been a member of the Wiener Staatsoper, has performed the role with the company previously. The baritone has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Salzburg Festival, Glyndebourne Festival, Teatro alla {…}
(Credit: Ervin Photography) On August 20, Delos released a new recording of Bellini’s final masterpiece, “I Puritani.” The new recording featured one of today’s great Bel Canto interpreters, Lawrence Brownlee and New York City Opera’s new Music Director Constantine Orbelian. It also featured American coloratura Sarah Coburn singing the leading role of Elvira. Over the years Coburn has performed Bel {…}
(Credit: Kristin Hoebermann) Washington Concert Opera is set to present Bellini’s “I Puritani” starting on June 26 via the company’s official streaming platform. The recording of the opera will be available for repeat viewings up until July 26, 2021, and will be free for all who register in advance. The opera will star Brenda Rae, René Barbera, Javier Arrey, and {…}
Bellini’s “I Puritani” had its world premiere back on Jan. 24, 1835. From there it was a massive hit and then disappeared for quite some time, only to be revived in the middle of the 20th century. Today, the opera remains one of the great works of the standard bel canto repertory, beloved for its vast and endless melodic invention. {…}