Weekend Preview (USA) – 2/17-19: Patricia Racette’s ‘Salome’ & Stewart Copeland’s ‘Invention of Morel’ Open

Prepare yourself for two high profile premieres this weekend on opposite sides of the country. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Opera lifts the curtain on “Salome” starring Patricia Racette in the role that she dominated at the Metropolitan Opera. Regarding her performance OperaWire wrote, “she dominated the stage in one of her greatest achievements on the Met stage.” Another major {…}

Breaking News: Pretty Yende Replaces Diana Damrau in ‘I Puritani;’ Alvarez Cancels Another ‘Carmen’ Performance

Two major cancellations were announced on Monday at the Metropolitan Opera. First it was announced that Diana Damrau would not partake in the second performance of “I Puritani” on Tuesday, Feb. 14 and then it was revealed tenor Marcelo Alvarez would also withhold from performing the performance of “Carmen” on Feb. 15. Pretty Yende, coming off a thrilling running of {…}

Metropolitan Opera Review 2016-17 – I Puritani: Diana Damrau, Javier Camarena & Co. Deliver Golden Age Singing

This review is for the performance on Feb. 11, 2017.  What happens when the Metropolitan Opera casts four superstars into Bellini’s final opera? The answer is golden age singing. For years “I Puritani” has been a vehicle at the Metropolitan Opera to promote the diva and sometimes has made casting uneven with little attention paid to who can sing the incredibly {…}

Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 Preview: Vocal Fireworks Set For ‘I Puritani’ With Diana Damrau And Javier Camarena

The Metropolitan Opera continues its 2016-17 season this week with a revival of Bellini’s final opera “I Puritani.” Diana Damrau will add the role of Elvira to her Met repertoire after having performed it to great success in Madrid and Amsterdam. She will be joined by her frequent stage partner Javier Camarena, who recently triumphed in his last run of Rossini’s “Il {…}