Royal Opera House 2017-2018 Review – Lohengrin: Christine Goerke Shines Among Solid Cast As Half-Awoken Myths Stay in the (Wartime) Trenches of Reality

Its preludes are themselves landmarks of beauty – but Wagner’s 1850 opera “Lohengrin” is a prelude to his future epics. Rooted in Arthurian legend, taking the son of King Parsifal as its hero, and featuring prayers to the pagan gods Wotan and Freia, it is another battle between the divine and the mortal. In mythical medieval Brabant, Count Friedrich von {…}

Jun 8, 2018

Top 5 Operas to See This Weekend – International (6/8-10): Klaus Florian Vogt, Francesco Meli & Elza Van Heever To Star This Weekend

This will be a weekend of new productions, closing nights, and role debuts. Two major stars return to signature roles while one rising star takes on her first Wagner role. Then there are two bel canto favorites and some verismo. Here is a look. Ernani – Opera de Marseille, France Francesco Meli takes on the title role in Verdi’s early work {…}

Jun 4, 2018

Artist Of The Week: Jennifer Davis Ready For Wagner In ‘Lohengrin’

Singing Wagner is never an easy feat and he is a composer many singers train years to take on. His music is known for its length and for its technical challenges and in many cases, it is extremely taxing. This week Jennifer Davis takes a major step in her career singing her highest profile assignment to date – Elsa in “Lohengrin.” {…}

May 11, 2018

10 Must See Operas For The Summer Season 2018 [International Edition]

The 2017-18 season comes to an end and in comes festival season. So where are the big stars and what are interesting works being discovered this year? With a ton of selections to be sure, we whittled it down to the 10 Must-See productions (as we did with the U.S.) that cannot be missed this summer. 10. Tristan und Isolde – {…}

May 8, 2018

Kristine Opolais Cancels ‘Lohengrin’ At The Royal Opera House

Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais has withdrawn from the role of Elsa in The Royal Opera’s new production of “Lohengrin.” The soprano withdrew to ensure her full recovery from a routine abdominal medical procedure. In a statement, Opolais said, “I withdraw from Lohengrin at the Royal Opera House with a heavy heart. I am incredibly sorry to disappoint my fans in {…}