On Feb. 22, 2019, audiences around the world will get a chance to experience Mozart’s “Idomeneo” live from the Vienna State Opera via the company’s official live stream service. This particular performance is set to star Bernard Richter, Rachel Frenkel, Irina Lungu, and Valentina Nafornita. Tomas Netopil conducts the production by Kasper Holten. The stream kicks off at 7 p.m. {…}
When people talk about classical music, there are usually three composers that they immediately identify as central pillars – Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Mozart, born on Jan. 27, 1756, is probably the most renowned of the three in popular culture. He was a famed child prodigy, performing for European royalty by the age of five. His career rocketed and he {…}
Earlier this year, mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta took home the award for Young Singer of the Year at the International Opera Awards. To that point, she has been growing her career steadily as an ensemble member at the Oper Leipzig, among others endeavors. But the victory propelled her into the spotlight and since then, Giunta has made her BBC Proms debut {…}
The Teatro Real is looking for 100 volunteers to be supers in its upcoming production of “Idomeneo.” According to Platea Magazine, the theater is following in the footsteps of the Palau de Les Arts de Valencia, which contracted volunteers for its “Magic Flute” production instead of paid performers. The controversial decision will require the volunteers to attend 18 rehearsals and be {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has canceled a number of performances in light of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra’s strike. The company canceled Lyric Uncorked on Tuesday night and will also forego performances of “La Bohème” and “Idomeneo” on Oct. 11 and 13, respectively. Open House Chicago, scheduled for Oct. 13, will also be canceled. “We deeply apologize for the {…}
It’s officially the month of March Madness and to celebrate the month which will see “Elektra” and “Lucia di Lammermoor” open at the Metropolitan Opera, OperaWire will be writing a weekly article on our favorite mad scenes, favorite interpretations of mad scenes and some of the most iconic performances of mad scenes. Lucia di Lammermoor-“Il Dolce Suono” Donizetti’s mad scene {…}
After looking at the top female and male singers as well as the finest maestros of the 2016-17 season, we now turn the spotlight on the 10 best-assembled casts of the season. This was a truly difficult piece to put together as this Met season had great casts for almost every single opera. But the casts listed below were simply {…}
Nadine Sierra is the winner of the 2017 Richard Tucker Award. The 28-year-old soprano, a previous recipient of a 2010 Sara Tucker Study Grant and a 2013 Richard Tucker Career Grant, follows in the line of such major artists as Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, Lawrence Brownlee, Matthew Polenzani, Christine Goerke and Joyce DiDonato to win the prestigious award. The 2016 award winner was Tamara Wilson. “I {…}
Matthew Polenzani loves Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” During a recent interview with OperaWire, the tenor went so far as to call it the composer’s “greatest opera.” That’s right, with output that includes gems such as “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,” “Così Fan Tutte” and “Die Zauberflote,” Polenzani, who is among the greatest exponents of these very operas, puts his marker on {…}
Many opera companies get back in on the action this weekend from all around the country in one of the busier weekends of the season. The Dallas Opera makes its great return on Friday, March 10 with a production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” Hui He stars in the leading role with Gianluca Terranova, Lucas Meachem and Manuela Custer rounding out the {…}
This review is for the premiere on opening night of the run, March 6, 2017. Mozart’s “Idomeneo” has accrued quite the history at the Met since its premiere in 1982. It has been sung by major singers that include the likes of Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Ileana Cortrubas, Hildegard Behrens, Frederica Von Stade and Carol Vaness among many others. Safe {…}