For the third evening of the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of “Semiramide,” Javier Camarena has canceled. The tenor who also canceled the second performance announced on Feb. 24 that due to a cough he would not be able to sing. As a result, Robert McPherson will perform the role of Idreno, which he had previously done with the Vlaamse Opera and on tour {…}
Of Rossini’s opera’s “Semiramide,” his final Italian work, is often considered one of his finest. You probably would not draw that conclusion from the performance at the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. The opera, which tells the tale of the “battle” for the throne of Babylon in the wake of its fallen monarch Nino, is a rather long {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2018-19 season. Here is a rundown. New Productions The Metropolitan Opera opens with Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” in a new production by Darko Tresnjak. Roberto Alagna and Elina Garanca reunite for the production which is also set to star Laurent Naouri, Elchin Azizov, and Dmitry Belosselskiy. Anita Rachevlishvili and Aleksandrs Antonenko will sing a {…}
The 2018-19 Paris Opera will celebrate a double anniversary including the signing, in 1669, of the letters patent authorizing Perrin to establish an Academy of Opera – rapidly named the Royal Academy of Music and that of the inauguration of the Opéra Bastille in 1989. The season will feature a number of new productions, classic revivals, and world premieres. It {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2018 summer festival. This season the festival will showcase eight operas in concert and staged performances. “Die Zauberflöte” will be the festival’s sole Mozart offering starring Matthias Goerne as Sarastro, Mauro Peter as Tamino, Albina Shagimuratova in the role of the Queen of the Night, Christiane Karg as Pamina, and Adam Plachetka as Papageno. Constantinos Carydis conducts Lydia Steier’s new production. {…}
It is Hispanic Heritage month! The Latin American community has, particularly in recent years, been a major boon to the opera world, providing it with great singers and composers, and a number of great operas. As the third part of this weekly series, we will look at some of the most popular male Hispanic singers currently dominating the operatic world. Rolando {…}
Javier Camarena has pulled out of two Vienna State Opera productions. According to reports the Mexican tenor pulled out of his January performances of Tonio in Donizetti’s “La Fille du régiment” because he’s saving his voice to record a new album. He has also pulled out of “Don Pasquale” in May. John Tessier will now sing the role of Tonio in {…}
Rossini’s “Le Comte Ory” has had somewhat of a revival in recent years thanks to the influx of great Rossini tenors such as Juan Diego Flórez, Javier Camarena, and Lawrence Brownlee, among others. The comedy, which premiered on August 20, 1828, was the composer’s final comedy and penultimate work, followed by the dramatic “Guillaume Tell.” As such, it features trademarks {…}
Plácido Domingo, Reneé Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Diana Damrau or Sonya Yoncheva. All these stars will be in the biggest theaters in Europe and audiences will be in for great performances. Austria The Vienna State Opera will celebrate Plácido Domingo’s 50th-anniversary with selections from “Un Ballo in Maschera,” “La Traviata,” and “Simon Boccanegra.” On Saturday the company performs “Das Rheingold” and on {…}
This article is a joint collaboration between David & Francisco Salazar. Yesterday we gave you the finest female performers of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-17 season. Now we turn toward the men that truly brought down the house. Remember that these picks are mere favorites based purely on personal preference. Since there were so many incredible performers this season, here is {…}
For 50 years, the Metropolitan Opera has made its home in Lincoln Center, creating numerous cathartic and revelatory memories for both audiences and artists alike. In speaking with some of the world’s greatest artists that have performed at the Met, OperaWire has been granted the opportunity to hear some unique, enriching and entertaining stories and experiences that have taken place {…}