The Metropolitan Opera revealed its 2019-20 season on Wednesday afternoon. Among the major announcements were the company’s schedule for its ever-popular Live in HD slate. Here is a look at the list of performances that will be broadcast to audiences around the world. Worthy of note is that of the 10 productions set to screen in cinemas, three will be {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2019-20 season with five new productions, a New Year’s Eve gala, and a recital. Here is a look at what to expect. New Productions The season opens with Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” in a new production by James Robinson. The production stars Eric Owens and Kevin Short sharing the title role of Porgy and {…}
Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato is a true American superstar. Born on Feb. 13, 1969 in Prairie Village, Kansas, the mezzo initially headed to Wichita State University to study vocal education. However, she became more interested in singing and performing and upon graduating in 1992, she headed the Academy of Vocal Arts which she followed up with enrollment in the Santa Fe {…}
Carnegie Hall has announced its 2019-20 season! The 2019-20 season will honor the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth with over 35 performances celebrating the composer’s work and impact and will be dedicated to violinist, educator, and activist Isaac Stern, 2020 marking the centenary of his birth. We will focus primarily on vocal performances in this season announcement. Orchestras The first {…}
It’s that time of year during which we look back at the past 365-ish days and the big moments that defined them. Every year, the opera world has its share of rising and breakout stars as well as opera singers who solidify or take their careers in new directions. Others make important debuts or create roles that audiences would have {…}
Joyce DiDonato has canceled her upcoming performance of Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda.” The mezzo-soprano, who was scheduled to perform a concert version of Donizetti’s Tudor queen on Dec. 6 canceled due to illness. As a result, soprano Patrizia Ciofi will sing the title role. Ciofi is not new to the role of “Maria Stuarda” as she has performed it several times {…}
This past month Joyce DiDonato released a new recording entitled “Into the Fire.” The new album, which was recorded live at London’s celebrated Wigmore Hall, features the Brentano Quartet and was conceived around Jake Heggie’s song cycle “Camille Claudel: Into the Fire,” a work written for DiDonato. To celebrate the launch of the album, DiDonato and the Brentano Quartet performed {…}
The holiday season is officially underway. For many, that means going out and buying a plethora of gifts for loved ones. But what about that opera lover in your life? What do you buy him or her? There’s a ton to choose from and this year featured a plethora of amazing recordings to choose from. So to give you a {…}
The Tanglewood Festival has announced its 2019 season. As with other programs of this sort, we will limit ourselves to the vocal and operatic selections on display. For the full program, click here. Verdi’s Requiem will get a performance with Kristine Opolais, Oksana Volkova, Jonathan Tetelman, and Ryan Speedo Green. Andris Nelsons will conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Performance Date: {…}
The holiday season is upon us and that means many great new offerings are coming out. This week will feature the realse of a solo album debut, a new DVD from the Metropolitan Opera, a lieder album, and a Christmas album. Here are our essential recordings to buy this week. A Te, O Cara Stephen Costello makes his solo album debut with “A {…}
On Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, the Vienna State Opera will showcase a live stream of its performance of Berlioz’s grand opera “Les Troyens.” The performance will be led by conductor French maestro Alain Altinoglu with Brandon Jovanovich as Enée, Adam Plachetka as Chorèbe, Joyce DiDonato as Didon, and Anna Caterina Antonacci as Cassandre. The performance will feature a production by {…}