(Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Verdi’s “Aida” will be the next HD in the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series. The new production of “Aida” opened on Dec. 31 to controversy and mixed reviews with OperaWire noting, “Mayer’s production was passable, especially by his standards. Whether the execution justified its own existence is certainly a question for those managing {…}
(Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera) The curtain rose on Egyptian tombs. In the center, a rope came down and with it an archeologist. As he reached the bottom to get off the rope, he fell to the ground, the sound of his body crashing over the delicate violins that opened the prelude to Verdi’s Aida.” That was not supposed {…}
(Credit: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present a new production of Verdi’s “Aida.” The new production will open on Dec. 31, 2024, and will be directed by Michael Mayer, who has already been in charge of the Met’s productions of “Grounded,” “Rigoletto,” “La Traviata,” and “Marnie.” This will be the first new production of {…}
The release of “Eun Sun Kim: A Journey Into Lohengrin,” an hour-long film by San Francisco Opera and Lumahai Productions has been announced. Directed by Elena Park, the new film takes viewers behind the scenes during the weeks of rehearsal leading up to the opening of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” at San Francisco Opera last October. It follows the production team and {…}
(Photo by Cory Weaver) Festivities galore flooded the San Francisco’s Civic Center Friday night – Opera Ball, Opera Dinner, and the opera itself, Verdi’s, “Un Ballo in Maschera.” Opening night at San Francisco Opera sparkled with taffeta gowns and tux, platform heels and feathers, jewelry glittering up and down arms and nifty bowties. In honor of the entitled opera and {…}
The San Francisco Opera is set to open its 102nd season on Sept. 6 with Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” and Opera Ball, the opening night benefit co-hosted with the San Francisco Opera Guild. Caroline H. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim leads the production by Italian director Leo Muscato. The international cast will led by Michael Fabiano as Gustavus {…}
The San Francisco Opera has announced the 2023-24 Emerging Stars Competition. The Emerging Stars Competition, made possible by Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem, is a fund for opera singers who have made their mark on the grand stage. The company added, that through the Emerging Stars Fund, Jan and Maria help bring some of opera’s most exciting rising talents {…}
The Deustche Oper Berlin has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Respighi’s “La Fiamma” will be directed by Christof Loy and conducted by Carlo Rizzi. The cast will include Aušrine Stundyte, Georgy Vasiliev, Vladislav Sulimsky, Martina Serafin, Sua Jo, Cristina Toledo, Martina Baroni, Karis Tucker, Caren Van Oijen, Doris Soffel, and Patrick Guetti. Performance Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 18, 2024 Enrique Mazzola {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond/Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” is set to be transmitted in Live in HD on March 9, 2024. The production will star Lise Davidsen, Brian Jagde, Igor Golovatenko, Judit Kutasi, Patrick Carfizzi, and Soloman Howard. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the performance. The production is the third Met staging from award-winning director Mariusz Treliński {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond) It’s been a long time since “La Forza del Destino” got a chance on the Met stage. To be exact, it’s been about 18 years. Back then, in 2006, the Verdi melodrama was presented in an imposing traditionally-set production with a cast of Italianate voices. It was supposed to return a decade later in a new production {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. New Productions Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Verdi’s “Aida” in a new production by Michael Mayer. Angel Blue, Judit Kutasi, Piotr Beczała, Quinn Kelsey, Dmitry Belosselskiy, and Morris Robbinson. Alexander Soddy conducts the second cast with Christina Nilsson, Elīna Garanča, Brian Jagde, Eri Owens, Michael Chioldi, Amartüvshin Enkhbatyn, Alexander Vinogradov, and Krzysztof Bączyk. John {…}