(Credit: Yasuko Kageyama) Damiano Michieletto is one of the most sought after directors today. Born in Venice, he graduated in modern literature at the Venice University and then went on to study theatre and opera production at the Paolo Grassi School of Dramatic Art in Milan. Success would follow him soon after when he debuted in 2003 at the Wexford {…}
(Credit: Oleg Rostovstev) Singing a recital in New York City is a rare occasion for an artist of any caliber. So, it is understandable that when a major opera star gets a chance to perform in one of the city’s hallowed halls, their choice of repertory would truly highlight their vocal and interpretative prowess. The idea of programming a recital {…}
(Credit: Bernd Uhlig) As the Berlin Staatsoper opened its revival of Andrea Breth’s “Kát’a Kabanová,” a few hundred meters away, at the Alte Nationalgalerie on Museum Island, preparators put the final touches on a new exhibition of female artists. These two events, geographically close but outwardly unrelated, proved to resonate with one another in unanticipated ways. The Nationalgalerie’s exhibition drew {…}
OperaVision will showcase Janáček’s “Jenůfa” live from the National Theatre Brno on Oct. 2, 2019. The production will feature Jitka Zerhauová, Jaroslav Březina, Tomáš Juhás, Szilvia Rálik, Pavla Vykopalová, Ivan Kusnjer, Ladislav Mlejnek, Jarmila Balážová, Eva Štěrbová, Stanislava Jirků, Lenka Schallenberger, Martina Mádlová, and Ivona Špičková. Marko Ivanović will conduct the production directed by Martin Glaser. The stream kicks off {…}
(Credit: Michal Manas) There is no other Czech composer with as much import to the opera repertory as Leos Janácek. Born on July 3, 1854, he started his musical career playing the piano and organ before devoting himself to the art of composition. His musical style is best known for its emphasis on folk music, which he researched heavily throughout {…}
The Royal Opera House is set to present a new staged version of Janacek’s song cycle “A Diary of One Who Disappeared at the Linbury Theatre. Performances are set for June 5, 6, and 8. The work, which consists of 22 songs for tenor and piano, will be directed by renowned auteur Ivo van hove. The work tells the story {…}
Leos Janacek is one of the most prolific Czech opera composers, many of his becoming major staples of the canon. For many, his most iconic work is “From the House of the Dead,” which had its world premiere on April 12, 1930 at the National Theatre Brno. Incidentally, the work also was his last. Because the composer died before the {…}
Set in a provincial Russian town close by the Volga River, the basis for Janáček’s “Káťa Kabanová” – Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “The Storm” – invites the color palette of a murky staging; a cerulean hue or olive green to mirror the portentous themes that percolate the sometimes dissonant, sometimes harmonious and sinuously changing score. Unlike many opera settings, the visual {…}
OperaVision will present the Teatro Di San Carlo’s performance of Janácek’s “Kátá Kabanová” on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. The opera performance, which will be directed by Willy Decker and conducted by Juraj Valcuha, will star Pavla Vykopalová in the title role. Other cast members include Ludovit Ludha, Gabriela Benacková, Misha Didyk, Sergej Kovnir, Lena Belkina, and Boris Stepanov. The stream {…}
Much has been said about Polish director Krzysztof Warlikowski’s production of Leos Janáček’s “From the House of the Dead (Z mrtvého domu)” that was recently seen at the Royal Opera House. OperaWire’s review from that series of performances was titled “Prison Drama Locks Up Its Singers” in reference to the directs subversive and interruptive choices throughout. And now, the controversial {…}
Entering into its third season, the Concerts at Saint Thomas has announced its line-up of performances. The season, which opens on Oct. 5, will see the inauguration of the new Miller-Scott Organ, which will be prominently featured throughout the season in a number of different concerts. Highlights of the 2018-19 season include Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,” Handel’s “Messiah,” and more, including {…}
