(Photo credit: Prudence Upton) Whose version of “Othello” is better – Shakespeare’s or Verdi’s? You could have a good argument with someone over this. In Verdi’s opera, Iago is more overtly a villain (he says so in Act two’s “Credo in Dio crudel”) and there are potentially more shades to Otello, whose long speeches in Shakespeare’s “Othello” can too easily {…}
(Photo credit: Prudence Upton) Storywise, Puccini’s “Turandot” presents an interesting challenge. Based on a fairytale dramatized by 18th century Italian writer, Carlo Gozzi, it doesn’t quite fit into Puccini’s more natural style. And even casual audience members might find themselves asking, “If Turandot is so horrible nearly all the way through, how can we believe her sudden change of heart at {…}
San Francisco Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, which represents the 100th anniversary of the organization. To that effect, the company will aim to honor its history as just the third American opera company to ever reach the centennial milestone. The season will kick off with an “Opera Ball – The Centennial Celebration” which will feature such performers as Nadine {…}
Opera Australia has announced its Winter Season featuring four productions. The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida“ directed by Dave Livermore and conducted by Lorenzo Passerini and Tahu Matheson. The production stars Leah Crocetto in the title role; Elena Gabouri as Amneris; Stefano La Colla and Najmiddin Mavlyanov sharing the role of Radamès; and Warwick Fyfe and Michael Honeyman as Amonasro. Performance {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has revealed a new autumn season at the Paladozza, the basketball stadium in Bologna, Italy. For this article, we will focus on the operatic performances. Opera The autumn season opens with a semi-staged production of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” with Maria Rita Combattelli, Beatriz de Sousa Chaveiro, Klodjan Kacani, César Arrieta, Alberto Bonifazio, Jacobo Ochoa Piedrahita, {…}
The Ópera Nacional de Chile at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago has announced its 2020-21 season. Here is a look at the opera and concert performances scheduled. Opera in Concert Nadine Koutcher and Patricia Cifuentes star in the title role of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor“ alongside Ivan Ayon Rivas and Dario Schmunck as Edgardo. Paolo Bortolameolli conducts the production, which {…}
The Royal Danish Opera has announced its 2020-21 Season. The theater in Denmark will showcase a number of new productions, revivals, and concerts. New Productions The season opens with Barrie Kosky and Susanne Andrade’s production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.” Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conducts the production which is set to star Stephen Milling, Nicolai Elsberg, Jacob Skov Andersen, Gert Henning-Jensen, Gina Gloria Tronel, Sofie Elkjær Jensen, Dénise Beck, Simon Duus, Palle {…}
The Oper Leipzig has announced its 2020-21 season featuring four new productions, a Wagner festival, and the Ring Cycle. Here is a look at the productions for the season. Premieres Ulf Schirmer conducts Katharina Wagner’s new production of Wagner’s “Lohengrin.” The cast includes Michael Weinius in the title role, Jennifer Holloway as Elsa, Kathrin Göring as Ortrud and Simon Neal {…}
Opera Australia has announced its its 2020 Sydney season, presenting an exciting program of rare gems and some of the greatest operas. Sydney Summer Season The season opens with Puccini’s “La Bohème” with conductor Carlo Goldstein leading Gale Edwards’ production. The opera stars soprano Karah Son in the role of Mimì and tenor Kang Wang making his Opera Australia debut in {…}
Opera Omaha’s 2019-20 season will feature four operas from the standard repertory. The first of these is Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in a production directed by Leslie Swackhamer and conducted by Joseph Rescigno. Karah Son will take on the title role with Alok Kumar as Pinkerton, Luis Ledesma as Sharpless, and Kristen Choi as Suzuki. Performance Dates: Nov. 1 and 3, {…}
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna has announced its 2020 season. Here is a look at what to expect. The season opens with Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” conducted by Juraj Valčuha and in a new production by Ralf Pleger. Stefan Vinke and Ann Petersen take on the title role s with Albert Dohmen, Martin Gantner, and Ekaterina Gubanova. Performance Dates: Jan. 24-31, 2020 Karah Son, Cristina {…}