They say art reflects life and so often the experiences we engage with in artistic form are those that help to shape our world view. The beauty of art is how it is able to traverse a wide range of perspectives, giving us not only different ways of seeing humanity, but also different ways to feel about it. Bel Canto {…}
Happy New Year! This is a time of excitement, introspection, and probably a dose of anxiety as we all figure out how we might want to live this next chapter in our lives. There are so many directions our lives can take at a given moment with our priorities constantly shifting. So here’s an opera quiz where you can see {…}
The Portland Opera is set to give audiences a new experience of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” in a 50-minute version in both English and Spanish. The performances are part of the company’s Portland Opera to Go program that takes opera to schools and community centers across Portland and Southern Washington state. This year, the company will showcase close to {…}
It seems like Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre are finally ready for changes. This September, the Artistic Director position was taken by Sesto Quatrini, the Italian conductor who once said he had general ambitions to change the approach to opera in Italy. Interestingly, in Lithuania he faces far more serious and specific changes that need to be done. Maestro Quatrini’s plans sound {…}
The Arena di Verona production of “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” is set to be televised and released on DVD. The date of its presentation has not been confirmed as of yet. According to Fansdeculture, the production will be out as part of the Arena di Verona’s series with BelAir Classiques. The current production stars Nino Machaidze portraying Rosina, Leo Nucci {…}
“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 will showcase “Citizen Kane’s” {…}
The Arena di Verona has announced its casting for the 2018 festival, showcasing some of the biggest stars in the opera world. Here is a breakdown of what stars will grace the stage of the famous arena. Carmen Three mezzos take on the iconic role of “Carmen” including Anna Goryachova and Carmen Topciu. They are joined by four Don José’s including Brian Jagde, {…}
Rossini never composed a more famous opera than “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” In fact, the work, which world premiered on Feb. 20, 1816 at the Teatro Argentina in Rome, is arguably the world’s most famous opera comedy, full stop. It’s popularity is proven simply by the fact that the work has never left the repertory since its debut over 200 {…}
Juan Diego Flórez is one of the greatest tenors in the world. Of that there can be no doubt. Born on Jan. 13, the tenor has gone on to establish himself at every major opera house in the world in an ever-evolving repertoire that ranges from Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini all the way to the great French composers such as {…}
As 2017 comes to a close, the US opera scene fades out almost completely. Last week we saw only a handful of operas from the Metropolitan Opera featured on the weekend. This weekend is slightly different with two other companies joining the fray. Here are the operas to see this weekend. The Barber of Seville – Eugene Opera, Amore Opera {…}
Fernando Corena, born on Dec. 22, 1916, had a long-standing association with the Metropolitan Opera. In fact, he sang over 700 times with the company between 1954 and 1978. His first ever performance with the company was as Leporello in “Don Giovanni,” that debut coming on Feb. 6, 1954. On Dec. 30, 1978, he finished off his Met career in {…}